Monthly Archives: April 2019

General Safety Issues

Safety Tips For Those Who Work Around Conveyor Belts

Written by Eada Hudes

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/logistics-stock-transport-shipping-852935/

It’s true that conveyor belts and rollers can make the production process easy and smooth but there are certain risks that come along with it too. Just like safety measures in the workplace, there are certain safety measures that you must take while working around conveyor rollers.

Here are some of the safety tips to keep in mind while working around conveyor belts.

  1. Awareness

This is a safety measure that needs to be taken at the managerial level. Inform and make your workers or employees aware of the fact that conveyor belts can be hazardous and dangerous. Tell them that it is important to be careful while working around them. Educate them about the hazards and risks involved.

  1. Signs and Markings

Put up enough signs, warnings and markings so that there is a constant reminder of workplace safety near the belt conveyor. Informing your workers of hazardous zones and dangers with the use of sign boards and markings will ensure that they are aware of the conveyor belt dangers at all times.

  1. No Games

Make sure that everyone is well aware and warned that conveyor belts are no games and it’s completely prohibited to sit, stand or walk on conveyor belts. At times, workers may play games or just have fun with conveyor belts which can actually be very dangerous and hazardous.

  1. Check all operator controls

Assign someone to check the conveyor belt operator controls first thing in the morning before starting work so that the smooth operation of the same is ensured. The emergency stop button must work at all times because that is the first and foremost saviour, in case something goes wrong.

  1. Regular Maintenance

You must ensure regular maintenance of the conveyor belt because irregular and improper care of the conveyor roller can cause multiple problems with the smooth functioning of the conveyor and  result in more accidents.

  1. Workers’ Clothing

Workers have to be careful about the kind of clothing they wear around the conveyor belt and rollers because it can also cause accidents and hazards in the workplace. Advise them to wear tight and fit clothing instead of baggy attires and not to wear jewellery at the time of work. Jewellery like watches, bracelets, rings, earrings can easily get stuck in the conveyor rollers and cause mishaps.

Advise workers who have long hair to keep their hair tied and tucked under a cap. There are always chances of long hair getting stuck in conveyor rollers, so make it compulsory for everyone to wear caps and tie their hair if they are of shoulder length.

  1. Training

All workers who have to work directly with conveyor belts must be trained and educated properly. They must receive regular training to brush up on their operation and safety skills to ensure they are operating the machinery correctly and safely at all times.

  1. Signal At The Start Of The Conveyor Belt

There should be an audible signal that is sounded at the start of the conveyor belt to ensure that everyone becomes aware and knows that now the conveyor rollers are starting. You can also assign a staff member to make an announcement in the local language that everyone understands.

Conclusion

Safety around conveyor belts and rollers is extremely important to ensure that no accidents take place. There are different types of conveyor belts and each type poses a different kind of threat, hence there are certain precautions which are essential in a workplace that has conveyor belts and rollers around it.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

3 Grain-Handling Hazards & How to Prevent Against Them

Written by Ellie Batchiyska

The agricultural industry is one of the most hazardous in the United States. Most people are not as familiar with its hazards as they are with the construction industry’s, making them often overlooked. This contributes to further danger, however.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fatality rate for workers in the agricultural industry is seven times that of other private industry workers. Even workers who are injured often face permanent impairment, making it extra important to know the primary hazards associated with this kind of work.

Grain-handlers are particularly impacted by agricultural hazards. These are workers in facilities that process, ship, and handle corn, wheat, oats, barley, and other similar commodities.

There are three main hazards grain-handlers face, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fortunately offers sustainable solutions to prevent against them.

Engulfment & Suffocation in Grain Bins

Although not dangerous unto themselves, grain bins can be a risky environment. This is where grains are stored in large volumes, and unfortunately, where a vast number of deaths occur. Workers that maintain grain bins can become suddenly buried or trapped by grain while on the job. As a result, they can suffocate.

There are four causes of sudden grain engulfment.

  • Standing on flowing grain. Flowing grain turns into quicksand. This is most common when the auger is operating. The auger drains grain from the bin, causing a steady flow until the bin is emptied. If a worker is standing on flowing grain, they will sink into it, and the constant movement will make it impossible to get out. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that a 6-foot tall worker can become enveloped by grain in 11 seconds, and escape becomes impossible after 5 seconds. Workers should never enter grain bins while the auger is in operation.
  • Standing on or below bridging. Bridging refers to moist or moldy clumps of grain that stick together to form a “bridge”, therefore resulting in an empty space underneath them. If a worker steps on one of these, it will break and the walls of grain beside the bridge will begin to cave in.
  • Trying to loosen a pile of grain. Never overestimate a wall of grain’s sturdiness. Trying to loosen or un-clump it will cause a domino effect, and the rest of the grain will begin to avalanche. Clumped grain should be loosened from the outside of the grain bin, by knocking against it with a pole or stick through an access cover.
  • Dangerous atmospheric conditions. Sometimes, oxygen levels in a grain bin can be low, or hazardous gases may be present. The air quality and oxygen levels should be evaluated before any workers enter, or they could suffocate.

Most of these can be prevented by making workers aware of the preventative measures. Workers should avoid walking on grain, always wear a body harness, and have an observer/partner present at all times.

Combustible Dust Explosions

In the last 35 years, there have been more than 500 grain dust explosions in grain handling facilities. These have taken the lives of more than 180 people, and injured approximately 675. Grain dust can easily combust if it becomes airborne or accumulates on a surface. Ignition sources, such as overheated motors, misaligned conveyor belts, and welding surfaces, can serve as sources of danger.

If the accumulation of grain dust occurs in an enclosed space, the pressure will rise, causing an explosion. Usually, there is an initial explosion, which dislodges the dust into the air. If ignited, this dispersed dust will cause a secondary (and far more deadly) explosion.

To prevent this, there should be consistent monitoring and assessment of potential ignition sources and enclosed spaces. Cracks and corners should always be investigated for grain dust particles.

Falls from Heights

Much like in construction, this is a major factor to consider, and one that is continuously overlooked. Grain-handling employees can experience falsl from heights much like any other workers in manual labor: from machinery, unguarded/unlabeled floor openings, platforms, etc.

However, the exterior ladders on grain bins also pose a risk. These ladders are usually used to gain entry to the grain bin. As workers move from the ladder to the roof of the grain bin or grain entrance, one minor misstep can endanger their life.

For this reason, a body harness should always be worn when accessing a grain bin, as previously mentioned. Someone on the ground should also be supervising at all times, and be available to direct the worker into the entrance or onto the roof in case visibility is hindered for any reason.

Other Hazards

Amputations can also occur in grain-handling facilities, though less common. Grain bins contain mechanical equipment, covers, augers, and other fixtures that workers can easily get caught in. Spoiling grains can also release hazardous gases, and pesticides or other fumigants can cause poisoning.

Grain-handlers should not underestimate the dangers of working amongst large volumes of grain. The casualness associated with this profession often makes its employees even more vulnerable to hazards. Frequent housekeeping and assessment of grain bins is essential to the safety of workers in this industry, so managers should ensure this work is well-distributed.

 

Ellie Batchiyska is a writer for Advance Online, the first web-based training provider to be accepted by the OSHA Outreach Program for DOL OSHA completion cards.

 

General Safety Issues

Dangers of Intoxication in the Workplace

Written by Ellie Batchiyska

You’ve started to notice something about your co-worker. Some days they’re fine, cheerful, and on top of their work. On others, they’re slurring their words, seeming out of sorts, and having problems with basic cognitive tasks.

While it’s not unusual for someone to have an off day – maybe they didn’t get enough sleep, are sick, or taking a medication that’s affecting them — the signs of intoxication on the job are usually pretty telling. They include:

  • Lowered inhibitions (doing/saying things they normally wouldn’t)
  • Slurred speech (too loud or too fast)
  • Poor balance (struggling to get their footing)
  • Glazed-over, glossy appearance to the eyes
  • Nausea and/or vomiting

It’s easy to see how these symptoms of drinking can deeply impact work performance. However, it’s still a sensitive issue to address, and one that must be handled gently. It should immediately be taken to a manager or a Human Resources representative.

Risk factors

There are multiple risk factors for alcoholism in the workplace. Some of them can be issues in the individual’s personal life, but others can be direct changes in the work environment. These can include:

  • Extended shifts, and changing work environments
  • Isolation in the work environment; employees who have little contact with other coworkers, clients, or their work space is away from the majority of employees
  • Hostile workplace environment; an employee feeling bullied or harassed may seek out alcohol as a way to dull the feelings of depression or anger they feel at work
  • Lack of proper supervision
  • Changes to job; a change in department, expectations, or structured environment may lead them to feel unneeded or disvalued

In general, male workers between 14-29 years of age have the highest risk of showing up to work inebriated. Even more concerning, it’s more common in tradespeople and manual laborers in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction – fields where inebriation can have detrimental, or even deadly, effects.

Dangers inebriated employees can pose

Drinking can not only harm the employee’s productivity, but it can endanger them and their co-workers. Employees that must operate heavy machinery pose the largest risk. Being struck by an object accounted for 8.2% of construction worker deaths in 2017. This risk is already prevalent where heavy machinery exists, but even more so when that machinery is operated someone who is being cognitively stifled by intoxication.

Falls are the deadliest hazard in construction, accounting for 39.2% of deaths. Lack of balance is one of the biggest side-effects of drinking, meaning intoxicated employees are even more prone to this already widespread hazard.

Inebriated employees will make careless mistakes, especially in manual labor professions. According to the RAND Corporation, employees who drink alcohol at least three times per week are more likely to experience injury at work.

It sounds like common sense, but it is still so heavily overlooked. Many employees are afraid to report this behavior for the sake of workplace camaraderie, but reporting it to a manager or HR could save you (and fellow employees) from immeasurable harm.

Responsible drinking at workplace events

Maybe there’s a holiday or your company is celebrating a major milestone. As such, you may want to bring alcohol into the workplace. Nonetheless, you want to ensure things don’t get out of control and that everyone is drinking responsibly, but how do you do that?

There are a number of preventative measures that ensure responsible drinking in the workplace.

  • Hire a certified bartender. A certified bartender trained in the proper distribution of alcohol, and will remain objective and sober throughout the duration of the event. This means they can take the necessary measures to cut off individuals that have had too much, or contact emergency services if someone gets alcohol poisoning. They’ll also pour more reasonable portions.
  • Set drink limits. Don’t make it an “open bar.” Supply employees with drink tickets, and allow two beverages per employee. Or, have the bartender issue a stamp for each drink an employee buys.
  • Choose the alcohol selection wisely. Forego offering liquor at company events, and keep it at just beer and wine. Also avoid serving fruity, sugary drinks such as fruit punch, which can disillusion employees about the amount of alcohol they’re consuming.
  • Make sure you’re covered legally. Should an incident occur, make sure your company insurance policy will cover it. You might even want employees to sign off on a document before the event that reminds them they are liable for their own behavior and alcohol consumption.

We’ve heard “drink responsibly” on vodka commercials for ages, but some people have a hard time putting that advice into practice. Whether their intoxication on the job is a result of personal hardships or a one-time occurrence, it must be immediately addressed for the welfare of the company, fellow employees, and the worker in question. Although it may be an uncomfortable issue to tackle in the moment, you will be thanked for it by all those concerned later on down the line.

Uncategorized

How To Write A Health And Safety Policy For Your Business

If you are running a business, you have to take care of workplace health and safety. This is not only a legal requirement but also a real-life necessity that is designed with the purpose to protect your employees from all sorts of occupational hazards.

The International Labor Organization estimates that some 2.3 million people around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year. It’s a huge figure that can be reduced easily by following the latest security standards.

The first step in the employee-protection process is to create a solid health and safety policy. If you don’t know how to do it, keep reading to see our step-by-step guide.

Key Segments of the Health and Safety Policy

Health and safety policies don’t have to be the same everywhere, but the vast majority of companies stick to the same structure. The simplest model includes three basic components regulating workplace safety as a whole. The three elements are:

  • A statement of intent

Jake Gardner, a safety officer at EssaysOnTime AU, says that the statement of intent should be a general overview of the organization’s plan to protect employees in the workplace: “This is where you need to explain company’s security objectives and tell workers that you expect compliance with the official procedures.”

  • Organizational structure

The second section describes the individual responsibilities of each person in the chain of command. Your team members need to understand who is in charge of what and who to consult with in case of safety issues. At the same time, you must set up clear security instructions and protocols. The list of other duties mostly depends on the character of your own business, but you should definitely consider details such as the roles and accountabilities, title descriptions, management charts, and so on.

  • Arrangements

The third section determines specific arrangements that help you to implement the health and safety policy. This segment consists of concrete details such as employee training requirements, housekeeping, safety equipment list, machine maintenance, noise reduction, fire prevention, emergency situation protocols, accidents, and reporting.

If necessary, your health and safety policy can contain additional information concerning on-premise risk reduction signs, security guards, lighting improvements, and similar details.

How to Write and Implement a Health and Safety Policy

Now that you know the basic structure of the document, you should focus on creating it. Once again, the process can vary depending on the peculiarities of your business, but we can show you a five-step guide that works well in most cases. Let’s take a look:

  • Appoint a health and safety officer

Each company needs to hire a professional to perform the role of the health and safety officer. It is a person who has the skills, education, and practical experience to manage the process.

  • Write the policy

The next step in the process is to actually write a health and safety policy. The officer you appoint should be able to complete the job on his/her own and cover every segment we mentioned above (statement of intent, organizational structure, and arrangements). If you need external assistance to get the job done, you can always consult with professional writing services such as Australian writing to help you with policy writing.

  • Risk assessment

Writing a policy is one thing, but risk assessment is something different. Mark Hudson, a member of the writing services who specializes in work protection, says a safety manager must identify the risks employees are facing in the workplace and find a way to prevent possible accidents.

  • Employee education and training

Employee education and training are very important for the implementation of the policy. Make sure to organize a sufficient number of training sessions and repeat lessons on a regular basis, especially if you are about to add new elements to your policy.

  • Get liability insurance

Liability insurance is what keeps you protected against injury compensations. Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure workplace safety, you can handle injury-induced compensation requests through employer’s liability insurance.

Now that you’ve completed the entire process, the only thing left is to monitor the implementation. There are all sorts of mechanisms to keep an eye on safety procedures, but we recommend you to pay close attention to the following:

  • See whether your employees really respect safety measures in everyday work.
  • Analyze monthly reports from your health and safety manager.
  • Take an occasional walk through the facility to check for possible safety threats.
  • Talk to your employees to hear their opinion about the current situation in the field or workplace protection. Ask them to give you suggestions on how to improve.

Practical Benefits of Having a Health and Safety Policy

Some entrepreneurs consider it to be a routine job without practical value, but workplace safety is actually very important for every organization. It brings you all sorts of benefits, with the fundamental features being these:

  • It proves professional responsibility and shows that your organization is taking care of health and safety issues.
  • The policy prevents occupational hazards and keeps your employees protected 24/7.
  • The system is designed with the purpose to ensure effortless functioning and allows employees to focus on their work only.
  • It gives instructions in case of emergency.
  • The strategy defines the rules of behavior in your company.
  • The policy saves you time and money because you won’t have to deal with frequent workplace incidents. That way, you won’t have to go through expensive and time-consuming follow-ups.
  • This is also how you diminish sick leave and improve employee retention.
  • Companies with strong health and safety policies are building a professional reputation.

Conclusion

A health and safety policy is extremely important if you want to run a successful business. The system is designed so as to protect workers from getting injured and to prevent possible lawsuits against employers.

In this post, we explained to you how to create a health and safety policy for your organization. Make sure to follow our tips and your employees will stay perfectly safe at all times.

Author Bio

Michael Gorman is a security analyst at the best dissertation writing service and a part-time content creator at https://www.paperwritingpro.com/ and Buy College Essays Online. Michael specializes in cybersecurity, but his portfolio is much broader as he also writes about topics such as self-improvement and personal development. If not working, Michael is probably out jogging or playing basketball with his friends. Feel free to contact him via Facebook or check his Twitter.

 

General Safety Issues

Learn Why Contractor Safety Equals Good Business

When you’ve been in the construction business long enough, you already know all the nuances, subtleties and shortcuts out there. You know dos and dont’s as well as priorities. And you absolutely know that keeping up with all the safety regulations is a must if you are a contractor.

The learning curve tends to get very steep for those who do not comply with these safety regulations. If contractors constantly neglect, ignore or fail to look after safety regulations, they are essentially in danger of running out of business. They are risking their careers greatly by putting the reputation on the line. And these records will not just go away as if nothing has happened if you choose to simply change the name of the firm and try to start over.

We are here to outline some of the consequences of keeping up or not following safety regulations strictly. They are directly connected with the success of you as a contractor or owner.

Everyone Should Be Held Accountable

Being an owner is not an easy task to fulfill, by any means. They carry a lot of responsibilities on their back since they need to concern themselves with potential risks of all sorts. Employees, tenants, property, and contractor all depend on the owner in one way or another, and she or he has to concern herself or himself with all of these things.

That’s why it’s crucial to make sure that the roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities are clearly defined. Demand only the best from the people you’re working with. Make sure to hire only the companies which have proved time and time again that they can carry out the task properly and satisfy the high standards by implementing the safety procedures and following the mandatory laws, among other things.

How Exactly Are You Saving Money By Following Safety Regulations Strictly?

A lot of contractors and owners try to cut costs by not complying with these safety regulations strictly. But what they are actually missing out and not realizing is that they are only losing money with this type of behavior – and not to mention that they are putting employees in great danger.

It is a common misconception that implementing and maintaining safety programs is both expensive and time-consuming. In reality, overhead costs and insurance and hidden costs of accidents are greatly reduced if the contractor implements various safety procedures such as fall protection, confined space entry, respiratory protection, hazard communication, etc.

If you are an owner, you just need to make sure that the contractor is fulfilling these regulations which are already mandated by law.

If You Are An Owner, Choose Only To Deal With ’Safe Contractors’

This is the main reason why you want to choose the so-called ’safe contractors’. They are the ones who put a great deal of time and effort in following all the safety measures and programs out there.

For instance, companies like Jonishan contractors in Sydney are a good example of how to do these things properly. This is something which eventually only works to your benefit as an owner. Be sure to remember that this is not only about your reputation, but also about saving the lives of employees and money.

The Contractor And The Owner Should Work Closely On Safety Issues

It is often said that good communication is the key to success. It’s really no different in this line of business as well. When both the owner and the contractor are working closely together, they should be on the same page all the time.

Make sure to create an environment where safety procedures are a number one priority. Continue to insist on following all OSHA rules and laws throughout the whole time. This really is the only way to maintain the status and reputation for the upcoming tasks. Be sure to remember that no business is really successful without tightly following the safety regulations.

Conclusion

If contractors are not making efforts to fulfill their obligations under OSHA or the rules of civil liability and tort law, they are not just jeopardizing their careers, but they are ultimately risking people’s lives. You simply cannot overly stress the importance of safety work regulations and laws. When fatal injuries at work sites happen as often as they do in this day and age, you simply must pay more attention to this burning issue.

Back Safety

8 Workplace Safety Concepts Everyone Should Understand

With some types of workplace, safety is at the core of it. If you work in a hospital, on a construction site or in a laboratory it’s pretty likely that workplace safety is something you are already extremely experienced with. However, if you work in an office it’s likely that you aren’t as well-informed as to what exactly you should be doing to stay safe, since the risks tend to be far more hidden than in the other environs. In a counter-intuitive sense, there are also things that people in higher risk workplaces could learn about hidden risks and how to mitigate them. So, without further ado, here are eight tips for workplace safety.

  1. Understand Risks

Every office or worksite ought to have a health and safety manager who should be able to give you a thorough understanding of what the risks in that particular area are. Getting familiar with these is a great start since, if you don’t understand what is at stake you can’t act to address it.

  1. Posture

This is a huge one and universal to all careers. “It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do, posture can actually be a n issue which can cause serious life changing damage if not addressed”, says Anthony Allam, marketer at WriteMyx and NextCourseWork. It is particularly important though, if you sit at a desk for long periods of time. So, invest some energy in getting it right.

  1. Monitor Stress

Stress-levels dictate, to some degree, a lot of the way that your body and mind function. Mental safety is just as important, if not more so, than physical safety so it’s worth paying attention to workplace stress levels for that reason alone. However, stress also can affect your body, in your posture, in the way you breathe and move and, across time, can have damaging effects if left unchecked.

  1. Don’t Forgo Procedure

It can often seem painfully dry, but workplace procedure is there for a reason. “Procedures aren’t invented for the sake of torturing you with boring rules. It’s there to ensure that, even with slip-ups, employees will remain safe”, writes Ella Maguire, project manager at BritStudent and Australia2Write. It’s especially important in labs and on construction sites, but it applies in regular offices as well.

  1. Report Accidents And Problems

When something goes wrong, or something breaks or someone gets hurt, the first instinct can be to quickly solve the immediate issue and then try and put the rest of it behind you. Tis is the wrong approach. Incidents have to be reported for your safety and the safety of future employees. If something isn’t working, or there is a dangerous fault in a workplace it must be fixed to ensure safety, which won’t happen if incidents don’t get reported.

 

  1. Emergency Exits

You ought to be able to get out of any workplace with ease and speed. There can be a whole range of reasons why you might want to escape, from a gas leak to a fire drill. Obstructions to an exit are illegal but they are also often difficult to spot, sine it’s not until people are actually hurrying to safety that you realize that there is a problem, by which point it’s too late. That is the benefits of drills and vigilance over this aspect of safety.

  1. Be Careful When Lifting

If you’re on a construction site, then you have already likely done a lot of work on how to lift correctly. If you are in the office, probably not so much. But there are items all around the office which are heavy and can, therefore, damage your back if you lift it incorrectly. So, learn how to lift it well, or leave it to someone else.

  1. Take Breaks

Illness and injury come from over-exertion. Make sure you are always getting enough respite whilst in the workplace.

Conclusion

To conclude, all worksites represent risk and health and safety dangers, and it is your responsibility as someone on the site to establish those risks and do everything you can to ensure that safety is maintained, for yourself and others around you. It can be tough, but with these tips you’re already off to a good start.

Katrina Hatchett, a lifestyle blogger at Academic Brits and writer for Origin Writings, is involved in many business projects. She enjoys identifying project problems and finding solutions for these, and her goal is to improve efficiency of communication within companies. She also writes for the PhDKingdom blog.