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10 Easy Steps to Take to Increase Workplace Safety

Every hour, there are about 510 injuries reported at workplaces in the United States alone. These events can result in serious injuries and even death.

In economic aspect, millions of hours are lost to the effects of deteriorating workplace safety, findings made by a research paper writing service has revealed. Automatically, companies suffer from numerous compensations, medical treatments, and severance rates from these injured employees. Given these numbers, reinforcing accident prevention is critical. The best way to avoid this painful process is to invest in workplace safety.

As emphasized by different industries need security attention. In this regard, some suggestions may be of great value for maintaining employee protection parameters and measures. Check out these 10 steps to accident prevention in the workplace!

Steps to Take to Increase Workplace Safety

  • Ensure the workplace tidy and organized

Many accidents occur due to the clutter on the desk. A tool dropped on the floor and a leakage on the floor can be costly. When these oversights add to the intensity of work routines, the result can be dangerous for everyone.

In this respect, little but simple care can make all the difference. Ensuring an organized workplace is the duty of all the workers. Teamwork results in a risk-free environment where everyone can move and act smoothly.

  • Prioritize value for focus at work

All work needs to be done with focus. Especially in risky positions, it is critical to be aware of environmental factors that can pose safety hazards. With increasing forms of distraction, it is important to determine rules for worker protection and the priority with their obligations. According to assignment writing service, conversations, cell phones and even factors such as tiredness can expose workers to accidents.

  • Avoid reckless risk exposure

Accidents often happen because of employees’ recklessness. If any situation demonstrates imminent danger, stay away from it. This thinking must be cultivated throughout the company so that it becomes a broad idea.

Do not visit places that you do not have prior permission to be there. Also, avoid getting around areas and equipment which you’re not qualified to use.

  • Implement and ensure the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The failure to use personal protective equipment can result in an unplanned cost of around £50m every year, according to a research by one of the dissertation writing services in the UK.

A company is required to provide, at no cost to the worker, all PPE that may be required in their operation. Employees will have different protection demands to perform their tasks safely.

Likewise, once the PPE is in the employees’ possession, he is obliged to use it, as well as to ensure their integrity. The company has a duty to provide and the right to enforce the use of PPE. These include gloves, goggles, breathing protection, hearing protection, fall belts, helmets, boots, among others.

  • Take care of yourself and your co-workers

Accident prevention is a teamwork. It is necessary for co-workers to guide one another to avoid accidents. A good example is with the use of PPE as mentioned above. One employee must always remember and supervise the other to generate the right culture.

Another important thing is to avoid performing tasks in isolation, especially in hazardous areas. Follow-up, whether by another partner or a work safety technician, is important.

For this to work, it is important for co-workers to form partnership among themselves. Thus, the environment becomes safer and it strengthens the culture of accident prevention.

  • Report incidents

According to best essay writing services, unaddressed incidents can easily become accidents. Anything that happens out of the ordinary in your tasks should be communicated to your superiors. Typically, each company has its own incident reporting procedure, so it is critical to follow it.

Each experience will alert other people in the same situation. Future problems can be simply avoided by adopting corrective and preventive practices. Reporting incidents should be a habit. The more the company learns about them, the more it can work objectively to eliminate risks. This cycle tends to result in an increasingly safe work environment.

  • Only use work machines that have been reviewed

Using serviced and certified machines is a good way of preventing accident. However, some companies do not always worry about a proper maintenance routine. Lack of time, cost, and the need to use them for tasks are factors that cause this problem. The employees, however, should not take any chances.

Every machine needs care and frequent overhaul. Else, it is susceptible to malfunctions that can lead to accidents. The problem will not always be limited to poorly executed work. The consequences can hit the employee who is using it. If you notice a problem, notify the maintenance guys about the need for maintenance. Regular reviews are essential.

  • Avoid using tools in poor condition

Tools are also items that can create problems and should enter the accident prevention routine. They are subject to natural wear and tear, which can also endanger those handling them in everyday life.

It is essential that the employees stop using tools that are in poor condition, especially those exposed to impacts which can have consequences.

Breaking a cable, for example, can cause the worker to lose control, resulting in some shock to his own body. Injuries of different levels can happen and take the employee out of activity.

The proper thing to do is to introduce new tools and stop using those that are no longer efficient. As for the company, it is necessary to inspect the equipment regularly and arrange for replacement when necessary.

  • Limit yourself to your duties only

Workers should not execute tasks which they are not trained for, especially those involving risks. Many industrial tasks require intensive training and courses, precisely what qualifies employees to perform them.

At no time should this practice be done. It is illegal, can cause accidents and harm the company. The employer should not ask an unprepared employee to do something they do not know how to do. Along with this, it is also up to the worker not to risk doing jobs that are not within his competence.

This negligence hinders accident prevention! If the employee is instructed to do something he or she does not know how to do, he or she should go to a superior or an occupational safety technician to report that he or she does not have the necessary qualifications.

  • Operate machines responsibly

Machines are needed for various jobs in factories and large companies. Therefore, the operation requires basic usage parameters. Good practices range from attention when performing work to the use of PPE. Many machines are sharp, heavy and have other characteristics that, if not considered, pose serious risks.

It is then critical that the operator is primarily qualified to work with the machine. In addition, he needs to be very careful when operating, especially when other workers are nearby.

Conclusion

Accident prevention practice is extensive, but fundamental for the company and its employees. As pointed out in a workplace manual by good practices that increase workplace safety help make the workplace safer for everyone, curb downtime and therefore increase productivity.

Author Bio

Sharon is marketing specialist and custom essay writer from Manchester, UK. When she has a minute, she loves to share a few of her thoughts about marketing, writing and blogging with you. Currently, she is working as a marketer at professional essay writers and essay-writing service. You could follow Sharon on Facebook.

 

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

5 Safety Measures You Can Take to Prevent a Gas Leak

5 Safety Measures You Can Take to  Prevent a Gas Leak

Home safety is achieved when everyone in the household is educated on what to do when there are home emergencies. This is the best assurance you can give to yourself and the people living in your house. Whatever the size of your house and appliances you have, accidents are very unpredictable and can happen when you least expect them. However, it can be prevented by following safety measures. Gas leaks are one of the main causes of fires at home and even explosions. This hazard is life-threatening which is why you should be vigilant when it comes to home safety.
The most obvious sign of a gas leak is the smell of a gas and this is something you need to worry. Leave the area as soon as possible and call emergency services. If you want to prevent this kind of incident, follow these safety measures and let everyone in the house know about these.
1. Make sure it is properly installed
Sometimes the cause of a gas leak at home is poor and faulty installation. Before you use your appliances at home, make sure they are installed properly. Ideally, a Gas Safety Engineer (GSE) or any qualified gas installer should install your appliances to make sure they are properly and securely fitted.
2. Turn off gas appliances after use
Safety starts with you and everyone in the house. Be mindful and careful whenever you use your household appliances because anything careless increases your risk at home. You and your family should know and familiarise where your gas supply can be turned off so anyone can shut if off immediately right after use. Turning off your appliances after using is the best security you can deal at home.
3. Install a carbon monoxide alarm
Gases contain carbon monoxide that’s why a gas leak can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. It is easier to detect a gas leak in your household if you keep a carbon monoxide alarm so that you will be alerted if ever there are leaks. Make sure that is installed properly; otherwise, the alarm might not function properly and leave you prone to the dangers of gas leaks. Lastly, change the batteries every year to ensure optimal performance.
4. Save the national gas emergency number
For safety and emergency purposes, make sure to save the national gas number in your phone book or any area in your house where you can list important numbers. In this case, you can contact the number whenever you have an emergency gas leak at home.
5. Check the appliances on a regular basis
Even if your appliances are installed by a Gas Safe Register Engineer, it doesn’t mean you can just be relaxed when it comes to gas leaks. Remember that you use the appliances regularly and it’s possible that they can be dysfunctional because of continued usage. We highly advise having a professional GSE check your appliances on a constant basis to see if there are any issues.
Let your family members know all these safety measures to protect your household. Gas leaks are a serious matter which is why you should educate the people in your household to ensure no one gets hurt and no property gets severely damaged.
Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

Frequent construction site accidents and how to avoid them

Frequent construction site accidents and how to avoid them

Working on a construction site can be an extremely dangerous job. In fact, several hundred people have lost their lives while working in or being on a construction site in 2016 alone in the United States.  The ‘Fatal Four’ are the top four leading causes of construction site injuries and deaths in America every year. These are:

  • Falling
  • Being stuck by an object
  • Electrocutions
  • Caught-in/between*

*This means that the worker was caught-in/compressed by objects or equipment. They were then struck, caught, or crushed in a collapsing structure, equipment, or material.  These accidents can lead to:

  • Scarring
  • Disfigurement
  • Back or Neck injuries
  • Spinal chord injury
  • Brain injury
  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Amputated limbs
  • Death

One thing is more shocking than the ‘Fatal Four’, and that is how many deaths are caused by them each year. In 2015, 364 workers died from falls, 90 from being struck by an object, 81 from electrocutions, and 67 from caught-in/betweens. Then numbers have only gotten worse just one year later. In 2016, 384 workers died from falls, 93 from being struck by an object, 82 from electrocutions, and 72 from caught-in/betweens.  The total number of ‘Fatal Four’ deaths each calendar year equals more than half of all construction worker deaths. Out of all occupations’ work-related deaths, construction deaths make up over 20 percent. That means one in five workplace deaths are from construction alone, which is also the highest of all the industries.

Causes of the ‘Fatal Four’  Falls: 

  • Misuse of ladders
  • Unguarded, protruding steel bars
  • Improper scaffold construction
  • Unprotected sides, wall openings, and/or floor holes

Being struck by an object: 

  • Masonry walls
  • Falling/flying objects
  • Vehicles

Electrocutions: 

  • Lack of ground-fault
  • Contact with power lines
  • Improper use of equipment and cords
  • Path to ground missing or discontinuous

Caught-in/betweens: 

  • unsafe spoil-pile placement
  • Unsafe access/egress
  • Failure to inspect trench and protective systems
  • No protective systems

How to prevent accidents for all of you construction workers  

Equipment:  ToolsCritic.com recommends that all hand tools and equipment non-machine-operated should be cleaned and properly stored away in a designated area after being used,. Before use, be it hand tool or machine, all equipment should be checked to make sure they are in proper working order. By taking a few extra minutes doing this, you’re eliminating the risk for faulty equipment and accidents that are caused by equipment laying around.

Following safety guides and training:  The safety guides and training all employers are required to give are designed and set in place by OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These are specifically for the health of every construction worker.

Staying alert:  With any job, it is necessary to pay attention to your work, but construction workers need to pay extra attention. Others may mess up a task, but construction workers could lose a lot more. By paying attention to your surroundings, watching for anything falling, making special note of any possible hazards, you’ll increase your chance of going home safe and sound.  Extra precautions:

Say what you see. If there are unsafe working conditions, don’t be afraid to tell your employer. It’s part of your job. Doing so can save your life or someone else’s.

Take a break. It’s easy to get exhausted, especially when working in construction. Eating, staying hydrated and allowing the body even a few minutes of rest can keep you and other construction workers to stay focused and more alert to what’s happening.

See and be seen. You won’t be the only one on site, usually. Wearing bright color clothing, as well as a neon vest, can keep you visible to others. This is important because accidents aren’t only a one person event. People can run into each other, be throwing things around the site, or a number of other factors that could trigger an accident. So make sure to make yourself easily seen and to see others.

Put up signs. It’s common to put up signs around the site for high-risk areas. Whether it is because of a high voltage area, an area where debris will fall, or another reason, putting up a sign can alert others and remind yourself to stay clear of the area or to be extra cautious. Remember to look for them as well, since others may have put up a sign.  Remember, if you have an accident or see someone else have one while on site, follow the appropriate steps to seek immediate medical attention for the worker. Accidents can and do happen, but the numbers can become a fraction of what they are now if these measures are taken.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

HOW TO PREVENT WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS (GUEST POST)

When it comes to safety in the workplace, there should be a cooperative effort between the employer and workers to avoid accidents and injuries while on the job. As the employer you are legally responsible to ensure that proper safety procedures are in place in the workplace, and as an employee it is in your best interest to follow them. By taking preventive action you can drastically decrease accidents and create a work environment that is void of hazards and promotes your company’s stance on health and safety. 

According to the latest statistics from the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, HSE, between 2012 and 2013 there were 27 million working days lost due to workplace injuries or illness, 78,000 officially reported injuries and 148 deaths. 

Almost all work-related injuries are preventable, yet they are still happening at an alarming rate. Employers need to take responsibility for the health and safety of their employees by creating stringent policies that are strictly enforced. These three steps will help you to avoid accidents in the workplace, and move forward toward a safer and brighter future for all.

 Implement Company Safety Policies 

Every employer should have formal safety rules and procedures in place for their employees to follow. If you don’t have an official company policy yet, this is a great place to start. Creating a Health and Safety section in your company handbook that employees can reference not only provides helpful guidance, but is there officially when an employee does not follow official protocol. 

There should be a person in your company that is in sole charge of safety at the workplace. This safety coordinator ensures that protocols are followed, policies are adhered to, and government regulations are being met. 

Perform a Thorough Inspection of the Workplace 

Once you have a clear company safety manifesto in place, along with a person in charge of it’s implementation, you should do a top to bottom inspection of your workplace to pinpoint safety risks and create a response plan.

Identify areas that could be improved or that require further safety protection, and meet with the area’s supervisors to discuss possible solutions to the issues. 

Common problems include faulty vehicles, lack of proper personal protective equipment, debris and clutter, and areas prone to spillage. Do frequent checks to make sure your vehicles and machinery are inspected frequently and repairs are done as necessary. Requiring your employees to keep a certain standard of housekeeping and to wear protective equipment such as eye safety goggles, hard hats, and steel toe shoes will go a long way. Always be sure that any areas with safety concerns have clear signs informing employees, as well as company protocol that addresses the best way to handle those concerns. 

Provide Comprehensive Safety Training 

Safety in the workplace is an ongoing issue and should be addressed with your employees by providing regular training. Any new employee should be required to go through full training before stepping foot on the work floor, and permanent employees should have refresher trainings at least annually and anytime they will be using new equipment or performing a task they haven’t in the past. 

Putting a transparent and enforced safety policy in place at your workplace will help to decrease accidents and injuries on the job. Employees will be more productive and happier when safety concerns are at a minimum, and you will have done your legal duty to protect those under your watch. 

This article was provided by Essential Industrial, specialists in bearings and power transmissions and provide PPE equipment.

 

 

General Safety Issues

WHY HEALTH AND SAFETY IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS (GUEST POST)

Whether you’re in a management position with a multi-million pound (or dollar) corporation, or whether you own a small business that employs only a handful of staff, health and safety should rank high on your priority list, and not only because of legal obligations. 

It is unfortunate that many employers do not consider Health and Safety to be a pressing issue. There seems to be the mentality that it doesn’t matter if an employee suffers an injury at work as the business does have adequate insurance in place, should that employee decide to sue you in court, which they more than likely will do. 

The point of the matter is that the effects of that original negligent act can be far reaching. The injured employee may not be able to continue with the same career path and could therefore be left jobless, which may affect their personal life should they have a mortgage or rent to pay. Then there is also the issue of dependencies, i.e. children/partner/spouse/parents who rely on the income from the employee.  

Ironic, because the accident most probably could have been prevented at a very low cost.
 
In a perfect world, business owners and all companies would put the welfare of their employees first, but unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world, especially when one considers just how “profit driven” the business world really is.

This is exactly why past governments introduced legislation regarding health and safety. One of these requirements involves carrying out a regular health and safety risk assessment. These assessments can be done by the business owner, any designated employee or employees, or else by way of a third party firm specialising in this field.

While there are no real hard and fast rules pertaining to the actual minimum requirements or standards, it is every employer’s responsibility to ensure their assessments are at least worth something. Inspectors who may call to see your company can and will make recommendations if they feel more could have been done, but that’s basically where it ends. Should you choose to ignore such advice, and something does go wrong, full responsibility lies with you the business owner, rather than with any inspector.  Also, if a court decides your company’s health and safety risk assessment was inadequate,  your insurance company may be closing their door in your face.

To put it mildly, health and safety is a serious issue, and it needs to be viewed as such. If a business is small enough to justify doing their own assessments, or perhaps get one of their staff members to do them, then at the very least they should make sure suitable training is provided.

Author Bio
This article was provided by http://www.safetywearworld.co.uk/. Safety Wear World has written numerous articles on home improvement, DIY and health and safety in the workplace. 

We appreciate our friends in the United Kingdom for contribuing to our safety blog. pb

General Safety Issues

OSHA PLANS TO MAKE WORKPLACE SAFETY REPORTS PUBLIC

Federal safety regulators recently proposed major changes in workplace reporting rules requiring large companies (more than 250 employees) to file injury and illness reports electronically online,  making them available to the public. 

All interested parties (mostly large companies) will have 90 days to send comments on the proposal by OSHA, who will then consider all suggestions.  A public hearing will be held on January 9th.  Later, the decision to approve or deny the changes will be made.  Large companies will be required to transmit the data on a quarterly basis.  (This would affect approximately 38,000 companies).  Those with 20 or more in certain industries with high injury and illness rates would be asked to submit electronically a summary of work-related injuries and illnesses once a year.  There are about 440,000 companies that would be in this category. 

Here are some pros and cons to consider: 

PROS:

  • This change would put added pressure on businesses to comply by submitting reports in a more timely fashion.
  • It would enable the public to identify those companies with poor safety records.
  • It would aid OSHA by not requiring them to inspect those companies with good health and safety records, and focus more on the ones that are reported.
  • OSHA has 2400 inspectors that must cover 8 million workplaces.   
  • It would help employers identify and eliminate workplace risks. 

CONS:

  • Business groups will probably oppose the change for fear that misleading and sensitive information presented to the public could hurt a company’s safety reputation.
  • They may worry that this type of reporting doesn’t tell the full story of the cause of the injury and/or work-related health problems.
  • Businesses are already required to submit annual reports; this would add to their burden of sending in extra accident reports that the company is already aware of and making efforts to correct. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were almost three million workplace injuries and illness last year.  Over 4,300 workers died after being injured on the job in the past year.  Many safety advocates have criticized OSHA for not issuing higher fines for to help discourage unsafe workplaces.  An average penalty from OSHA is around $1,000; the median initial penalty proposed for cases where a worker dies is $5,900.  However, if you notice, these fines and penalties may add up to much heftier amounts.  OSHA feels that public disclosure of accident reports could be another way for them to increase pressure on companies to comply with safety rules.  OSHA feels that responsible employers will be pleased to be recognized as leaders in safety, according to OSHA head, David Michaels.

General Safety Issues

ASSESSING RISKS – Guest Post

Assessing risks in any workplace should be a key part of an organisations strategy in helping them to make sure they protect both staff and the business. The process itself can often be made overly complicated but it really does not need to be. At its most basic all that is involved is working out what can go wrong and then putting control measures in place to try to prevent that happening and lowering risks to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.

Involving the right people from the very start of the process is vital to making sure risks are assessed thoroughly. This should include not only those in charge of health and safety and its implementation but also those directly involved in the work which is being assessed – after all these are the people that need to be protected. However, risk assessments should be carried out by competent persons.

Adequate risk assessments are fundamental to ensuring the effective management of health and safety risks at work. They should take into account:
•       people;
•       premises;
•       plant; and
•       procedures.

One approach to risk assessments is to follow these five simple steps:

•       Identify the hazards.
•       Decide who might be harmed and how.
•       Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
•       Record your findings and implement them.
•       Review your assessment and update if necessary.

Hazards are anything that could cause harm; e.g. working at heights, chemicals, electricity, etc., whilst the risk is the chance, whether low or high, that someone could be harmed by those hazards and an indication of how serious the harm could be.

Removing a hazard is naturally the best way to avoid risk but that is not always an available option. In the first instance then we should try to ‘avoid the risk’ completely, for instance by changing the process involved. If this is not an option then we should find a ‘substitute’; i.e. use less hazardous materials. If this is unachievable then we should ‘minimise’ the risk by possibly limiting exposure to individuals or implement ‘general control measures’ such as barriers or warning systems. As a very last resort ‘personal protective equipment (PPE)’ should be used to protect individuals.

Any controls implemented should focus on protecting collective groups rather than individuals whilst the more human behaviour is involved the more likely something is to go wrong. PPE is the last resort for this very reason – its successful application relies on its user adopting it correctly.

Generic risk assessments may well suffice for most repetitive activities in low risk workplaces such as offices and few if any control measures may therefore be required. However, if you are adopting this kind of approach for your organisation then you should be cautious as incorrect assumptions could be made and could result in forgetting that other risks exist.

To cover against all eventualities then site specific risk assessments should be undertaken to account for differing hazards such as different work conditions, locations, access or time constraints.

Risk assessments should not be used alone as a basis for assuming that employees with always apply common sense. It is also necessary to maintain an appropriate level of monitoring in the workplace to ensure continued effectiveness.

Risk assessments can include reports where hazards are described and control measures recommended or numerical rating systems (e.g. low / medium / high or 1–5 scales for likelihood and severity of an accident occurring) used to identify the level of risk. A numerical approach, however, can sometimes create a drive to achieve certain scores rather than to effectively identify and control risks.

The key to successful risk assessment therefore lies largely in the competence of those involved. Whatever choice is made regarding type or method of risk assessment, the results should always be consistent as well as being simple to understand and action.

Article by Gavin Bates from the Workplace Law Network

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Safety

ACCIDENT PREVENTION THROUGH POSTERS

1 Comment

The industrial environment is challenged with trying to prevent accidents at the workplace.  Just think how much they must spend on personal protective equipment, training, and if an accident happens – loss of work and productivity, insurance claims, material damage, loss of life, and much time spent writing accident reports.  Because everybody acts of their own free will, sometimes it isn’t easy to get them to follow what you want them to do.  Ironically, those same people are the cause of most accidents!  If your workers don’t obey the rules that you have established, or don’t wear their protective equipment, or don’t practice good safety when they aren’t being supervised, chances are something will probably happen, and it won’t be good!  The key to controlling accidents is safety awareness; this type of safety awareness is critical in any construction site.  One unsafe act can bring your safety record down in a few seconds.

What is a good way to deliver your safety message?

Researchers have found that people remember 50% more in what they see than in what they hear. Promoting safety through visuals is a very effective way to get people’s attention.  Most people enjoy posters that are humorous.  Pleasant thoughts generate more receptive learning.  Using humor drives a point that is so easy to understand when done correctly.  Cartoons can illustrate dangerous situations, which might be impossible to capture on film in real life.

Check out a couple of examples of the safety posters found at tasco-safety.com:

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img826

FAILING TO PAY ATTENTION CAN BE A BIG STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION seems to be pretty self-explanatory.

The first poster, PPE ONLY WORKS IF YOU WEAR IT – depicts work boots, respirator, earmuffs, hardhat, glasses, earplugs, and gloves, all in one picture.  It reminds employees to wear the specific things that are required to keep them safe in their work.

Good luck to all safety instructors in getting the message across.  We hope the posters will help get the attention of your workers.  It’s also good to stock up on several and post different ones on a periodic basis, so employees will be watching for new ideas.

General Safety Issues

WE’RE STILL COUNTING DOWN OSHA’S TOP TEN VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES LIST!

Continuing with OSHA’s Top Ten Violations List, (fiscal year 2010),  coming in at #6 is Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout), general industry, (29 CFR 1910.147).  The same standard was #4 in highest penalties assessed by OSHA in fiscal year 2010.  OSHA feels that compliance with this standard  prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries annually, as there are about three million workers in the United States that have jobs to repair or service equipment or machinery, which must be isolated from energy sources before they can begin their work.  Almost 95 per cent of all lockout/tagout citations involved are from not having a formal Energy Control Program in place.  There are three core components to an energy control program:

  1. Energy Control Procedures. These procedures must detail and document the specific information that an authorized employee must know to accomplish lockout/tagout, namely, the scope, purpose, authorization rules and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy.
  2. Periodic inspections of the energy control procedures to ensure that the procedures and requirements of the standard are being followed.
  3. Employee training and retraining, along with additional training under a tagout system, to assure that the purpose and function of the energy control programs are understood by the employer. 

Employers are expected to develop programs and procedures, training and inspections, that meet the needs of their particular workplace and the particular types of machines and equipment they use and service, as long as they meet the requirements of the standard.  They must ensure that prior to an employee servicing the equipment where the potential exists for unexpected energization or start-up of equipment or the release of stored energy, the machine or equipment is isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.  Sources of stored energy include electricity, mechanical motion, motion due to gravity, pressure, springs under tension or compression, and/or thermal (high or low temperatures.) 

Here are other significant requirements of a Lockout/Tagout procedure required under this type of program:

  • Only authorized employees may lockout or tagout machines or equipment in order to perform service or maintenance.
  • Lockout and tagout devices shall not be used for any other purposes and must be used only for controlling energy.
  • The devices (locks and tags) must identify the name of the worker applying the device.
  • All energy sources to equipment must be identified and isolated.
  • After the energy is isolated from the machine or equipment, the isolating device must be locked out or tagged out in safe or off position only by authorized employees.
  • Following the application of these devices to the energy isolating devices, the stored or residual energy must be safely discharged or relieved.
  • Prior to starting work on the equipment, the authorized employee shall verify that the equipment is isolated from the energy source, for example, by operating the on/off switch on the machine or equipment.
  • The lock and tag must remain on the machine until work is completed.
  • Only the authorized employee who placed the lock and tag must remove his/her lock or tag,  unless the employer has a specific procedure as outlined in OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout standard.

An accident can best be avoided by preventing an unexpected startup of equipment or machinery while it is being serviced or repaired.  One can never be too careful!

Source: OSHA

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Eye Protection, Fall Safety, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING WHAT WENT WRONG

One of the worst things that can happen to any business is for an employee to be injured on the job.  (It goes without saying, that it’s also a very unfortunate event for the employee.) Workers have the right to know exactly what is expected of them in their daily job performance.  They should be informed of any hazards associated with their duties and properly trained before beginning their job, and given the proper personal protective equipment that is required to ensure their safety.

Efficient businesses have policies and procedures, which should include a proper accident investigation and reporting plan.  Prevention, of course, is the key to avoiding accidents, but when they happen, someone must be assigned to be responsible in determining how and why the injury occurred.   Insufficient reporting of work-related accidents will lead to higher costs for employers.  It also must be reported to company management and workers comp providers in an accurate and timely manner.

Lost time accidents are costly to employers.  According to Cal/OSHA, for every dollar a company spends on direct costs of a workers’ injury, more dollars are spent to cover the hidden and indirect costs, such as:

  • Productive time lost by the injured employee;
  • Productive time lost by employees attending the accident victim;
  • Time to hire/retrain employee while victim is off work;
  • Clean up and start up of operations that were interrupted;
  • Paying employee all or part of wages, in addition to compensation;
  • Cost to repair damaged equipment;
  • Higher workers compensation rates;
  • Cost of paperwork involved in reporting accident.

Employers that do not furnish safe and healthful work practices for their workers are gambling with the future of their very own business.  Hazard assessments, risk management, and safety programs are essential for ensuring successful business practices for everyone involved.

Another angle to consider, as well, is that a thorough accident investigation will prove that the injury did occur on the job, and not elsewhere.  History shows that there are people in this world that will take advantage of their employer and sue them for an on-the-job injury that happened somewhere else.