Tag Archives: workplace safety

General Safety Issues

OFFICE SAFETY 101: KEEPING THE WORKPLACE HAZARD-FREE (GUEST POST)

Office Safety 101: Keeping the Workplace Hazard-Free

Workplace safety is a big focus for most companies, in large part because accidents can be very costly to a business. Each injury or accident can lead to increased insurance costs, lowered productivity and a potential lawsuit, so it’s no surprise that most business owners want to create the safest working environment possible. Many workplace accidents are avoidable; better accident prevention can always reduce the risk of something going wrong.

Even with an office safety plan in place, there are always little things you can do to make your environment just a bit safer. Read on for some suggestions of small changes that can make a big difference—and possibly help you and your coworkers avoid a painful accident.

Use proper signage

Exit doors should always be clearly marked, but that’s not the extent of how signage should be used. Use signs throughout the office to make employees aware of nearby hazards. For example, set out notifications in obvious places to warn employees about slippery floors, or to keep people out of the way of a door’s swinging path. You could even use signage to warn of equipment-specific hazards if you feel the risk warrants an alert.

Tie up or cover cables and cords

Loose cables and cords create a serious tripping hazard in the workplace. When bunches are present, tie them together to reduce the risk of catching onto a foot. When possible, embed them under the carpet or along baseboards. You can also purchase cable raceways to run groups of cables above the floor in a way that won’t create a tripping obstacle for foot traffic.

Keep walkways, doorways and congested areas clear

The more congestion found in walkways, the more likely it is that trips, bumps, spills and other accidents will occur. Keep high-traffic areas as free of clutter as possible. Make sure areas by doors are wide open to prevent collisions. And never leave clutter or other objects on or near flights of stairs.

Install surge protection devices

Electrical surges can pose a great risk to devices, but employees close to that equipment can also be damaged if a surge occurs. Voltage regulation devices help keep the flow of electricity consistent, stopping a surge before it strikes electrical equipment. These devices are easy to install, and they can be a great layer of protection for both equipment and employees if an electrical surge hits your building.

Keep shelving orderly

When shelving is piled high with unstable contents, the risk of a spill increases. Particularly with overhead shelving, the risk of falling objects can be significant and potentially lead to injuries. Keep shelving neat and orderly at all times to eliminate the risk of an accidental spill. Invest in shelf dividers, storage drawers and other organizational items to keep items separated and prevent an avalanche of office supplies.

No one wants to work in a dangerous environment, and injuries in the workplace are always a burden for businesses. It makes sense to do everything you can on the prevention end, stopping incidents before they start. Your business will appreciate your efforts, and your office morale may also enjoy a boost.
Maire lives in the Indianapolis area and enjoys writing about safety and construction. She also loves double chocolate brownies and her Scottish Terrier, Pete.

Note: Under the segment about Use Proper Signage, all offices can use safety posters throughout the building, that fit the particular hazard in that place. 

 

 

General Safety Issues

WORKPLACE SAFETY – EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY (GUEST POST)

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Sent to us by Maree Kyle

Workplace safety is a major concern for employees and management alike. While workers themselves have obvious reasons to be cautious and safe, business owners need to do their part in creating a safe environment to reduce their liability and the potential insurance costs that rise as workplace incidents become more likely. A number of practices need to be implemented if businesses are serious about creating a safer environment. While fiscally minded professionals may be eager to cut costs by skipping steps on some of these safety measures, preventative spending is often much more affordable than the costs incurred when an injury occurs. Here are some steps every business can take to identify points of concern and minimize risks for everyone, saving money while ensuring the well-being of the company’s employees. 

1. Conduct a job hazard analysis 

The best way to identify potentially unseen or underestimated risks in the workplace is to perform a job hazard analysis. Identifying uncontrolled hazards is the easiest way to prevent serious accidents in the workplace and, more importantly, accidents that wouldn’t be otherwise recognized. This analysis solicits the insight of employees who have likely observed their own safety risks. Employees can also be instrumental in developing solutions to these hazards. The company can then outline procedures to address these risks, eliminating potential accidents and possibly saving lives. 

2. Incorporate safety training 

Better training can often lead to fewer accidents in the workplace. Make sure your employees are properly trained on whatever equipment or tools they use. Likewise, be sure to familiarize all employees with the hazards and appropriate safety measures of their work environments. You might also want to incorporate on-site training to make sure emergency procedures are understood by everyone. 

3. Inspect safety equipment regularly 

Fire alarms, extinguishers, chemical showers and safety gear needs to be checked periodically to make sure it is still functioning properly. Set up a schedule in your workplace to make sure these devices have been maintained properly and are in working order in the event of an accident. Similarly, post proper signage throughout the workspace to keep workers, management and visitors mindful of hazardous areas. 

4. Perform random safety inspections 

Once your staff has been properly trained, implement randomized safety inspections to make sure proper procedures are being followed. Install a procedure for handling safety protocol lapses, including additional training and reprimands for failing to comply with workplace rules. 

5. Make sure management is on board 

Of course, instituting these various measures will have limited effect if management doesn’t understand their importance. Make sure you have the right management professionals in place to support these efforts and make sure they are properly incorporated into the work environment. It may be necessary to provide some training to management themselves to make sure they understand the importance of following safety protocols. 

Unfortunately for many workplaces, a common cause of worksite injuries isn’t necessarily a lack of safety guidelines, but a refusal to follow them. This risk underscores the importance of educating employees about the potential consequences, as well as implementing disciplinary procedures to make sure the rules are followed at all times. It only takes one broken or ignored rule to lead to an injury, creating a dangerous situation for workers and management. It takes effort from all sides to create meaningful change in the workplace.

The proper working safety equipment is imp0rtant to provide safety for each worker, depending on the job and its’ particular hazards. Pat

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

HOW ACCIDENT RECORDS AND STATISTICS HELP IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY (GUEST POST)

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Written by Georgina Clatworthy

The cost of personal injuries that occur in the workplace is the second largest expense to any business. These costs include insurance premiums, health and safety measures to prevent injury, and payments made to employees that have been injured. For the benefit of company and employee, reducing the number of incidents that occur is always a top priority. 

While there are many ways in which you can improve safety measures around the workplace, the best way to make effective change is to use raw data. Our attorneys Charleston SC based advise that using accident records and statistics from your company, and those in similar industries, will help create a picture of what “really” takes place in the work environment and how to address those concerns.

Why “How It Should Be” And “How It Is” Can Be Very Different

Many businesses are surprised when someone is injured on the job when they believed all the correct safety measures were in place. The truth is, however, that what often makes sense on paper does not apply to the workplace situation. People are in fact only people, and when an event arises that poses a risk, each will react differently. It is nearly impossible to prepare for every contingency, which is why researching work accident data is so important to prevent further accidents.

  • Reviewing accident data: When you review accident data, you will be able to gain insightful knowledge of how the event occurred, even if safety measures were in place. You will be able to read the event from the employee’s perspective. The data provides you with useful information on how to change your safety standards or create additional employee training measures to avoid this type of event from occurring again.
  • Look at other industries: Utilizing information from other industries that are the same or similar to the business in question will also provide significant information. This data will provide an overall look at workplace events in a “real world” manner. This information is invaluable, and will provide the best source of knowledge to create a safe work environment.

Using Accident Records And Statistics Has Proven Very Successful

As more companies take the time to review this type of data, and use it for to their advantage, the overall amount of workplace injuries has decreased. In the last decade, the overall number of claims filed for temporary or permanent disability has dropped in regards to workplace events. This is very encouraging for both employees and businesses.  Employees that feel safe at work are more productive. When productivity rises, the business and the employees benefit in many ways. It is an overall good situation.

In the end, raw data provides the right type of information needed to create a safe workplace. This data may be as simple as showing a need for ergonomic office furniture to reduce lower back pain and carpal tunnel claims, or as important as showing a need for additional heavy equipment training. 

Use of this type of data has already shown a reduction in workplace related claims across every industry, which is beneficial to all parties involved. Reduced injuries and claims strengthen employee confidence and lowers operating expenses. 

Georgina Clatworthy is a legal writer interested in topics relating to personal injury and accidents.  She contributes this article on behalf of Howell and Christmas, a firm of attorneys Charleston SC based.  Workplace injuries can account for a large number of the total injury claims made across the USA every year.  Consulting with an experienced attorney, should an injury occur at work or somewhere else, will ensure you not only receive the damages you deserve but also that your rights are protected throughout the claims process.

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

AVOIDING CUBICLE DISASTERS (GUEST POST)

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For those who work in high risk jobs, workplace safety is a topic that stays close in mind. In truth, even the most placid of occupations and workplaces can lend themselves to some dangerous moments — the coffepot inferno or the Acme anvil that cascaded through the heavens to eventually collapse poetically onto one of the copy-editors —  when disaster strikes, it’s best to be prepared.

One of the main keys to safety in the workplace is to have an escape plan in place in the case of a fire, a bomb threat, or any other reason that makes it necessary to evacuate the building. Whether there are a large number of people in a workplace or just a few, proper organization is key when it comes to keeping everyone safe. Without it, it’s easy for employees to become panicked and the likelihood of injury increases substantially.

One of the first things that should be done long before any emergency situation occurs is choosing a leader. Because dealing with an emergency is not the same as dealing with everyday business needs, this may not be a person normally in a management role. Whoever this leader is, it’s important they’re able to remain calm and are capable of presenting themselves as an authority during a stressful situation. Because there may be many different ideas on what the appropriate procedure should be during an emergency, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) has developed regulations that help assure that certain regulations and standards are upheld during a workplace emergency.

  • Have a procedure for reporting emergencies.

It’s important to know what is going to happen in the event of an emergency before it happens. There may be fire alarms to pull, a plan to call 911 or an internal emergency number. Especially for larger workplaces, this should link to an intercom system so everyone knows an emergency is actually happening and isn’t a drill. For those who may be hearing impaired, another inaudible alarm, such as a flashing light, may be used to assure everyone is aware of the situation.

  • Have an emergency action plan in place.

It’s not enough to alert everyone that there’s an emergency. It’s important that employees know what to do depending on the type of emergency. In instances of a fire or gas leak evacuation procedures should be followed, and if there is a storm or some threat outside the building, seeking shelter inside is better. Larger companies often use a stairwell, smaller buildings might congregate in a closet, break room or restroom.

Often in an emergency situation, a power outage may take place, so having emergency lighting in place helps avoid potential catastrophe and keep everyone safe.

  • Designate a clear chain of command

It’s likely that your leaders in a business strategy meeting will not be the same as those who will lead the employees and visitors in a company to safety should an emergency occur. However, whoever takes on the role should be able to take it on completely. By practicing various worst case scenarios, employees will get to know and understand who they must follow in an emergency situation. Those chosen for these leadership roles should be skilled in first aid and respiratory aids such as CPR or have the ability to operate respiratory masks. 

While OSHA provides standards and guidelines for how companies should prepare from potential emergencies, having arrangements beyond those requirements are certainly recommended. Where a new business is concerned, establishing and notifying everyone of these procedures needs to be made a priority. During orientation procedures, employees should meet those who take on leadership roles in an emergencies.

Whatever emergency action plan a company puts in place, it should be tailored towards the size and type of the business. In a smaller store, one or two people in a leadership position will likely be enough in order to prevent chaos during an emergency situation. A larger corporation will need several people and will likely need to organize those persons with in a way that fits the seating arrangement of employees. Manufacturing plants, or other workplaces where there’s a lot of noise, may need to rely more heavily on the use of lights to communicate an emergency. Those who work outside, such as construction workers, may want to designate a trailer or some other safe place to go in the event of a storm or other inclement weather. The particular risks will vary depending on the size and nature of the business, so making sure the appropriate risk assessment is made is important.

In most cases, workplace emergencies will be rare, but because there is a potential of serious consequences it is important that they are treated as a real possibility. Even with all the proper plans and procedures in place, the ability of all employees to remain calm and professional is important to keeping everyone safe.

Sent by Jessica Stark

General Safety Issues

EASY WAYS TO DEAL WITH OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS (GUEST POST)

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 All workplaces should be safe and not hazardous to the worker’s health and safety but unfortunately that is not always the case. Employers and employees have the responsibility to make sure the workplace is a safe environment and the hazards should be controlled immediately.

As a business owner, the responsibility lies on your shoulders and you should conduct “risk assessment” to evaluate and prioritize the hazards. The best way to deal with occupational hazards is to deal with them before they become occupational accidents.  Here are some things you can do to assess the risks:

  • Observe the workplace and identify potential hazards. Most of them are regulated by federal and state laws, but  safthere are some that might have slipped through.
  •  Have a safety plan, specific to the physical space of the business. Where are the exits, where is the ventilation, what   are the procedures for shut-offs?
  •  Have those safety measures clearly posted where workers can see them.
  •  Stress the importance of health and safety in the workplace.
  •  Have an open door policy in regards to health and safety issues.
  •  Survey your employees or co-workers about their health and safety concerns.
  •   Examine the sickness figures. Is a pattern emerging?

After you’ve identifies the safety issues, there are five ways to deal with occupational hazards:

  • Eliminate the hazard by removing it completely. This is by far the most effective method of control but it is not always applicable. If the work process is still in its development stages it is easier to correct.
  • Substitution – Replacing one process with another to eliminate the risk. Changing chemicals to less harmful ones, replacing machines, adding air-condition units etc. Substitution also means changing work processes and equipment to do the job in a less harmful manner.
  •  Engineering control –Solving the problem in an engineering way like adding protective enclosures to the machine to prevent contact with dangerous moving parts. Controlling the dust by keeping a clean work environment and preventing it from spreading in the air is another form of engineering control.  Adding safety measures as automatic shut offs, interlocking guards or operating the machine by remote control are also good examples.
  • Administrative control – Limiting access to a certain area for only a handful of employees or limiting the number of hours workers can be in that place. Changing work schedules to allow more rest or shorter shifts.
  • Personal Ssfety equipment – providing your workers with protective gear to protect their eyes, ears and respiration.  Adding protective clothing or footwear also falls into this category.

Some methods are more efficient than others, but it is a fact that a combination of the methods works the best. Employees are entitled to have a safe and healthy work environment that enables him/her to perform his/her work without risking their health or their lives.

About the Author:

Patrick Del Rosario is part of the team behind Open Colleges.   When not working, Patrick enjoys blogging about career and business. Patrick is also a photography enthusiast and is currently running a photography studio in the Philippines.

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

A GUIDE TO SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION (Guest Post)

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the United States Department of Labor, there were 4,690 workplace fatalities in 2010 alone out of which 774 were in construction. These deaths were mostly related to safety hazards that could have been potentially avoided. The number one cause of death was falling, followed by electrocution, then being struck by an object, and lastly getting caught in or between things. These four major causes were addressed by OSHA and guidelines were provided to ensure safety among construction and renovation workers.

The proper use of safety equipment can also prevent injuries and fatalities at construction sites. Although required by law in many states, a large number of workers tend to ignore the importance of safety equipment. The following steps are guide to using safety equipment for renovation and construction work.

Avoiding Falls With Proper Fall Protection Equipment

Personal fall protection equipment is a necessity at any construction site. Whether the renovation or construction requires climbing high buildings or remodelling a small home, safety equipment is absolutely essential. Falling is the number one cause of death at construction sites, making protection against it highly important. Some of the main reasons for falling include floor openings, unprotected walls and side holes, wrong scaffold construction, protruding steel and iron bars, and portable ladder misuse.

OSHA requires that any openings six feet or more should be protected with a guardrail or safety net system. Moreover, all construction sites should be inspected prior to work for any hidden openings or holes that can pose a danger to workers. These “fall prevention systems” are known to be a better option than “fall protection systems.” Fall protection systems consist of safety equipment like safety belts, full body harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, rope grabs, shock absorbers, carabiners, and anchors. All fall protection systems must be checked for size, manufacturer’s identification, usage, date of manufacture, and model number.

Safety Equipment to Avoid Electrocutions

Electrocution is the second main cause of deaths among construction workers. Some of the serious forms of danger that workers are exposed to when working around electrical materials include thermal burns, arc flashes, electric shocks, and blasts. There are two protection systems that need to be in place when working with electricity: Insulating Protective Equipment (IPE) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

1. Insulating Protective Equipment (IPE)
According to OSHA the following insulation protection should be included when dealing with electricity: 

  • Insulation should be provided for “(rubber) line hose, blankets, and hoods”
  • Insulation for “barriers made of fiberglass or phenolic resin”
  • “Live-line tools, such as hotsticks, switchsticks, and shotgun sticks”
  • “Plastic or fiberglass hardcover items that can be installed with live-line tools”

2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Workers are required to use Personal Protective Equipment and workwear to protect against electrical hazards. The US Department of Labor suggests that all workers should be provided with training on how to properly use PPE. Security and hazard assessment should also be performed prior to any electrical work to judge the amount and level of PPE needed. Here are some of the PPE frequently used when working with electrical equipment:

  • Eye and face protection, such as safety glasses and face shields
  • Rubber gloves with insulation and leather protection
  • Industrial Hard hats
  • Safety shoes
  • Insulating sleeves
  • Chemical protection gloves
  • Flare resistant clothing

 Similarly, “struck-by” and other construction related fatalities can be avoided if proper measures and safety plans are put in place. OSHA requires that these measures are also taken care of when using construction vehicles. All vehicles must be fully inspected to guarantee functioning lights, brakes, mirrors, and other areas operating safely. To prevent hazards from falling objects, always make sure to wear a hard hat, goggles, and other protective gear. Load-carrying vehicles should be checked for safety prior to usage and all tools should be secured in place to avoid falling on people.

Almost all injuries and deaths can be avoided if workers are provided with proper guidelines on how to operate under different conditions with the necessary safety equipment. While some workers often tend to neglect these safety measures assuming that they are mere hindrances to their workflow, these measures are put in place for a reason — the safety and security of themselves and those around them. 

Below are listed some useful resources for those people that want to find out and read more about this topic:

Resources
http://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/index.html
http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/by_topic/assets/pdf/fall_protection.pdf

 

Our thanks to Lucy James for this very helpful article! pb

Ergonomics, Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

HOW PHYSICALLY FIT ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES?

It’s never too late for us to focus on developing and maintaining a fit and healthy workforce.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, regular physical activity can help control body weight, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, improve brain function and moods, and strengthen bones and muscles.  Unless you work at a gym, are an athlete, or serve in the military, chances are some of your workforce is not as physically fit as others. 

So, what are you doing about it?  Depending on the size of the company, there are many things that can help employees become and remain stronger and healthier.  Luckily, in my experience working at a hospital, there were many services offered to the employees; things such as annual health fairs for employees and the public for various screenings, including cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose checks, and other health risk assessments.  There was also a cardiac center, where employees could use the equipment during times that patients were not present.  Our registered dietician conducted healthy food classes for employees, as well as patients that had experienced heart problems. 

If you are considering establishing a fitness program for your employees, first of all, you should conduct a survey to see how many are interested in participating.  Next, select a wellness committee to assume various duties, such as furnishing healthy snacks, and contacting outside health care personnel to present workshops.  You may already have an employee that is certified to teach First Aid Classes and C.P.R.  Search within your company to see which personnel can assume leadership roles by making it fun for all participants. 

Yoga, even 10-minute breaks at the workplace, can help a person escape from the stress of work.  Stress management “coaches” can teach techniques to relax and decompress from the strains both at work and home.  

Other ways to help your employees become more active, especially those whose jobs are sitting at a desk all day, are encouraging them to walk to discuss something with a coworker, rather than using email; take the stairs rather than elevator, and stand while talking on the phone.  Workers can get more exercise also by parking farther away from the building, getting off the bus earlier than the regular stop, and participating on a company sports team.  Get a group of workers together to take a lunch walk. 

Does your company encourage smoking cessation?  If not, this is a good time to start.  How about having contests between departments to bring healthy snacks every once in a while, rather than cookies, cakes, and all the good stuff?  Things such as fruit, nuts, cereals, yogurt, healthy muffins, and vegetables are much better for us all.  See which group comes up with the best ideas.

Workplace safety is a very important aspect of success in every workplace.  Does your workforce know what to do in case of an emergency?  Are there eyewash stations, and first aid supplies within the range of areas where they may be needed?  If not, now’s the time to get started on encouraging cooperation among workers to get healthy and stay that way, and be prepared in case of an emergency.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety, Uncategorized

ENSURING THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS SAFETY

Safety Meetings and Safety Training are conducted to keep you safe while you earn your pay.  But what if these meetings were presented in a language that you didn’t know?  America has always been known as a Melting Pot, with immigrant workers coming from all over the world.  Many of them are from disadvantaged countries, and work in seasonal jobs such as agriculture.  Others work in construction, mining, and industries with high mortality rates.  Some are machine operators, assemblers, cleaners, and helpers.  Limited English proficiency may be a direct contributor to workplace injuries or fatalities. 

OSHA has a history of requiring employers to train their employees in a manner that they understand.  If they don’t speak English, then preparation for their job tasks, as well as safety and health training, is to be conveyed in the language that they understand.  If the employee’s vocabulary is limited, training must account for that limitation.  Simply telling them to read training materials will not satisfy the employer’s obligation.  OSHA also requires employers to verify that employees have acquired the knowledge and skills for which they have been trained; i.e., lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, bloodborne pathogens, etc.

Having worked for an oilfield construction company in West Texas several years ago, I know there were many of our employees that didn’t understand or speak English, and were dependent on their Spanish-speaking supervisors to instruct them.  They worked hard for minimum wage, and did a good job.  But there were injuries, as well.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shares these examples of how they are working to improve problems that immigrant workers face:

§ The NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program identifies and studies work-related injury deaths, with the goal of identifying effective prevention measures.
§  Through on-site investigations, NIOSH and cooperating states collect detailed circumstances for select incident types, including deaths of Hispanic workers since 2002.
§ Targeted research programs focused on the construction and agricultural sectors, both of which employ a disproportionate share of immigrant workers. 
§ An occupational health disparities program, which is conducting research on the causes and prevention of occupational health disparities including those experienced by immigrant workers. 
§ A Spanish language website and translation of several NIOSH publications into Spanish.
§ An innovative information and communication effort with the Spanish-language television network Telemundo and other partners, in which construction safety messages were incorporated dramatically into a widely watched prime-time series, and supplemented with a public service announcement and a special website.

 
Companies and their supervisors are responsible for the safety of all workers, must understand the hazards of their job, as well as the importance of wearing Personal Protective Equipment, and how to take care of it.  If employees see a co-worker that is at risk, regardless of a language barrier, or any other reason, they need to reach out and help.  That way, everyone stays safe!

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.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

IT’S NOT MY FAULT!

From early childhood, it’s always been easier to find someone else to blame when we slip up.

It’s funny how that seems to be built into our personalities, some of us more so than others.

A friend once noted:

“My kids were always innocent until proven guilty.  There was a bad guy somewhere in the picture, but it wasn’t them!  My daughter even blamed a little puppy for following her from school. I am sure she didn’t encourage the puppy at all……………..”

At home or on the job, we all seem to want to place the blame on someone else when things happen.  When there is an accident at work, home or play, the important thing is to not play the “blame game”, but fix the problem.  If you notice someone acting out all the time, they may be taking their problems out on others.  There are persons who feel that the whole world is out to get them.  It’s our responsibility to help them understand that everyone makes mistakes, and together, with teamwork, it’s going to be corrected.

We need to make a commitment to workplace excellence and create a safe, healthy environment.  When you notice someone you work with exhibiting safe behaviors, give them a pat on the back, and maybe others will follow suit.  It’s amazing how far a compliment can go; it’s much better than constant criticism.

Various Safety Posters
Various Safety Posters
Visual aids are always helpful.  We notice posters that encourage good attitudes and safe practices.  One poster I remember from working in a hospital was “Loose Lips Sink Ships”, (a World War II theme that depicted a sinking battleship).  This poster was to remind workers of the current HIPAA law, prohibiting employees from divulging personal patient information without a release from that patient.  I remember that picture from years past, and I bet each one of you can remember some poster at work that stayed in your mind.

If you can “Walk the Safety Walk” and “Talk the Safety Talk” you will spend your time doing that, not blaming the other guy.  And, if for some unforeseen reason, something happens that is your fault, just admit it and go on.  If you are thinking safety, it will only be a minor glitch, and hopefully an easy fix!