SAFETY BLOG

Developing Safety & Health Programs

Safety and Health Program Guidelines:

• Effective management of workplace safety and health programs:
• reduces the extent and severity of work related injuries and illnesses
• improves employee morale and productivity
• reduces worker compensation costs
• Exemplary workplaces use organized and systematic methods to:
• assign responsibilities to managers, supervisors, and employees
• regularly inspect for and control workplace hazards
• orient and train all employees to eliminate or avoid hazards

A written safety program should include:

1. A statement of commitment and support for the safety and health program from the administration
• statement to be signed by the CEO or other designated employee
2. A statement that defines the appointment of, the authority of, the training of, and the funding of a safety officer
3. A worker compensation policy that defines the parameters of the program and how employees access the program
4. A safety and health program for each OSHA standard that requires a hazard evaluation and risk assessment
5. A program that addresses the procedures to take when investigating a safety incident or accident
6. A program that addresses identifying and correcting unsafe work conditions and practices
7. A program that addresses each job task and job description from a safety and health standpoint in a manner to prevent on the job injuries and illnesses
8. A formal safety and health orientation
9. A periodic safety and health training program that addresses OSHA and site-specific safety and health issues such as PPE, engineering controls, hazardous materials communications, etc.
10. An outline of employer and employee responsibilities with respect to safety and health on the job

 Be safe out there!

Employee Health & Wellness

Research is beginning to shed more light on successful companies.  We are starting to find out that the general health and wellness of a company's employees directly relates to the efficiency and success of that company.  Healthy employees are efficient employees.  Tests have shown that employers who promote health and wellness among their employees have a more dedicated, satisfied, and successful workforce than those employers that do not.

Areas of health and wellness to promote in your company:

• Workplace Safety-
• The first and top priority in any workplace should be the health and safety of its employees.  Just like at home, an employee wants to feel nurtured and safe in their work environment.
• The first step is having a management staff that is committed to protecting their employees from all hazards and dangers.  They must practice what they preach.  If an employee knows that their management cares about them, then a level of trust will take root and the employee will dedicate more energy and talent to the benefit of the entire company.
• Next, comprehensive safety protocols must be developed to protect employees from known or potential hazards.
• Finally, training and education is the best way to increase knowledge of safe practices and to developing a safety-minded company.
• Aesthetics and ergonomics-
• The look and feel of the office or workplace can have a major effect on the emotional wellbeing of its employees.
• Limit restrictive barriers such as cubicles and solid wall offices in the workplace.  Maximize space in a way to promote socializing and idea creation.
• Maximize natural light and fresh air.  Encourage outdoor breaks, lunches, brainstorming sessions, etc.
• A fresh coat of paint with balanced color schemes can go a long way to substitute for the industrial feel of many workplaces.
• Utilize artwork that reflects the dedication and ideals of the company's employees.
• Many employees who are involved in repetitive movements can be plagued by soreness and long term injuries.
• Invest in a comprehensive ergonomics study within your workplace.
• Upgrade to equipment, furniture, and procedures that will minimize repetitive movement injuries.
• Mental and emotional health-
• Provide access to confidential mental health professionals that can assist employees with common life difficulties such as depression, divorce, death in the family, etc.
• Develop a comprehensive substance abuse program within the workplace.  This program must deter substance abuse among employees, educate employees on the dangers of substance abuse, and provide treatment and recovery options for employees that are seeking help.
• Physical health and wellness-
• Educate employees on the impacts of eating healthy, exercising and monitoring health.
• Set health goals as a company.
• For example, an office of 15 people will strive to lose 100 pounds in one month.
• Replace unhealthy foods and beverages in vending machines with fresh and healthy foods.
• Develop a healthy workplace program that will cover all areas of health and wellness for the work force.
• Provide interoffice wellness checks for employees on a regular basis.
• Blood pressure checks
• Influenza vaccinations
• Prostrate cancer screenings
• Breast cancer screenings
• Encourage yearly physicals for employees in high-risk operations.

 Take care of yourselves and your employees, they are the best asset you will ever have.

 Be safe out there!

President Obama's Labor Department unveiled additional funding for OSHA.  The stimulus will give OSHA an additional $51 million and will include the hiring of 160 new safety inspectors nation wide.  The increase in funding is meant to motivate OSHA to tackle issues that according to the current administration, were stalled under the previous administration.  American firms and industries should prepare themselves for a more "hands-on" regulating agency.  More money means more resources and more inspections.

On May 11, 2009, OSHA published its agenda for issues and regulations that are going to be developed and reviewed over the next year.  Some of the regulations and issues being reveiwed and developed are as follows:

Pre-Rule Stage

• Protection of workers exposed to crystalline silica and the economic impact of implementing protection standards for employers.
• Proposed rule for workers exposed to beryllium (a light metal that can cause lung damage).
• Occupational exposure to diacetyl (a butter-flavoring additive linked to "popcorn lung").

Proposed Rule Stage

• Closing of the proposed rule for cranes and derricks in construction.
• Adding additional information on minimum approach distances for its electrical protective equipment.
• New rules associated with working in confined spaces in construction, shipyards, and other industries.

 Long-Term Actions

• Review of the current bloodborne pathogen standard as to how it relates to other standards and current technologies.

In January, the Obama Administration announced the withdrawal of the advance notice practice for rule-making.  This practice, which was set in place by President Bush at the end of his presidency, has been criticized by opponents who say that it delays the rule-making process by as much as two years.  The current president wants to make a statement in the workplace.  All American companies need to stay up-to-date on OSHA standards, and ensure their company safety programs are developed and in compliance.

OSHA has recently sent out letters to 13,500 specific employers in the United States in order to remind them that their reported illnesses and injuries in the workplace are higher than the national average.  Like they didn't know this already.  This is a prelude of things to come from government control over large companies.  It would seem logical that the fines, increased inspections, and increased medical and worker's compensation costs would remind them on a regular basis.  The Washington Post reported that OSHA is discussing the creation of a Severe Violators Inspection Program.  According to the article, OSHA plans to eventually turn up the heat on what they call "negligent companies" or companies that do not take worker safety seriously.  A similar version of this program was created in 2003, but has proved to be an OSHA failure.

On April 30, 2009, the Workforce Protection Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee met in order to improve OSHA's Enhanced Enforcement Program (EEP).  The EEP was implemented in 2003 and has since proved to be a huge failure.  This program was designed to target companies that reported above average injuries and illnesses with increased inspections and stricter delegation of discipline.  OSHA has been analyzing the performance level of the EEP program and has found that since its inception, OSHA has failed to comply with program requirements in 97% of the EEP cases.  The Severe Violators Inspection Program will be a rebuild of the EEP.  They plan to re-engineer this program from the ground up, and make no mistake, they plan to enforce it.  Their plan is to concentrate attention on large companies and less targeting of smaller companies.

Proponents of the program state that there are too many large companies in the United States that do not take safety seriously and endanger their employees on a regular basis, therefore, violating the General Duty Clause to provide hazard-free work environments.  They blame the Bush Administration for the EEP's failure.  They state that the former administration was overlooking safety enforcement to protect big-business.  Skeptics state that this program will inadvertently target compliant companies that have more reportings because they report all incidents including minor injuries and illnesses.  They also state that this program will deter larger companies from reporting in order to stay clear of OSHA's radar.  It would appear that bipartisan debates have spilled over into workplace safety.

Either way we slice it, we will most certainly see increased regulation of workplace safety in the near future.  Our current administration appears to have declared war on big-business and large corporations.  Now is an excellent time to evaluate your company's safety policies, procedures, training programs, and commitment to workplace safety.  Become proactive rather than reactive. Make the changes now that will not cost you later. 

When it comes to running a safety program, most safety managers do not give a lot of thought to the potential dangers associated with storing and handling flammable liquids.  Whether these liquids are fuels, alcohols, or degreasers, they have the potential to start fires, explode, or cause serious health effects.  Most companies do not realize it, but there are many standards created by OSHA that regulate how flammable liquids are to be handled and stored in the workplace.  Managers should get used to the terms D.O.T. approved safety cans, bonding and grounding, and ventilation.  If one is to look into the OSHA standards for flammable liquids, they will see these terms throughout the text.  OSHA can and will give citations to companies that do not utilize flammable liquids properly.

Our recommendation is to get a basic understanding of these regulations first.  Start with a comprehensive fire safety policy and training protocol.  Then put approved safety cans and flammable liquid cabinets into service.  Once that is taken care of, start with bonding and grounding applications, and then move into more advanced control processes.  Contact a local safety expert to advise you on how to develop you policies and trainings.  Conduct a site safety assessment to locate flammable liquid hazards as well as other hazards that exist in your workplace.  Flammable liquids pose serious threats to your employees and company property.  Take control of them now.  Below is a link to an excellent article written by Gary Marcus in EHS Today.  This article gives a very basic understanding of how to safely handle and store flammable liquids.

http://ehstoday.com/fire_emergencyresponse/hazardous-materials/guide-handling-flammables-0409/

Worthington Industries presents an outside the box solution to safety programs.  An article in EHS Today by Terry Leberfinger reported that Worthington Industries has been using a radical program for increasing safety and lowering accidents and safety related costs in their workplace.  A leading diversified metals processing company with 8,000 employees and 64 facilities worldwide have been relying on their employees to define safety in the workplace.

Traditional safety programs start from the top and work their way down to baseline employees.  Company administrators decide where the hazards exist, create policies to manage those hazards, and implement trainings and media to enforce the policies.  Since 2001, Worthington has been working from the ground up.  The train-of-thought here is that safety programs need to be defined by those that are facing hazards and responsible for abating them.  They call it the Safe Works program.

Highlights of Safe Works:

• provides standardization and sharing of company-wide best practices
• program is rooted in employee empowerment and communication
• voluntary safety councils are made up of employees at all levels
• program focuses on developing safe behaviors and the preventing of injuries through positive reinforcement
• PPE is tried, tested, and selected by the employees themselves
• zero incidents are rewarded in a comprehensive reward program

In the seven years that Worthington has been supporting the Safe Works program they have had:

•  one-third reduction in serious injuries
• 27 percent reduction in total injuries (OSHA recordable)
• 22 percent decrease in number of worker's comp claims
• reduced cut-related injuries by 41 percent

This form of proactive, outside the box thinking is starting safety down a new path.  Congratulations to Worthington Industries to a job well done.

Read the whole article at EHS Today.  http://ehstoday.com/safety/best-practices/workplace-safety-trust-employees-0309/ 

In an article posted by SFGate.com, Nevada's Assembly of Commerce and Labor Committee passed mandatory safety training for all construction workers in the state.  All base level employees will be required to have 10 hour certifications and all supervisor or management level employees will be required to have 30 hour certifications.  This focus on safety has resulted from 12 worker fatalities on the Las Vegas Strip in the past 18 months.  The bill also gives more control to regulating agencies.  This is the beginning of a nationwide focus on safety regulation.

The New York Times posted an article a few days ago about a New York construction worker who fell 10 stories to his death while renovating a Park Avenue Hotel.  As the country continues to rack up fatalities in the workplace, we will continue to see an increase in government control on job sites.  OSHA already sets standards for construction, general industry, and maritime operations.  Violations of these standards can result in heavy fines.  So how does the contractor prepare his/her business for an inevitable increase in safety training?

Start training your employees now!  Once states begin to mandate these safety trainings, the demand for safety trainers will increase.  Therefore, contractors will have to pay more for these high demand trainings.  10 and 30 hour trainings are reasonably priced during this economic depression and safety trainers are lowering their prices to get work.  Once these trainings are mandated for all construction employees, there will be drastic price increases as training schedules fill up.

Employee safety is of the utmost importance.  The cost of training employees is a drop in the bucket compared to increase in governmental control over contractors.  More control, means more stringent standards.  More stringent standards means more citations and higher fines.  Unfortunately for the safety-minded contractor, a handful of irresponsible companies have set this train in motion.  By starting your 10 and 30 hour trainings now, you will be saving later.

Webster defines integrity as: 1. completeness 2. unimpaired condition; soundness 3. honesty, sincerity, etc. What a great word.  Today, words such as integrity and sincerity are used as catch phrases or ad words, but where is the substance or meaning.  The essence of words such as these are not reflected by the people using them.

American businesses used to pride themselves on the meaning of integrity.  If you stopped to get fuel fifty years ago, someone would pump your fuel, wash your windows, check under the hood, and put air in your tires.  Today, we are grossly overcharged for fuel, we pump it ourselves, we're lucky to have window washing fluid in the bucket to wash our windows with, and we have to pay for air.  See a problem here?  Our needs as clients have been dropped as a priority for successful businesses.  This is only one example being used as a model.  Nevertheless, most American businesses operate under these very same principles.  It should not be surprising that there is no consumer trust in American business these days.

"The client knows best" is a phrase that most people cannot remember anymore.  Well, it's time to jar their memories.  What do you want your business reputation to stand for?  Integrity?  If so, its time to get back to putting the client first.  Go the extra mile.  Include extra services at no charge.  Talk to your clients on a regular basis.  Make them feel like they are your only client.  In the words of Jerry Maguire; "less clients and more personal attention". 

Ask yourself, where have all of our business heroes gone?  I think they still exist, but have been silenced by cost-cutting practices, corporate influence, and the devastating current American business trend of maximizing profit margins.  Centering on your clients will reinvest their trust in your company, thus securing your client base, and eventually increase your word-of-mouth leads.  It is up to every American business owner to personally take the steps to reinvent the client-based business.  Once this trust is established, the health & safety of American business will be secured. 

Team huddles are not just for football.  A fifteen minute Monday morning huddle will make a big difference in your companies safety record.  On Friday, at the end of each work week, have your managers or supervisors review the events of the past week and decide which safety topics need to be addressed for the following week.  Take a few minutes and develop a brief outline that can be reviewed with employees.  Monday morning, while everyone is loading up on coffee, take fifteen minutes and discuss the safety outline.  Review the outline, encourage discussion, accept ideas, and then have all employees sign the outline to show that the meeting actually took place.

This simple safety exercise will benefit your company in the following ways:

• A list developed by your company centers on hazards that are pertinent to your business and operations.  Companies that use safety reviews developed by third parties only talk about safety topics provided by that company which are not necessarily pertinent to your business.
• Performing this review on a weekly basis creates safety-minded managers and employees. 
• Signed topic outlines should be kept for training purposes.  Governing safety agencies can see the evidence that shows your company is making strides to be safety compliant.
• Discussions arising from the Monday huddles will give managers a good indication where employee knowledge is lacking.  Further, more detailed trainings can be developed and implemented to meet these needs.
• Companies that conduct weekly safety meetings are less likely to have accidents or injuries in the workplace.

Time to huddle up folks.  Safety should always be considered a team event.  Use your heads, watch each others backs, be ready for anything, good luck...Go get em.  BREAK! 

In these tough economic times, it is our business relationships that are going to save and sustain small businesses.  Competition is getting pretty cut throat out there.  Supply is up and demand is down.  Ouch.  Most small business professionals are sitting at their desks staring at the phone waiting for it to ring.  Will it?  It's time to go on the offense and start placing those calls.  Break out the rolodex people and get back to basics.  Dust off the business card file and rekindle those old business contacts that used to be so vital to the early days of your company.  During down time, get online and start engaging social media outlets.  Build new relationships on these sites and turn them into leads and word-of-mouth traffic.  With today's technology, business networking has never been easier.  It will truly be the fail-safe of the next few years.