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The Elements of an Effective Workplace Safety Program
No CommentsSafe workplaces don’t happen by accident, they require a well-designed workplace safety program that includes effective employee training and consistent application. When you’re designing your company’s workplace safety program, you need to take a lot of questions into account, including: What safety risks does your organization face? Are you compliant with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations? Are leaders showing a genuine interest in worker safety and modeling safe behavior? Have you implemented a drug-free workplace program?
I’ve been reading several articles and blog posts this week about different aspects of workplace safety. Here are some that offer a variety of factors you should consider as you develop or update your workplace safety program.
McDonald’s Workers Allege Injuries, Unsafe Conditions. Chicago Tribune: “McDonald’s workers in 19 U.S. cities are asking the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to inspect their workplaces, alleging they’ve been injured because of a lack of training and protective equipment…Complaints include one from a New Orleans worker who cited lack of training and equipment for burns suffered while filtering grease, according to documents provided by the campaign. The campaign also alleges that a Philadelphia worker who was badly burned when reaching for a cookie tray was told by a manager to use mayonnaise to treat the burn.”
Five Steps Toward Boosting Employee Safety and Avoiding OSHA Citations. The National Law Review: “One of the most effective ways for an employer to identify and eliminate safety hazards in the workplace is to conduct a safety and health audit. Working with a safety and health professional, employers should closely examine every aspect of their workplace to ensure they’re in full compliance with OSHA standards and best practices.”
Leadership & Employee Engagement Impact Safety. What’s Your Role? UL Knowledge at Work: “According to Gallup, 40% of employees actively disengage from their work when bosses completely ignore employees. This has huge implications for organizations not only in terms of lower productivity and impact to quality, but also in terms of an employee’s safety and well-being. Disengagement could lead to errors, deviations, or drift from established procedure and result in potential accidents.”
Waste Management Going Back to Basics for Employee Safety. Waste360: “[I]n 2014, the company, like the rest of the transportation industry, saw a rise in slips, trips and falls injuries as winter months proved difficult thanks to snow in parts of the extreme south and southeast. This winter, WM experienced a 30 percent reduction in slips, trips and falls injuries, which [Jeff Martin, vice president of safety at WM] attributes, in part, to the rule book recertification and to employees seeing an opportunity to improve.”
Tips for a Successful Drug-Free Workplace Program. BLR: “Workplace drug use can create safety hazards, expose your company to liability, and decrease productivity. But when it comes to a drug-free workplace program, one size does not fit all…The type of program you choose for your workplace should be appropriate to your company’s size, industry, and substance abuse–related risk factors. There are three basic types of programs, which employers typically tailor to meet the needs and characteristics of their workforce.”
Concerned about worker safety and OSHA compliance at your organization? Contact us for help with your safety policies and programs.
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