Cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles are used in all kinds of industries to conduct business. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 1,982 fatal occupational injuries were due to transportation incidents in 2021. Roadways, unlike other workplaces, are not closed environments, and so according to OSHA, preventing work-related roadway crashes requires strategies that combine traffic safety principles and sound safety management practices. OSHA has several standards involving vehicles, including standards for the construction, agriculture, and maritime industries.
Your company culture plays a crucial role in the success of your safety initiatives. Despite implementing policies, procedures, and training, it will be challenging to achieve lasting results if stakeholders aren’t committed to creating a safer workplace.
Using our EHS Hotline tool, a subscriber asked the question, ‘Do small spray bottles of rubbing alcohol (~32 oz) and paint spray cans (12 oz) that are used in many different areas throughout the facility need to the stored in a flammable liquid cabinet(s)?’ Read on to hear the answer from EHS Hero’s subject matter experts.
Influencing safety culture within your organization can be both time consuming and difficult, but its importance cannot be understated. Safety shouldn’t be regarded as just another task for management to complete. It doesn’t have to feel overwhelming either. Organizations who put a focus on maintaining a positive workplace safety culture will typically see a reduction in injury rates, increased productivity, and a decrease in absenteeism and turnover rates. In this article, we’ll share a few tips you can start using to influence your safety culture for the better.
Can your workforce identify signs and symptoms of complacency? Complacency affects all workplaces, industries, and people to various degrees. And because no one is immune to becoming complacent, it’s paramount for both employees and frontline supervisors to be able to spot the signs and symptoms in themselves and their peers before a misstep or injury […]
Your employees rely on you to establish a safe workplace where their well-being is prioritized. Understanding the necessary steps to create such an environment can be overwhelming for employers. To assist you in this endeavor, we offer a few valuable tips to optimize workplace safety.
Workplace emergencies and disasters can strike anywhere and at anytime, creating a variety of hazards for workers in the impacted area and bringing workplace injuries and illnesses along with them. Preparing for the worst case scenario before an emergency incident takes place is paramount to ensuring your workforce has the necessary equipment to protect themselves, knows where to go in the event of an emergency, and knows how to keep themselves safe when an emergency occurs.
While it is the job of the safety professional to reduce incidents and provide a safer workplace, accidents are going to happen sometimes. In order to be prepared for accidents to occur, OSHA requires employers to provide medical and first aid personnel and supplies in proportion to the hazards in each workplace. The specifics of a workplace medical and first aid plan will be different depending on the needs of each workplace and employer, but OSHA does provide general guidance.
If you want to progress along the path to higher levels of health and safety achievement, routine evaluation of your company’s workplace and safety practices and programs is key. Conducting self-inspections and audits is a great way to assess and address areas for improvement. A checklist is one example of a valuable tool that can be leveraged to evaluate and improve an existing system, or bridge potential compliance gaps. Regular evaluations also benefit employers by mitigating risk, preparing your workplace for an unannounced OSHA inspection, keeping your people safe, and preventing accidents. Checklists can be used by themselves, or as part of an overall compliance system. As a best practice, employers should refer to OSHA’s standards for complete, specific standards that may apply to your work situation.
A PPE program should be implemented in the workplace to discuss job hazards; the selection, use, and maintenance of PPE; and the training of employees. Download this six step guide complete regular audits of your PPE program in order to ensure safety and health of your workers and maintain OSHA compliance.
