In order to implement good workplace safety and health plans there needs to be and ongoing strategy of continuous improvement seeking better ways to work, measuring outcomes, performance and reporting against set targets. Further workplace safety and health requires systematically evaluation of industry compliance standards against procedures, standards and regulations; identifying the causes of incidents and injuries; and recognize and promptly implement corrective actions to cure any deficiencies.
These and other basics should be universally adopted safety procedures in any workplace. One effective way to assist in ownership of safety by all staff members, employees and volunteers is to make workplace safety a collective process engaging all workplace members in the development process and making safety courses and training available to workers, foremen, job supervisors, inspectors those involved in general industry activities.
A workplace safety and health training program will typically include orientation training for new workers, hazard recognition, hazard prevention, emergency drills and training in those standards required by OSHA. Proper training of employees on procedures, equipment usage and maintenance leads to less of a possibility of wasted time for repairs results in more productivity and return on investments. Overall efficiency increases as a result of safety training in addition to the increased morale of the workers. Well trained staff understands their rights and responsibilities as it relates to themselves and their co-workers.
Additionally, since 9/11 the demand for occupational safety and health specialists has grown exponentially along with great increase for emergency preparedness. There a vast opportunities for those persons who may be interested in workplace safety and health as a career. Many companies are identifying and training employees and volunteers members to take on this role within their specific environment.
One of the main trainings available is offered through OSHA. Their ten hour General Industry course covers safety and health hazard recognition and prevention for workers, foremen, job supervisors and anyone who “wears the hat of safety” at their company. Training emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention.
General Industry trainings provide broad base information that is intended to provide entry-level general industry workers broad awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards and the standard requirements set forth by OSHA in the workplace. General workplace training should include but not limited to the following topics:
Introduction to OSHA : an understanding of the governmental agency through the U.S. Department of Labor whose responsibility it is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance
Walking & Working Surfaces: the main type of injury in the workplace is slips, trips, and falls. This constitutes the majority of general industry accidents. These types of injuries are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. OSHA standards for walking/working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural work is performed.
Exit Routes: An exit route is a continuous and unobstructed path of exit travel from any point within a workplace to a place of safety. An exit route consists of three parts
■ Exit access – portion of an exit route that leads to an exit.
■ Exit – portion of an exit route that is generally separated from other areas to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge.
■ Exit discharge – part of the exit route that leads directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside
Emergency Action Plans: All employer are required to have a written emergency action plan. This plan spell out the actions that are to be taken in specific kinds of emergency and the contingencies for the workers, consumers and/or volunteers should such an emergency exists.
Fire Prevention Plans: OSHA requires that all employers must have a written Fire Prevention Plan designed to reduce the risk of a fire in the workplace. Most of the plan is focused on guidelines for the safe storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials. Also included in the plan are descriptions of potential or known fire hazards, potential ignition sources, a discussion of fire alarm systems, inspection protocols designed to identify fire risks, and employee safety training information
Fire Protection: is the design features, systems or equipment of a building or structure to reduce danger to persons and property by detecting, extinguishing or containing fires
In/Between Hazards: is a written plan designed to prevent hazards such as being crushed or caught in-between construction material, machinery, falling objects caused by improper utilization OSHAS safety requirements and regulations.
Electrical Safety: are written instruction to the utilization of electrical wiring and equipment. These include building codes, wiring designs, and the use of personal protective equipment and electrical protective devices.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): OSHA requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels. Employers are required to determine if PPE should be used to protect their workers.
Hazard Communication: This transmission of information is a vital link in the Workplace Safety and Health plan to be accomplished through comprehensive hazard communication programs, which are to include container labeling and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets and employee training.
In addition to OSHA general trainings safety courses are offered by many state and local License and Inspections Departments as well as several independent company and online services that specialize in workplace safety and health.
