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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Workplace Hazard Prevention: Move Beyond the Basics

You are an excellent safety manager. For quite a while now, you have not seen or reported an accident or injury in the workplace, and you certainly have not seen any litigation as a result of your negligence to maintaining a safe workplace environment. Congratulations on a job well done! You must be doing everything right… right? Certainly, recent history has been your advocate. But have you considered that you might be getting by on sheer luck and fortunate happenstance?

Beware the perils of complacency!

During times of relative peace and prosperity, it is easy to become complacent and even careless when it comes to our responsibilities. With times, circumstances, environments, policies, and people constantly changing, what is required is continual inspection and stewardship of our workplace environments. One can never be too careful when it comes to workplace hazard prevention.

In an article entitled "Familiarity Breeds Success " in the March 2009 issue of Occupational Health & Safety, Linda J. Sherrard discusses the importance of avoiding complacency as it relates to workplace safety:

"Become familiar with the work environment and the language of potential hazards. This should be more than a once-a-month, 10 minute walk-through! It takes years to really learn a workplace and all the hazards to which employees may be exposed."

Specifically, being aware of the need for and properly using personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to workplace hazard prevention.

Are your employees wearing correct PPE?
Should your employees be wearing more PPE items?
Do your employees (including temporary employees, interns) understand specific hazards related to their jobs?
Do you have a process set up for employees and/or supervisors to request and replace PPE items?
Have you considered shared items (e.g., an employee may damage or break a faceshield and hang it back on the rack for the next employee to use)?
Have you considered glare as a hazard (Glare causes mishaps and injuries, fatigue, eyestrain, headaches, aggravation)?

When it comes to workplace hazard prevention, move beyond the basics. Don't just prepare enough to get by, even if your employees have been safe and injury-free as of late. And don't allow shrinking budgets to stand in the way of what is most important in the workplace: the safety of your employees and yourself. Take precautions, become familiar with all of the hazards in your workplace with which employees may be exposed, and take PPE seriously. You'll continue to discover successful results as a reward for your sustained efforts!

Labels: Hazard Prevention, PPE, Safety Labels / Safety Signs, Workplace Safety

posted by Daniel E - 8:50:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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