There are some typical seasonal hazards and emergencies that happen based on a facility's unique operations. However, in 2020, several surprises hit industry. Routine preparations fell short of the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, wildfires, record heat waves, and civil unrest. Can any business truly prepare for all challenges? Maybe not for everything, but there are a few simple ways workers and workplaces can be ready for what else life might throw.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, workplaces should generally prepare for safety and response, while also considering natural disasters, chemical/biological/radiological/nu-clear/explosive incidents (CBRNE), and disease agents and toxins. Among these groups are seasonal and other potential emergency threats.
In March, a group of businesses were cited for hazards such as blocked exits, electrical panels, and fire extinguishers. After hurricanes in 2017, a chemical manufacturer was cited when an employee did not have an adequate emergency exit and drowned. In 2016, a landscaping company was cited after a worker's fatal heat stroke in 110-degree weather.
"Heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable when employers help workers acclimate to hot environments, allow frequent water breaks, and ample time to rest and provide shade," said Bill McDonald, an OSHA director in St. Louis. "Working in full sunlight can increase heat index values by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Employers must keep this in mind and plan additional precautions for working in these conditions."
Among the hazards created in each of these situations, the employers did not have an emergency plan in place that would have saved time and worker injury. Workplaces should take time to assess systems and processes to ensure safety in any potential emergency. Here are several steps to help prepare a written emergency action plan:
Once facility management identifies potential emergencies, adequate preparations can ensue. Go over emergency plans with workers, who can input ideas and help make changes if necessary. Make workplace improvements ahead of time by creating frequent maintenance evaluations.
Keep written emergency plans handy. Distribute and go over those plans during safety meetings or routine emergency planning meetings. Support safety through emergency visual communication, which makes those messages stand out. Use labels and signs that are highly visible and durable in industrial conditions. Using high-quality, industrial-grade materials helps save time and money. Order premade signs and labels or create them on the spot using a DuraLabel industrial sign and label printer.
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