Get 10 tips for improving safety in any facility. This infographic covers the importance of mitigating hazards, preparing for the unexpected, keeping workers safe in emergencies, and meeting OSHA requirements.
Get 10 tips for improving safety in any facility. This infographic covers the importance of mitigating hazards, preparing for the unexpected, keeping workers safe in emergencies, and meeting OSHA requirements.
The following is a transcript of the 10 Health & Safety Tips for Safety Managers infographic:
There were 14 deaths and 7,700 worker injuries daily in 2017. Workplaces are generally safe, but we can do better.
Employers are responsible for slashing those startling numbers and keeping workers safe, as outlined in OSHA's General Duty Clause. The pivotal passage states, in its entirety: "Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."
Safety managers can take hundreds of steps to ensure the health and safety of their workforce, so where should one start? Here are 10 easy-to-follow tips for mitigating hazards, avoiding OSHA fines, and improving safety:
Find out which hazards are present in your facility with a Job Hazard Analysis, and encourage a proactive culture of safety with near-miss reporting.
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) offers a systematic method for assessing hazards related to certain tasks-and taking steps to mitigate those hazards. Here are the steps for conducting a Job Hazard Analysis:
Employers should also encourage near-miss reporting whenever they have a close call that could have resulted in injury, illness, or damage (but didn't). These incidents can prove disastrous when companies don't take steps toward improving safety.
When workers report near-misses and close calls, they're finding safety concerns before OSHA inspectors, determining the root causes of near-misses, and catching hidden hazards before they lead to accidents.
Key Statistic: A 2003 study conducted by Conoco Phillips Marine found that, for every fatality, there are an estimated 3,000 near-misses and 300,000 at-risk behaviors (such as skipping a safety step to save time).
Learn more about the steps involved in a Job Hazard Analysis, and see how it can lead to a safer workplace with our free infographic.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires that employers provide a safe workplace, free of recognized hazards; OSHA has since outlined dozens of training requirements to help employees understand the risks and take steps toward the safest possible work environment.
These requirements cover a wide range of industrial safety, from performing welding and other hot work, to using cranes and derricks on a construction site, to safely operating forklifts in a warehouse.
Good to know: Effective training can keep workers safe and on the job. 882,700 total days-away-from-work cases were reported in 2017 *According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Reinforce messages delivered in training with premade labels and signs. Choose from several materials and sizes to warn about electrical hazards, PPE requirements, hazardous chemicals, and more.
OSHA offers little in the way of specific cleanliness guidance, but it's good to keep a tidy workplace, just the same.
The 5S System offers one method for cleaning your workplace, organizing work areas, and establishing routines that increase productivity, efficiency, and revenue. Here's why cleanliness matters-and how 5S can help:
Good to know: Cleaning work areas and removing hazards can help cut the number of slips, trips, and falls. 227,760 cases involving slips, trips, and falls were recorded in 2017 *According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Use the 5S System to improve visual order, organization, and cleanliness. Download your free Best Practice Guide to 5S.
In many cases, workers must establish (and follow) a lockout/tagout (LO/TO) procedure before performing maintenance or routine upkeep on a piece of equipment.
Basic LO/TO procedure workers can follow to meet OSHA requirements for controlling hazardous energy:
Once the equipment is locked out and you've started service, take the following steps to resume normal work:
Key Statistic: Failure to follow proper LO/TO procedures accounts for nearly 10 percent of all serious accidents in numerous industries.
Kickstart your LO/TO program. Download your free Best Practice Guide to Lockout/Tagout.
You'll want to be prepared in event of fire or another emergency. If a fire breaks out or the power goes out, will your workers know what to do?
Take steps toward improving fire safety with these tips:
How else can you stay ready?
Key Statistic: According to the NFPA, U.S. fire departments respond to roughly 37,910 fires at industrial or manufacturing facilities each year. Those fires lead to, on average, 16 deaths and $1.2 billion in direct property damage.
Ensure your signage remains readable in power outages and other emergencies. Get your free Introduction to Photoluminescent Labels, Signs & Path Markings guide.
As part of a safe work environment, OSHA requires clean surfaces. In its standard for walking-working surfaces (29 CFR 1910.22), the agency states: "Walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice."
Floor marking can increase warehouse safety through improved organization and efficiency. Here's a look at how floor marking can help:
Good to know: OSHA issued 801 citations, totaling $1.8 million, for 29 CFR 1910.22 violations (October 2015 to September 2016). Manufacturers were the most-cited industry with 433 citations.
See what floor marking can accomplish in your facility. Get your Best Practice Guide to Floor Marking.
The ANSI/ASME A13.1 standard outlines requirements for labeling pipes that carry all manner of liquids (including water, acids, and oils). Properly-labeled pipes can assist first responders during emergencies and ensure clear communication at all times.
According to the ANSI/ASME A13.1 standard, pipes should have color-coded labels, which correspond with the materials inside. Here's a quick breakdown of the recommended color codes:
Good to know: Other industry and application-specific pipe marking standards include:
Learn more about federal pipe marking standards. Download your free Best Practice Guide to Pipe Marking.
OSHA requires employers to provide PPE that protects against workplace hazards. Here are other steps employers should take when it comes to PPE use:
Key Statistic: 7,720: Number of fall protection citations issued by OSHA inspectors in 2018. It has been OSHA's most-cited violation every year since 2011.
Let workers know when to use PPE, where to find it, and what's required with signs.
It's not enough to establish safe practices; the key to an enduring culture of safety is following up to ensure those efforts receive the proper follow-through.
There are two easy ways to inspect equipment and review procedures: safety inspections and safety audits.
Look for safety hazards and unsafe practices throughout a facility with a safety inspection. The inspection should:
Evaluate your organization's broader safety programs and practices with a safety audit. An audit should:
Good to know: Reviewing best practices and safety programs doesn't just keep workers safe; it's good business. $1 billion weekly on workers' compensation costs. $170 billion yearly costs to businesses for workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths *OSHA Estimates.
Download your free Facility Visual Communication Checklist to support workplace safety and compliant labeling. Determine essential signs your facility needs for general industry applications.
No matter the industry, odds are good your workplace contains any number of hazards. A few common hazards include:
In most instances, visual communication can alert workers to hazards and offer best practices for staying safe:
Good to Know: Safety signs can improve safety, promote positive work practices, and help facilities avoid hefty OSHA fines. Maximum OSHA Penalties:
as of Jan. 23, 2019
The following is a transcript of the Brewery Safety Infographic: Brewery Safety Hot liquids, pressurized ...
ReadRead
The following is a transcript of the Compliant OSHA Safety Signs Infographic: How to Make a Clear and ...
Read