CLAREMORE, Okla. — In my previous column, we discussed the relentless pursuit of fantastic customer service and the need to train and involve your entire team in how to handle a customer service need.
We can and should take the same approach when it comes to safety.
Having every team member engaged and involved in the safety aspects of your operation will pay off in spades—not only in reduced workers’ compensation expense but in manpower planning, overall improved workplace health and assuring that an unexpected visit from OSHA is handled properly.
AWARENESS OF THE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
It’s important that you have several employees who are highly skilled and knowledgeable in the requirements for compliance with OSHA training and operations requirements.
Sending your team to an OSHA 10-hour training session should be the minimum you do—and assuring that your management team understands the value of this training.
They would then form the core assessment team for your location and gauge where your plant stands in relation to the requirements. Developing plant-specific checklists for daily and other periodic inspections against the requirements would be an initial team assignment after completion of the basic training.
Don’t forget facility safety topics—fire extinguisher inspections and training of an emergency response team, first aid and CPR, and fire suppression system inspections. Your local municipal fire department might help in these areas.
OUTSTANDING TRAINING
Whether you buy a pre-packaged safety topic training program for the various segments needed (LOTO, NFPA70E, machine guarding, etc.) or you develop your own, make it outstanding.
There’s nothing worse than sitting through a boring monotone presentation just so the box can be checked. If the subject can be made relative to what the employees do and they can understand the value of the knowledge, then you’re a path to success.
If needed, get professional help from a consultant or perhaps a technical college that teaches safety as part of its curriculum. Check into TRSA-provided resources as well as benchmarking with other companies in your local chamber of commerce.
SET UP GREAT SYSTEMS
The old saying “if it isn’t on paper it didn’t happen” rings true when it comes time to prove you completed the training of your team and that you held regular inspections.
Setting up filing systems for the documentation of training and inspections, along with work orders to prove work was completed on safety-related issues, can quickly become overwhelming.
OSHA may accept digital copies of this paperwork, but it still requires a great system to assure you are no less than 100% on the required documentation.
BENCHMARK WITH OTHERS IN OUR INDUSTRY
Among the companies in our industry there is a natural competitiveness for business, and we all are hesitant to let our guard down on business topics. But when it comes to safety, we should drop those barriers and be an open book to help each other.
Benchmarking safety systems (training, compliance, checklists, etc.) should be done even with your competitors—and our industry will be stronger for it.
BE READY
When OSHA knocks on your door for that unexpected visit is not the time to try to figure out what to do. Having a solid plan, having it documented, and having your team trained and drilled in what to do, will give you a sense of readiness when that knock comes.
Publish the plan, update it routinely and drill your team on the actionable steps so everyone can be prepared. Ensure this plan is posted at your reception workstation and that those employees are thoroughly skilled in how to handle the situation, as they’ll be the first person to interact with the inspection officer.
THE BOTTOM LINE
No one can predict what tomorrow brings—a serious accident, an injury or fatality or a standard visit by an OSHA inspector.
Being ready every minute of every day and having your employees trained, knowledgeable and ready will ensure you minimize the risks that poor safety practices otherwise would present.
Looking at the effort as an investment, not as an expense or afterthought, will support the foundation of your business practices.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
