Safety Management Techniques: Providing Protection for Employees in the Workplace

Recently, a 23-year old roofer slipped off the rooffollowing:
where he was working, fracturing his leg,*Monitor equipment daily to ensure proper
dislocating his wrist, breaking his back, and causingfunctioning.
permanent nerve damage. This worker, who had*Decrease stress levels so employees can stay
never heard of the federal Occupational Safetyfocused on the tasks at hand.
and Health Administration, was not wearing a*Provide clear markings such as color contrasts
safety harness and was using a "slide guard"on steps or uneven floors.
unapproved by OSHA. Although the jury found*Encourage medical aid training and know who is
this worker minimally responsible for hisqualified.
negligence, the majority of the responsibility went*Distribute and practice emergency plans such as
to the employing contractors, resulting in aevacuation procedures.
$10,500,000 judgment granted to the worker.*Maintain organization to help workers stay
In every workplace, be it construction site,focused.
factory, or office, safety is of utmost importance.*Brief all new employees on current safety
Unless rules and regulations are set in place andprocedures.
strictly followed, workers can easily be a danger*Post warning signs on damaged or wet floors to
to themselves and to others. Therefore, offeringeliminate slips and falls.
training for employees in safety is of great*Follow existing rules exactly so that all rules
importance in preventing accidents and reducingmaintain their value.
the risk of work-related injury. By providing OSHA*Provide adequate lighting in all areas of the work
safety training and by educating themselves,environment.
employers can do much to ensure that their*Be visibly involved in the workplace and available
workers are well-protected.to employees.
Because knowledge is vital to worker protection,*Perform frequent inspections and risk
hiring a safety consultant specialist to provideassessments of the work environment.
OSHA safety training is often the most*Set an example in safety management as
productive and cost-effective solution. A certifiedemployers/supervisors set the tone.
safety professional is well-educated in local, state,*Have workers rotate tasks in repetitive
and federal guidelines and is able to apply years ofenvironments to reduce strain injuries.
experience in workplace safety consulting to*Consider ergonomics such as learning the right
customize a plan that will meet the needs of anyway to lift heavy objects and ensuring that chairs
individual client. The safety consultant will not onlyprovide adequate back support.
provide assessment of the workplace along withWhile these basic safety techniques will help
site-specific OSHA safety training but will alsocompanies in progressing toward a safe
offer follow-up inspections to ensure safetyenvironment, it is important to remember that
procedures are up-to-date and effective.hiring a certified safety professional to provide
A certified safety professional will implement afederal OSHA safety training is the ultimate
detailed safety process and provide extensivesolution. A safety consultant will assist clients not
workplace safety consulting for the hiringonly with the basics but also with reaching optimal
business; however, employers should be sureperformance goals through workplace safety
workers are actively following basic safetyconsulting. This workplace safety consulting and
procedures. While the safety consultant will offertraining should be a continual process. A certified
comprehensive and in-depth safety managementsafety professional provides the necessary
techniques, an employer can, in the meantime,follow-up services as well as education for
implement a few practical steps to get started.employers in maintaining safety for themselves
Many accidents and other problems can beand their workers.
avoided with a little forethought. Consider the