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