| I've often been told that companies need not be | | | | 4 - Similar to all workplaces, must be provided |
| too concerned about visitors safety. But my | | | | with the appropriate personal protective |
| lawyer-friend tells me that might not be true. Just | | | | equipment (PPE) and on its use and reason for it. |
| as employers must provide for their workers, | | | | 5 - Care must be taken to ensure proper fit and |
| companies cannot unilaterally disclaim any liability | | | | use of the PPE. |
| for visitor safety. Apart from any governance | | | | 6 - Visitors must be oriented properly and advised |
| applicable under OSHA laws neglecting visitors | | | | on the basics of behaviour during the visit. |
| safety could see you embroiled in a mess of | | | | When developing a visitors safety policy it is |
| trouble under common law or tort law. | | | | important to factor-in the type of industry you |
| A sensible approach then would be to adopt | | | | are in and any special features of your facility. It |
| policies designed to safeguard visitors and ensure | | | | is important also to particular attention to the |
| their enforcement and effectiveness - just as | | | | suitability of any PPE provided. For example, if the |
| you would for your own workers. Be aware too | | | | hazard assessment only calls for 'toe protection |
| that simply posting notices stating that visitors | | | | the protective footwear cannot be ill-fitting or so |
| "visit at their own risk" won't cut it in court. | | | | awkward to wear that it constitutes a hazard in |
| Disclaiming in advance and requiring acceptance as | | | | itself! |
| a condition of entry simply carries no weight. | | | | While it may never be possible to avoid liability for |
| It would be wise then to craft a safety policy for | | | | visitors safety entirely it may be possible to do |
| visitors along the same lines as employers do for | | | | so if you can prove that your safety policies |
| workplaces. | | | | were not adhered to. Just as with workers' |
| 1 - Visitors must be notified of any hazards they | | | | safety you are only required to behave |
| might encounter. | | | | responsibly as any reasonable person should. If |
| 2 - They must be made aware of all protocols | | | | your visitors' safety policies are communicated |
| and procedures in the event of an emergency. | | | | properly and enforced consistently you should be |
| 3 - All visitors must sign-in and sign-out of your | | | | able to avoid injuries and nasty lawsuits. |
| facility. | | | | |