Center for Business, Industry & Labor

              www.cbil.org

On Target • On Demand • On Site

Spotlight on Safety: How Are You Doing?

Do you tend to daydream during safety training because it's so boring? Or do you wish you had the opportunity to attend safety training? Do you ever cut corners on safety to get the job done quicker? Or are you not familiar with safety rules, so you do what you think is right, and it's not? If you're like most employees, one of these should ring true for you at least sometimes. We don't want you to be another statistic like this:

Most of us think, "It will never happen to me. I'm too smart/focused/observant/protected/informed, etc. But ask someone who became disabled due to improper lifting if they ever thought it would happen to them. Or the worker who mishandled a toxic chemical and spilled it on himself because the instructions for use where not displayed. The responsibility for preventing such incidents lies with your employer and YOU.

Here are some questions to ask yourself about safety at your company.

Is Safety a Priority at Your Company?

1. Does your company provides workplace health and safety training for all employees?

2. Does the business maintain a formal safety plan?

3. Is the safety plan communicated to everyone?

4. Are safety signs and labels posted in potentially unsafe areas of your company?

5. Does your business have a safety incentive program?

6. Does your company conduct routine safety audits of the facility?

If you answered "no" to any item, your company may not be making safety a priority. If your facility is interested in a safety assessment/audit, contact CBIL.

Can I Respond in an Emergency?

Most people, especially those working in an office environment, cannot act properly during an emergency because they don't know how to respond. You can't always think clearly in an emergency, so it's critical that you know what to do before one occurs. If you can't answer the questions below, find out the answers before you really need to know.

1. Where is the closest fire extinguisher?

2. Where is the nearest First Aid kit?

3. Where is the nearest fire alarm?

4. Where is the designated gathering area for your building in case of fire? tornado

5. What do you do when a tornado threatens? How about an earthquake?

6. Who is the safety marshall in your area?

Don't be another statistic. Think Safety! It starts with you. For more information contact Shayna Howell.

Creating a Safer Office

While the issue of workplace safety is often associated with risky environments or those who perform manual labor tasks like heavy-lifting or factory work, providing a safe, comfortable place for office employees is just as essential. Because an office is a contained, highly-controllable environment, unlike a factory or outdoor work, most worker's comp accidents that happen in an office could be avoided. Here are some easily correctable hazards to watch out for:

1. Trip hazards. Cables and wires are components of almost every piece of office machinery, from computers to printers to photocopiers to fax machines. Allowing cables to lie on the floor, jumbled up is only inviting trouble. Simple, inexpensive cable management systems can minimize the potential for employees to trip over these cables and damage expensive equipment or themselves. We found a variety of cable management options at www.versatables.com, starting as low as $2 each if you buy in quantity. A small price to prevent what could be a costly Worker's Comp claim.

2. Watch your eyes. Anti-glare filters for computer monitors are an effective way to reduce eye strain associated with prolonged computer use. We found an assortment of different styles, all of which reduce glare by up to 95%, starting at less than $40 each. Reduced eye strain not only means healthier employees, but is likely to increase productivity as well.

3. Clean restrooms prevent the spread of illness. Most illness-causing bacteria and viruses are spread through person-to-person contact and contact with surfaces that other people have touched. Keeping a restroom clean, and encouraging employees to wash their hands will inevitably cut down on the spread of communicable diseases and decrease the amount of time lost to sickness. Have restrooms cleaned at least once per day and make sure there is always a supply of antibacterial soap and paper towels available. Keep a large trash bin in the restroom to prevent a pile up or overflowing of paper towels.

4. Chill out and buy a fridge. A refrigerator, even a small one, can prevent food-borne bacteria from manifesting in foods that employees bring for lunch, particularly in high-risk foods that contain mayonnaise or dairy products. Encourage employees to utilize the refrigerator and keep it clean. The cost in lost work time due to one bout of food poisoning for a single employee can easily exceed the price of a single, efficient mini-fridge.

© George Finnerin, goarticles.com