In the November issue of Risk and Insurance magazine is a very interesting article on a better approach to safety. The article is about how the magazine selected Honda Manufacturing of Indiana for their PreVent Award. The premise of the safety article is trusting the employee to be a part of accident prevention.
The article explains how Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motors “was adamant about protecting the individual in the workplace.” This philosophy is followed by Honda Manufacturing of Indiana. The company strives to give the employees both “the physical and mental training to be prepared to do their jobs effectively and safely.” (WCxKit)
When new employees are hired, they do not start work immediately. Instead, they are provided a two week physical conditioning program emphasizing exercises to simulate the movements they will be required to perform on the job. The program also teaches the employee how to position the body in the best way for job performance in an ergonomically correct manner. If there are any doubts, please note the employees who complete this physical training have an 80% lower injury rate than employees who did not complete the physical training program.
The lead safety person at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana credits this ‘whole person approach’ with the effectiveness of their program, plus the company’s safety program has strong support from the upper management. When Honda was constructing the plant that opened in 2008, the safety program was consulted to build ergonomically correct processes into the production. Honda allows each manufacturing plant to structure its own safety program around the belief that the local personnel know their own facility better than anyone else.
The employees are encouraged to use the physical conditioning program outside of the workplace, plus the employees are taught to monitor their own stress and fatigue levels. They are taught how off the job stress can put them at an increase of injury on the job.
The safety program at Honda is based on the premise that the employee knows the job better than anyone. The employees know what the hazards are and what causes stress on their body which can ultimately hurt them. Honda takes the approach of listening to the employees, trusting what the employees have to say about performing their jobs safely, and using that guidance to create safe working conditions. By listening to the employees and implementing safety recommendations, Honda created a safer working environment.
When Risk and Insurance magazine was considering various companies for the PreVent Award, it was looking for companies that implement safety programs to prevent work place injuries and provide a safe working environment. The magazine was looking for employers that were proactive in injury prevention beyond the traditional safety and loss control programs.
The criterion for the PreVent Award which is given each November includes
1.Total Injury Prevention Focus – which starts with recognizing all potential sources of workplace injuries including suboptimal equipment, inefficient work processes, excessive repetitive motions, poor body mechanics and/or ergonomically incorrect processes.
2. Risk Assessment – identifying all potential risk that can lead to injuries
3. Proactive Approach – comprehensive strategies to address losses and prevent them from reoccurring. (WCxKit)
We strongly support safety as a primary means of reducing workers compensation cost. For more information on how to improve your safety program, please contact us.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com.
Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
Tom Cruise was told to “Show me the money” in the movie “Jerry McGuire”. And after some trials and tribulations, he is able to get his client to the very top of his career. I have not watched that movie in a number of years, but every time I talk to an employer about the benefits of a safety program, or the benefits of pursuing a solid ergonomic program, one of the first questions is typically “Show me what it saved the other guys and what it will save me.”
If the employer believes there is a safe workplace and a good loss run, then it can be a hard sell. But what that person does not know is there is always room for improvement. Also just because it is going ok now does not mean it will be in 3 years from now. The workers comp world is always changing and morphing into the unknown, as the stressors of personal life and work life mount. Until they finally show themselves by stealing attention for 4 seconds, and a hand goes into a worker’s machine. And at that point that worker’s life is changed forever. WCxKit
That is an extreme example, but injuries do happen! Here are 4 examples of companies benefiting from the installation of an ergonomic/safety program. (References to the examples below are listed at the end of the article.)
1. Hensel Phelps Construction
This company began to notice large spikes in musculoskeletal disorders among its employees. So to combat this problem, they hired and implemented a pilot program at one of the company’s larger construction sites that consisted mainly of a customized stretching and strengthening program for the workers based on the specific jobs they were performing at that site.
After implementing the program, Hensel Phelps employees logged over 104,000 hours at that pilot jobsite without any reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
104,000 hours! That is 2,600 40-hour workweeks. Hensel went from having a major outbreak of a specific type of injury, to almost wiping it out. It is hard to argue with that success.
2. Quad Graphics
In 1995, Quad Graphics instituted a comprehensive ergonomics program using employee-led management teams to identify ergonomic risk factors for workplace injuries and institute training and controls to reduce the risk drivers.
Within 4 years, Quad Graphics experiences a 25% reduction in the number of work related injuries, a 39% decrease in the number of back injuries, and an overall reduction in lost work time days of 25%.
The key here is that Quad uses “employee-led” teams. We often mention using your employees as a resource. They are the ones working those same workstations day after day. They have legit ideas, so tap into your best free resource and see what they tell you.
3. Rockwell Automation
Rockwell experienced an increase in injury rates at its Milwaukee facility in the early 1990’s as the worker population and seniority rates changed.
A comprehensive approach to injury prevention is developed focusing on ergonomic training, ergonomic retrofitting, and on-site stocking of frequently used ergonomic items such as hand tools, floor mats, foot rests, and anti-vibration gloves.
Rockwell reports a significant reduction in lost time and/or restricted workdays as a result of the program.
Again the key is taking a step back, identifying the risk factors, finding out what options are available to reduce the risk, and implementing them. All you have to do then is sit back and track the numbers over the course of 6 months or a year. The more you are working at full capacity, the better the production, the stronger the profit margin.
4. Tyson Foods in Monett, MO
Tyson discovered increased musculoskeletal disorders identified at this specific location. In order to combat these numbers, Tyson instituted an on-site medical management program in March 2002 to reduce the number and severity and these injuries.
The medical management team consists of an on-site physical therapist to assist with job placement and job analyses, as well as follow up on the doctor prescribed treatment of work-related injuries. The occupational health nurses, physicians, and therapists met together at least annually as a group to discuss the successes of the program as well as to recognize any areas of improvement.
This program is successful because it produces enhanced job placement, improved and personalized modification of job duties for injured employees, improved communications between the therapist, doctor, team member, and management team, as well as faster recovery times, and in some cases it leads to prevention of work-related injuries/illnesses. Again this is a fantastic success for a large manufacturing location such as this. WCxKit
Summary
There are no more excuses for not implementing a safety team or program after reviewing these 4 examples. Each of these stories is a great example of identifying a problem, establishing a program to correct it, and tracking the successes of your implementations. Your broker/carrier/TPA has resources to get you started in the right direction. The sooner the program is implemented, the sooner to start saving on claims.
References
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com.
Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
If you ask most employers whether or not they work toward maintaining a safe work environment, the answer will likely be, “yes.” And statistics show that over the past several years, employers are doing a better job at keeping workers safe.
In fact, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of nonfatal, work related injuries and illnesses in 2010 totaled around three million. This continues a downward trend from 4.3 million in 2003*. Cases that involved lost workdays also fell from 2003 yet still exceeded 900,000, a significant loss of productivity.
It is clear that creating a safe work environment pays off , so it should be a top priority for every employer. Not only can a culture of safety lead to reduced injuries and workers compensation claims; but it can improve morale and increase productivity, as well. With a safe work environment, everybody wins, but it is up to management to create the framework and maintain a culture of safety.
A safe work environment can happen when you follow certain best practices that work, starting with assessing the workplace.
Assessing the Workplace for Safety
A safe work environment starts at the top. So the first step in assessment is to determine how management views safety. Questions, which may vary according to business size and industry, might include the list below.
- Does management clearly communicate its belief and safety expectations to employees?
- Is safety as important as production, sales, quality, technology and equipment?
- Are safety performance objectives and guidelines established?
- What are the rewards or consequences regarding these guidelines?
- Who is responsible for safety measures and how is ownership communicated throughout the organization?
A fully engaged management team is the foundation for creating a safe work environment. Next, it is time to eliminate hazards.
Increase Safety by First Focusing on the Basics
To perform the jobs, workers need to move, see, hear and breathe without risking injury or illness. During the work environment assessment, check each area for cleanliness, proper lighting and obstruction-free pathways. Look for leaking pipes, and cracked walls, floors and ceilings. Determine whether airborne chemicals, exhaust or smoke are entering the workspace. Identify the steps required to mitigate any hazards, and assign tasks to appropriate departments.
The Benefits of Job Planning to Increase Safety
Properly planning a job means fewer safety incidents. When expectations, time schedules, and equipment lists are clearly communicated, each team member knows what is required to complete a project safely and on time. Every job planning exercise should include identifying potential safety hazards, so they can be avoided. Remember that “rush” jobs often lead to worker shortcuts, lack of or improper use of safety equipment, and accidents and injuries.
Look Back to Improve Future Workplace Safety Performance
During an assessment, it is important to gather data for review. Many organizations seeking to improve workplace safety assign personnel to observe projects and tasks to identify safety hazards – both planned-for and unexpected. Examples of hazards might include
- Missing or inoperable safety equipment.
- Damaged tools or machinery.
- Workers failing to follow safety procedures.
- Poor maintenance practices.
Review the data with a goal of identifying problems, needed repairs, equipment upgrades and training opportunities; then develop an improvement plan for each area.
Aim for Continuous Safety Improvement
To continue the downward trend of workplace injuries and illnesses and control workers compensation claims, employers must make workplace safety an integral part of an organization’s culture. Here are a few tips for developing a safety culture.
Create awareness by putting safety front and center, to ensure everyone knows its importance to the organization. Hold meetings, hang signs and banners, place stickers on equipment and create contests. Include safety tips in company messages, newsletters, videos and other means of communication.
Take a team approach by involving employees and promoting a sense of shared responsibility. Solicit each employee’s help and ideas. Make sure managers are as well versed in safety as they are in production, sales and quality.
Be proactive: When hiring, evaluate a candidate’s safety awareness. Create a workforce that is familiar and comfortable with safety procedures.
Offer training: Whether employees are new or long-term, each should undergo safety training. Ongoing refresher training is also necessary to improve performance and maintain awareness.
Incentivize employees: Rewarding employees for safety, as well as for productivity, demonstrates a real commitment to workplace safety.
Put it in writing: Regularly update all employee manuals and safety for policy changes, new equipment, procedure revisions and regulations.
Be patient: Creating a safety culture takes time and continued effort. It may be a few years before your organization’s new safety-oriented culture takes hold. But the results will be worth it! (WCxKit)
A Safe Work Environment Works for Everyone
Reducing workplace illness and injuries makes good business sense. Increasing productivity and reducing resources spent on workers compensation claims means a stronger bottom line no matter what the business.
Even more important is the satisfaction and quality of life that employees can enjoy when safety becomes part of your organizational culture. Performing their jobs safely, and knowing their employer cares enough about them to take it seriously, can really boost morale. When every employee leaves work as healthy as when they arrived, then management has achieved an important goal.
This post was provided by Erin Palmer on behalf of Villanova University’s online human resources programs. Villanova offers a
Masters degree in HR, as well as HR training certificate programs. Erin can be reached on Twitter
@Erin_E_Palmer.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
Many paramedics in New Brunswick Canada saw their work schedules dramatically altered recently as the province moved away from 24-hour shifts, citing safety reasons.
According to a report from Canadian OH&S News, Ambulance New Brunswick ANB, the company the province has contracted to manage and oversee all emergency medical services operations since 2007, changed over all but three of the province's 70 EMS stations to a 12-hour shift schedule in August. The changeover was first announced in December 2010. (WCxKit)
There were 30 stations operating on the 24-hour schedule, which was introduced to deal with staffing issues and never meant to be permanent, says Alan Stephen, president and CEO of ANB. Getting rid of the long shifts was a safety decision, he says.
"The evidence would show us that long shifts, 24-hour shifts, are not great for the safety of our paramedics, our patients and for public safety, for reasons of fatigue, lack of sufficient rest periods, sleep disturbances, medical errors, vehicular errors," he says, citing studies from other jurisdictions.
Ralph McBride, the Canadian Union of Public Employees CUPE national representative for Local 4848, the New Brunswick paramedics union, disagrees with the claimed safety benefits and says there haven't been any accidents or patient care issues in the province since the 24-hour shifts were introduced. He says the studies the union did with the province showed that a 12-hour shift is no safer than a 24-hour shift because there is enough downtime when workers handle 9-1-1 calls or rest in the station's bedrooms during the latter shift.
"ANB told us that, time on task, some stations were 38 minutes in a 24-hour day, other stations ran up as high as seven-and-a-half hours," McBride says. "What happens to the other hours for time on task? They're always in the station somewhere with the ability to put their feet up and relax," he contends.
"It's not like they're working a 24-hour shift in an urban center, like a city. Our 24-hour stations are more in remote parts, where call volumes are low."
Some members are upset with the decision to move to a 12-hour schedule because it causes hardships to ambulance personnel, McBride argues, citing the difficulty of finding daycare for single parents and the dramatic increase on travel time that workers who live far from their station have to deal with.
"I have members that would work in a 24-hour station because that's the closest they could get to their home area. They were traveling two hours to work and then two hours home, and now they're going to end up traveling four days. It was just a better fit," he says.
Local 4848, which represents approximately 900 EMS workers, is waiting on an adjudication hearing to challenge the decision and is lobbying the government to look at the employer's right to make the changes, McBride remarked. (WCxKit)
The three stations staying on the 24-hour schedule are on the islands in lower New Brunswick, and are staying on the extended schedule because the number of emergency calls on the islands is much lower and paramedics working there don't have to transfer patients to other facilities, Stephen adds.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A Hokitika forestry worker was off work for months with debilitating spinal fractures, bruising, and kidney injuries after he was hit by a log while in a designated safe area in New Zealand.
According to a report from the New Zealand Department of Labor, his employer, Thomas Logging, Ltd., was fined $17,000 in the Greymouth District Court and ordered to pay reparations of $20,000 following the accident in the Kaniere Forest Block near Hokitika last September.(WCxKit)
The employee was sharpening his chainsaw in an area of the site designated for employees and visitors because it was originally located away from any hazards. However, the layout of the site had been changed two days prior to the accident. This meant the safe area was no longer in a safe place.
At the same time, another employee was using an excavator nearby to clear cut logs. A 5.5 meter log came loose from the excavator hitting the employee in the back, causing his injuries.
“The company carried out a hazard identification before the work started. Then, two days before the incident, they changed the layout of the work area without changing the designated safe area and that put employees in danger of being hit by moving logs and machinery,” said Christchurch Service Manager, Margaret Radford.(WCxKit)
“This employee could have been spared these debilitating injuries if a simple hazard identification was done again after the site layout was changed, and the safe area moved,” Radford added.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Our WORK COMP Book: www.WCMANUAL.com
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently renewed its alliance with the Scaffold Industry Association, Inc. (SIA), aiming to protect the safety and health of those working on scaffolds from falls and other deadly hazards, according to information provided by the agency.
Since the nationwide alliance was signed in 2008; OSHA and SIA have developed safety materials on transport platforms and mast-climbing work platforms relating to scaffold and fall hazards, as well as applicable American National Safety Institute (ANSI) consensus standards. Several of these products have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese.(WCxKit)
Goals of the renewed alliance include increasing awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, developing new effective training and education programs, and conducting outreach and communication activities on workers' rights and employers' responsibilities. The organizations will continue to emphasize scaffold safety, including issues related to mast climbing scaffolding, suspended scaffolding, and aerial lift equipment.
SIA is a national trade organization founded in 1972, which represents the scaffold, aerial lift and access industry. SIA promotes safety in these areas by developing educational and training courses, audiovisual programs, and codes of safe practices. It has more than 1,000 member companies including aerial platform dealers and distributors; scaffold and shoring erectors and renters; plank and platform manufacturers and distributors; safety and engineering consultants; and government officials.
Through the alliance Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations; faith- and community-based organizations; and business and educational institutions.(WCxKit)
OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance-assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA programmed inspections.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Federal safety officials have cited science-based products company DuPont and a New York contractor for 17 safety violations after the explosion of a 10,000-gallon chemical tank that left one worker dead and injured another.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommended $61,500 in fines for DuPont and $55,440 in fines for contractor Mollenberg-Betz Inc. (WCxKit)
A Mollenberg-Betz welder died last November while attaching a bracket to the storage tank at DuPont's plant in Tonawanda, close to Buffalo.
OSHA cited both companies for not taking steps to prevent welding in an explosive environment.
According to a DuPont spokesman, the Wilmington, Del.-based company is reviewing the findings and will meet with OSHA in the next few days.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact:Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
A Quebec worker remained hospitalized one week after the crane she was operating tipped on its side at a construction site in downtown Montreal. According to a report from the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety magazine, the accident occurred in early June, trapping the operator inside the crane.
As the first emergency responders on scene, members of Montreal's fire department extracted the worker and she was transported to hospital, where she remained with severe contusions as of June 15, according to Eric Arseneault, a spokesman for Quebec's workplace safety board, CSST. (WCxKit)
"When I saw the machinery on its side, I thought 'She is lucky to be alive,’ “Arseneault said. He attended the site, a 450-unit condominium development project overseen by a general contractor. According to Arseneault, the worker, an employee of Pétrifond Fondation, was "doing some sort of maneuver" when the accident occurred. The investigation is still in its early stages, he says, adding that the CSST is looking into reports that the operator was performing pile driving with a foundation beam on a slope at the time.
For its part, the CSST will be examining, among other factors, the work method, whether or not the equipment was used properly, if the worker received adequate training, if she was aware of occupational health and safety dangers, and if she was properly supervised, Arseneault said.
Arseneault said a routine inspection of the site about a month before the accident found no occupational health and safety issues. However, before this inspection, work at another site involving Pétrifond Fondation workers resulted in a stop-work order alleging employees were working too close to electrical lines, Arseneault reported. (WCxKit)
And last year, the construction site in question was shut down until asbestos found in buildings being demolished was safely removed, he added.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
The Heads of Australias Workplace Safety Authorities recently announced a new campaign to improve safety for those working on or near public roads.
HWSA Chair John Watson said the targeted compliance campaign will provide jurisdictions with an understanding of the current level of work health and safety compliance on roadside worksites. (WCxKit)
“The WorkCover NSW led initiative has been designed to address safety issues associated with working on or near roads and raise awareness of practical risk controls,” Watson said.
“The national compliance campaign has been developed in response to series of incidents across Australia over the past 18 months that have seen five workers die and 10 seriously injured while undertaking work on public roads,” he said
“Working on roads is an extremely dangerous activity and requires the management of multiple and fluctuating hazards.
“Factors such as high volumes of traffic, inadequate signage, poor traffic management and the use of powered mobile plant pose a high operational risk.
“In the past two years in New South Wales more than 300 notices have been issued to improve traffic management issues on roadside construction sites.
“It is important to ensure there is no possibility of a breakdown in risk management systems on hazardous sites and the visits will reinforce this,” Watson added.
The campaign will see workplace safety inspectors from across the nation
visit more than 260 roadside worksites.
Between March and May inspectors will monitor employers and site controllers to determine if adequate risk management and worker consultation systems are in place. (WCxKit)
Improving safety when working on or near roads should involve:
1. effective traffic management systems to reduce the interaction of plant and personnel
2. clear traffic signaling and adequate signage
3. placement of appropriate barriers that meet relevant safety standards
4. training and induction in site-specific traffic management strategies
5. audible warning devices when plant is operating in reverse
Guidance material including safety Codes of Practices is available from individual workplace safety jurisdictions.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact:Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com .
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Factories are often thought of as dangerous places to work. But, that is wrong if the factory has a proper safety program in place. The creation of a safety program for a factory is not much more difficult that creating a safety program for any other type of business.
The success of any safety program relies on the emphasis safety is given within the company. A company culture of safety that originates with the senior management of the company, with the safety culture being promoted all the way down through the ranks of the company, will have a major impact on the safety record of a factory. (WCxKit)
The safety guidelines for factories are similar to the safety guidelines in many other industries. Key factory safety guidelines include:
1. All employees will wear all required safety gear, safety glasses, and safety clothing for their job/position while at their workstation.
2. All employees working around moving machinery are prohibited from wearing loose clothing or loose jewelry.
3. All employees working around moving machinery must have long hair tied back where it can not fall forward or be caught in the machinery.
4. All tools will be in use or will be stored at their proper location at all times, no tools are to be left in any location where they are not being used or being stored.
5. All equipment, tools and machinery are to be kept clean and in full working condition, with any defects being immediately reported to maintenance.
6. The instruction manuals for all machinery must be readily available for review.
7. All equipment and machinery is to be shut down when not in use.
8. All presses and machinery will require two hand operation to keep fingers and hands away from moving part.
9. All machinery is to have the manufacturer's installed safety guards.
10. No machinery is to be modified by any employee who is not specifically trained in the technical aspects of the machinery.
11. All work areas are to be kept properly lit when anyone is working.
12. All work areas are to be kept properly ventilated.
13. All areas of the factory are be kept clean and organized.
14. Anyone working in the factory under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be immediately terminated.
The safety officer for the factory should require every job to have a job hazards analysis with each employee performing that job being trained in recognizing the hazards to which they can be exposed and being trained on how they can safely eliminate or reduce those hazards. Each job should have a safety checklist with the employee being able to obtain a 100% grade on test questions about the requirements of their safety checklist.
All employees conducting work that requires specific OSHA training must be required to complete the OSHA training before they can start work in the factory.
The factory safety officer should perform frequent factory inspections to identify any hazards the employees might have missed. Any identified hazards should be immediately addressed and corrected. The safety officer should also hold regular scheduled safety training classes as well as requiring safety classes for all new hires before they can do any work in the factory.
Fire drills and other emergency evacuation drills should be conducted to ensure all employees know how to quickly and safely leave the building. As a part of all emergency drills, the employees need to know whether to shut down their machinery or to leave it running when they evacuate the building. As a part of the fire and emergency evacuation drills, all employees need to know where the fire extinguishers, fire hoses and other emergency equipment is located, and how to use the equipment in an emergency. (WCxKit)
The establishment of a strong safety program within the employer's factory will result in a significant reduction in the number of workers compensation claims and their resulting cost. If you need any assistance in establishing your factory's safety program, our website has extensive information about building a safety program.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact:RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
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