A Safety Program is designed to prevent injuries on the job and keep employees healthy. Employees can be exposed to many hazards that may or not have immediate consequences. For example, a fall from a ladder shows a broken bone immediately, but exposure to a chemical may have long term effects. Both are just as important as the other. A proper safety program set up by a Certified Safety Professional will identify issues on an ongoing basis to ensure to lower the chance of accident or injury to the workers.
A Safety Program is designed to prevent injuries on the job and keep employees healthy. Employees can be exposed to many hazards that may or not have immediate consequences. For example, a fall from a ladder shows a broken bone immediately, but exposure to a chemical may have long term effects. Both are just as important as the other. A proper safety program set up by a Certified Safety Professional will identify issues on an ongoing basis to ensure to lower the chance of accident or injury to the workers.
Selecting the right equipment for the job can go a long way in preventing hazards in the workplace. In the example above, perhaps scaffolding instead of a ladder was all that was needed to prevent the fall; or proper respirators would have prevented the long term exposure from the chemical. A Certified Safety Inspector is aware of not only recognizing the problems in the workplace, but also what solutions could be implemented to reduce the risk of accident or injury.
The Certified Safety Inspector would periodically visit the facility and walk through each stage at the plant or facility. Understanding each aspect of production is crucial to evaluate each stage and look for potential hazards. Once the Certified Safety Inspector has finished his walk through, a report will be compiled to address and areas that safety could be improved and limit the risk of accident or injury. This report also has a portion for safety procedures to be followed, known as a Safety Plan. These safety procedures ensure the environment is safer to work in for everyone at the facility.
Safety Programs are a requirement of OSHA to ensure the work environment is as safe as possible for the worker. At any time, OSHA can come into the facility to evaluate the safety procedures that are in place, and may issue large fines if they find something out of code. A Certified Safety Professional can ensure all codes are being met and stays current with any new rule or code that OSHA releases.
The Safety Plan should be updated periodically to ensure the best equipment is being used for the job, and as the process of making the product changes or evolves, each new component can be evaluated from a safety prospective. Click here to find a Certified Safety Inspector in your area to have a Safety Plan put together for you.
Occupational Health Overcomes Everyday Hazards
Many workers face different types of hazards on a daily basis. Each company has a responsibility to proactively protect their employees from hazards encountered in the workplace. Accidents or injuries can bring production to a halt, reduce the workforce while the employee is recovering and lead to costly worker compensation claims. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can help your company improve the Occupational Health present at your facility.
The Risk from Asbestos
Asbestos poses a major health risk in many office buildings and homes due to the wide adoption and usage of asbestos as an insulator in the construction process. Asbestos can be found in the glue beneath vinyl flooring or in material applied to concrete to regulate the temperature between floors in an office building. These buildings and homes are being remodeled and modernized as an update to the space, but the demolition process can be hazardous if asbestos is present. Test for asbestos prior to starting your next remodeling project to ensure workers are safe.
Communicating the Dangers with HazCom
Hazard Communication focuses on explaining the dangers present at the workplace. The employees have a right to understand the hazards present and how to remain safe on the jobsite. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can work with your company to fulfill the HazCom requirement set forth by OSHA.
