Workplace Safety

Workplace safety should always be at the forefront and a top priority for the worker and employer. One potential danger in the workplace is a confined space. The Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) has defined a confined space as any space with an open top and a depth possible of restricting the natural way air moves, or an enclosed space with a limited opening for entry. Confined spaces include utility vaults, tanks, sewers, silos, access shafts, vats, hoppers, rail tank cars, truck tanks, culverts, ship holds, wells, tunnels, walk-in freezers cold storage, etc.

Dangers of a Confined Space. A confined space can have all the risks that are generally associated with any type of workspace, but also have other factors that might pose an even greater threat to the worker. For example, some confined spaces can contain certain mechanical equipment that use moving parts during operation. Other factors that might increase the risk in a confined space include: The design of the space, its construction, location, atmosphere, substances in the space, and type of work being performed in the space. Furthermore, a worker in a confined space could also face a number of preventable safety issues related to noise level, biological hazards, and life-threatening cold or heat temperature extremes. Unexpected safety issues are also a concern for the confined space worker: A shifting or collapse of heavy material; unstable atmosphere, which could cause an explosion or fire; an unexpected release of radiation or residual chemicals, liquids unexpectedly filling the space, etc.

The potential dangerous hazards can also include how much oxygen is available in the space or if there is the presence of a poisonous substance in the air, either of which can result in the worker losing consciousness.

Entering a Confined Space. There must be an evaluation of the confined area by a trained supervisor and/or trained worker every time a worker enters a confined space to carry out work. The first step is to check the quality of the air in the confined space, which includes: Checking for safe limits of oxygen, presence of toxic gasses, and anything that could cause the atmosphere to be flammable. The ventilation system should also be checked for proper function.

Depending on the situation, other steps might be taken before the worker enters the confined space. This safety precaution might include steps such as: Locking out any energy source that is potentially hazardous or removing free flowing solids or liquids. Applicable personal protective equipment (respirators, safety glasses, gloves, and/or ear plugs) should be available for use. A worker should never enter a confined space if they are not confident that they could evacuate the space quickly in an emergency circumstance. The worker should also be able to immediately contact a trained employee outside the space in the event of a problem.

No matter what the job, confined space type, or reason for entering the confined space, always put safety first by securing the workspace.

Despite a downward trend in workplace injuries, many employees might still be choosing to bypass safety mechanisms due to employer pressure for more productive employees. That said, many HR departments might consider revisiting their safety training and incentive programs to ensure workplace safety is being put first.

When one stops to consider that workplace safety can often be a life or death issue, it shouldn’t be so shocking that employees would pick workplace safety over family leave, overtime pay, wages, and sick day pay as the most important labor issue to them. Tracking statistics on worker injuries first started in 1992. According to data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, both nonfatal and fatal injuries have actually declined for several years. In fact, the 4,340 fatal workplace injuries that occurred in 2009 was the least amount recorded since 1992. Statistics for illnesses and nonfatal injuries have also trended downward since 2003.

Despite downward trending statistics, one 2008 study showed that eighty-nine% of workers ranked workplace safety as their greatest labor concern. This data is congruent with a new study released by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. In the new study, work place safety was cited as the most important labor issue by 85% of respondents, or roughly eight in 10 workers. Meanwhile, 78% of respondents ranked maternity and family leave as their second most important labor-related issue. Sick day pay and overtime pay were each cited by 69% of those participating.

These findings might be somewhat surprising to employers based off of the political verve and influence that accompanies other issues like wages and benefits, but experts say that considering those issues aren’t actually life and death matters and workplace safety is, the findings make logical sense. According to experts, the media, the economy, the decline of unions, and stress levels could be factors behind the large percentage of workers listing safety as their top concern. The media often overlooks the human toll of workplace accidents. The British Petroleum (BP) Gulf of Mexico disaster is a recent example; the media coverage almost exclusively focused on the environmental implications of the disaster, while almost completely overlooking the worker safety aspects of the incident. If optimal safety would’ve been maintained, then the eleven deceased workers might not have died and the environmental disaster would’ve been nonexistent.

Studies concerning satisfaction levels for workplace safety have generally shown improvement during the past 10 years, with one exception: Levels of stress. Although most workers aren’t in work environments that have high physical danger levels, most workers are in occupations that involve high levels of job-related stress. High stress levels can have a substantial impact on the health and safety of the stressed worker and those around him/her.

Experts also point to employees being subjected to performance pressure from employers. This might especially be related to the desire for employers to have more productive employees in such a down economy. Workers may choose to bypass safety mechanisms in an effort to comply.One common complaint from employees is that their employer is only concerned with having appealing safety numbers on paper. These employees feel that their employer isn’t genuinely concerned with real safety issues. The recent union decline might also be prompting employees to turn to the federal government for additional safety protection. However, as unions reorganize, they will most likely focus heavily on addressing workplace safety concerns and attracting new membership by simply showing that employers aren’t giving safety issues the attention they merit.

In light of this study, employers might think about using rewards recognition for employee suggestions to improve safety vs. accident-free type rewards. Since many companies are still using generic safety training applications that frequently have little relevancy to a particular occupation, employers might also consider revisiting training programs for relevancy and effectiveness.

Even a little snow and ice in your workplace parking lot can be treacherous. With the possibility of a slip and fall, and an injury of epic proportions, you have no choice but to take your safety into your own hands. Even if the sidewalks are shoveled and salted, there is still plenty of danger lying between your car door and the employee entrance. Here are a few safety tips to help you avoid injury.

Choose sensible footwear. Naturally you want to look fashionable at work-but when fashion costs you physical pain and possible permanent injury, it simply isn’t worth it. Instead, bring your attractive work shoes to change into, and wear boots or shoes that provide stability while on slippery surfaces. Rubber is an ideal material for navigating snow and ice.

Do the shuffle. In Florida, beachgoers are taught to do the stingray shuffle when walking into the ocean during certain seasons. This shuffle involves slowly sliding their feet along the sand in the water without lifting them. They do this to avoid stepping on a stingray. In the winter time, you can do this shuffle in order to have better control over your steps and reduce your risk of slipping. The key is to move your feet slowly in short shuffling movements.

Don’t be a Sherpa. In most cases, your employer provides you with nicely plowed and shoveled areas to walk. Don’t attempt to climb up piles of snow or in areas that have not been cleared of debris just to take a short cut. If there are any railings near the cleared and designated walkway areas, use them to guard against a fall.

Arrive early. When there is ice and snow on the ground, you don’t want to be forced to rush into work to avoid being tardy. Leave home a little earlier in the mornings so that you can avoid the need to beat the clock.

Notify your supervisor of danger zones. While you are in the parking lot, if you notice any areas that are particularly perilous, try to safely mark the area off to warn other employees and then notify your supervisor. Unless you have the proper tools and gear as well as permission from your employer, do not try to make the area safe yourself.

Wipe your feet before entering the building. When you enter the workplace, clean off your shoes so that snow and ice from the parking lot and walkway don’t melt and create indoor hazards.

Pull your head up before you fall. Occasionally, falls are inevitable. If you do begin to fall while walking outside, crane your head and back forward so that you don’t suffer a blow to the back of your head.

Fall correctly. If something should happen and you do fall in the parking lot or elsewhere, try to avoid the urge of using your hands or arms to break the fall. Instead try to land on your thigh first, then your hip and lastly, your shoulder. These are the safest spots for impact.

Substance abuse problems among employees cost businesses billions of dollars each year. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in that year, 73% of the nation’s adults with alcohol or drug dependence were employed either full- or part-time. This amounts to nearly 13 million Americans working under the influence. Put another way, this data from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration means that 8% of full-time employed adults and 10.2% of part-time employed adults are substance abusers.

For the majority of substance abusers, their problem lies with alcohol. The same study reveals that slightly more than half of Americans aged 12 or older reported being current drinkers of alcohol (51.6%). This translates to an estimated 129 million people, which was similar to the 2007 estimate of 126.8 million people (51.1%).

According to information published by Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems, a part of the George Washington University Medical Center, alcohol abuse costs American businesses $134 billion in productivity losses annually, and the health care costs for these employees are about twice as high as for those without an alcohol abuse problem. Employees who are heavy drinkers use twice as much sick time as other employees, spend four times as many days in the hospital than the national average, and have higher rates of job turnover.

Significantly, light and moderate alcohol users, who are greater in number than heavy drinkers or alcoholics, account for 60% of alcohol-related absenteeism, tardiness, and poor work quality. And, the problems of alcohol abusers go beyond the addicted individual: About 20% of employees say they have been injured by, have covered for, or have had to work harder because of other employees’ drinking.

The above data shows that alcohol and other substance abuse takes a toll on workplace productivity, and contributes to higher medical costs both for treatment of the addiction and for substance-related medical issues. Employee substance abuse problems also result in an increased occurrence of workplace accidents and higher Disability and Workers Compensation costs. It is clearly in an employer’s best interests to seek ways to minimize the impact of employees’ substance abuse on the workplace.

Experts in the field stress the importance of workplace practices that educate employees about the health hazards of substance addiction and encourage employees to seek early treatment of any problems. While stressing the importance of a drug-free workplace, policies that rely primarily on discipline can result in addicted employees hiding their problems out of fear of losing their jobs, and in co-workers enabling such behavior in a spirit of friendship. In that kind of environment, an addicted employee may resist seeking any available help-such as obtaining treatment under the medical plan or taking a leave to enroll in a treatment program-until a crisis occurs.

On the other hand, employees will be more likely to come forward and get the help they need if they believe that by doing so they will receive help, not punishment. The same is true of co-workers, who can be an invaluable resource in encouraging addicted employees to seek help and to stay on track once treatment has begun.

Since most medical insurance plans include at least some substance abuse benefits, workplace communications about a business’s policies on alcohol/drug use should include this information. Employees are more likely to seek help if they feel it is within their reach, and they might not realize that this benefit is available to them. Employee assistance programs (EAPs) also can offer screenings, counseling, and treatment referrals for employees with substance problems; depending on the EAP, it also may have worksite awareness and supervisor training programs.

Communications to employees about any available benefits should stress that both medical plan and EAP services are confidential. This, together with a supportive (rather than punitive) environment, increases the likelihood that employees will seek the help that they need.

With many dollars in lost productivity at stake, the reasons for businesses to promote substance abuse awareness are compelling. And, because work is such an important part of most people’s lives, the workplace can be an effective place for substance abuse intervention to begin.

Part of a comprehensive health and safety program should be a well-defined plan to deal with major emergencies. Would people know what to do in the case of an explosion at your workplace? Who would be in charge? Who would contact the fire department, the police, and the hospital? Does your company have an evacuation plan? What are the proper procedures if the power goes out?

An emergency plan would answer all of these questions, hopefully long before a real emergency occurs. It is much better to be prepared than to be surprised. For employees, it is helpful to know in advance what your responsibilities are in an emergency situation, rather than to find out after disaster strikes.

A good emergency plan begins with a vulnerability assessment. This assessment shows the organization where potential risks lie, and helps identify what can be done to prevent such situation. Finally, the assessment should outline the immediate steps to be taken if the risk becomes a reality.

If an emergency does occur, then a set of procedures must be followed that will protect individuals and property. In the special case of fire, the procedures may include:

• Declare that there is an emergency
• Sound the alarm
• Evacuate employees from the danger zone
• Call for help
• Initiate rescue operations
• Attend to casualties
• Fight the fire, if absolutely necessary

To accomplish all of these steps, there must be an emergency plan outlining individual authority and responsibility, all necessary supplies and equipment, and a storage map that shows where they are located. Needed supplies might include anything from flashlights to back-up generators, bandages to respirators. But most importantly, each employee must be trained and well informed of the emergency plan, as well as any role they are expected to play.

To be effective, an emergency plan must contain the following elements:

• An evacuation plan that all staff is familiar with and an easy to follow route that must always be clear of obstacles.
• Safe locations for employees to gather outside the emergency zone so that everyone can be accounted for.
• The ability to treat injuries, search for the missing, and simultaneously contain the emergency.
• An alternate source of medical assistance when the normal facilities may be affected by the emergency.

If you don’t have an emergency plan at your workplace, it is critical to devise one and to revisit the plan on an annual basis. If you do have a plan, find out what your role might be in the case of an emergency. At a minimum, know the plan and route so that you can evacuate, help others to do so, and prevent confusion at the last minute.

As the economy begins to grow again, businesses will start to add workers to their payrolls. This is good news for those workers and for the economy, but statistics show that the first year on a new job is also very risky to the workers’ health. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 41% of work-related injuries occur each year to workers who have been on the job for less than a year. On top of that, younger employees get hurt on the job more often than do their older colleagues. A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study showed that workers under age 24 are twice as likely as older workers to have non-fatal workplace accidents. In addition to the pain and suffering these workers endure and the disruption to their lives, employers face increased Workers Compensation costs. Therefore, preventing new employees’ accidents should be a top priority for all employers. There are several things employers can do toward that end.

• Review and update job descriptions. If management has not compared job descriptions to the actual work being done recently, this is the time to do it. Work tasks are changing constantly as new tasks take priority, old tasks become less important, and technology changes how workers perform current tasks. Without a clear understanding of how employees are performing their work (or, more importantly, how they should be performing it,) managers will be unable to train new employees effectively or to determine why they are getting hurt.
• Conduct training programs that require the employee’s active participation. When people learn how to drive, they do not just watch a video or listen to a lecture about which pedal is the brake and which is the accelerator. They get behind the wheel and actually drive. Safe job performance works the same way. An employee will retain the knowledge far better if he watches a demonstration and then performs the tasks in a safe, controlled environment. He should practice the steps until he can perform them safely. Hands-on training will engage the employee’s mind and take advantage of his natural desire to perform his job well and in a way that will protect him. This will result in better work performance and a lower likelihood of injuries.
• Closely supervise new employees. Interactive training alone will not guarantee safe work performance. Supervisors should pay close attention to new workers during their first days and weeks on the job to make sure that they are using the knowledge gained during training and not falling into bad habits. Pointing out unsafe practices and correcting them quickly should instill good habits and make working safely an automatic part of the employee’s routine. Ideally, the employee should need less supervision the longer he is on the job without injuring himself or others.

Every day in business, competition becomes more fierce; only high-value, low-cost providers of products and services can thrive. A company gains an edge by attracting and retaining excellent workers and by holding down variable costs. Preventing workplace injuries does both. By making the effort to keep all employees, especially new employees, safe, the company will develop a reputation as a good place to work and reduce workers’ compensation costs, adding dollars to the bottom line. Businesses should view workplace injuries as a preventable expense that they do not have to accept.

Regardless of the current weather forecast, driving conditions can change in a flash. By following some very basic guidelines, you can reduce the risk of an accident significantly, and ensure that you and your cargo get to your destination safely.

Driving in Bright Sun

Depending on the season, and the sun’s position in the sky, certain times of the day can present problems that impact your visibility while driving. Be sure to wear sunglasses and use your visor to attempt to combat the glare of the sun in your line of sight. Sometimes, the reflection of the sun off of another vehicle creates a visual disturbance while you’re driving. When this happens, it is a good idea to slow down to change the angle at which you see the other vehicle. Or consider changing lanes to reduce the glare. Sunglasses and a visor will also help.

Driving in Fog

The first rule to observe in foggy conditions is never use your high beam headlights. If you did turn on your high beams, it would be counterproductive, because the light would reflect back at you, making it more difficult to see. Always use your low beams in fog. This way, other drivers can see you coming and you can see a bit more of the road. Reduce your speed. If you can see six or more car lengths in front of you then you can safely drive up to 30 miles per hour. If you can see fewer than six car lengths ahead, do not exceed 15 miles per hour. Use your windshield wipers to remove collecting condensation from your windshield. Even if you don’t realize it is collecting it could be reducing your visibility.

Driving During the Rain

Slow Down! Rain impacts visibility and increases the chance of skidding, so a slower speed is necessary. Slowing down also reduces the chances that you will hydroplane — which is when your vehicle moves too quickly to clear water from the road and you end up driving on water instead of pavement. Be especially careful at the beginning of a rainfall. Because oil and water on the road don’t mix, the roads will be especially slippery when the rain first begins. If you normally follow the three-second rule for keeping a safe distance from the car ahead of you, increase that to a six-second rule during rainy weather.

Driving in Snow

Snow that is heavy and slushy can become packed together to create a slippery road surface. When encountering this kind of snow while driving, drive slowly and use extra caution. Be careful when accelerating. Cars often slip or skid when accelerating too quickly in snowy conditions. If you do begin to slip, take your foot off the gas pedal and then start accelerating again more slowly. Avoid braking, as this action could make skidding worse. Use your low beams when driving in snow and avoid the use of high beams. The bright lights would reflect off of the snow and reduce your visibility. Use low beams to see more of the road and make your car more visible to other drivers. Since snow decreases your visibility and reduces your stopping speed, it is important to maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.

Driving on Icy Surfaces

Black ice, which often forms on roads and is undetectable by sight, can be extremely dangerous. If you notice that the spray from other vehicles on a wet road begins to stop or wane, it might indicate the development of black ice. When that happens, follow the instructions below. Also, remember that bridges and overpasses can be icy even when normal roads are not.

• Begin braking slowly and well before you need to stop. When a road is covered in ice, it can take up to 10 times longer to come to a stop after braking.
• Make sure you have a good understanding of your vehicle’s brake system and the best way to use it. For example, anti-lock brakes should never be pumped.

Before you take to the road, think about the conditions you might encounter, and take precautions. A little extra care could prevent an accident, and even save a life.

Each year in American workplaces, tens of thousands of forklift related injuries occur, most of which are preventable. Employees might be injured when a lift falls between loading docks and an unsecured trailer, and others are injured or even killed when forklifts are driven off loading docks accidentally.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, most employee injuries are the result of unsafe operating procedures, lack of training, and the failure to enforce safety rules. Other factors contributing to forklift-related injuries include production factors such as speed or stress, improper assignment of forklifts and operators, and poor maintenance.

Common mistakes that cause forklift accidents include improper backing techniques, turning, and failure to warn others about forklift usage nearby.

Proper training and monitoring are crucial factors that help to avoid forklift accidents and injuries. Employees need to be trained in proper operational procedures and safety regulations. Furthermore, equipment requires continuous inspection and maintenance.

No one should be asked to operate a forklift without receiving adequate training under close supervision. Such training should include written operating procedures and safety regulations, as well as the inspection guidelines and maintenance schedule for the machinery.

An operator should inspect the equipment every day before using the forklift, ensuring that the brakes and steering are in good working order. They should also check fluid levels and visually inspect for leaks beneath the equipment.

Forklift operating procedures should be written clearly and monitored. They should be posted where everyone can see them and include the obvious; everything from not giving rides to the need for good communication among those in the work area when the equipment is in use.

The final step in ensuring safe forklift operations is to make sure all machinery is maintained properly. If a forklift begins to show its age, it should be replaced. No employee should be forced to use equipment that is clearly unsafe or has not been maintained properly.

It’s good to drive safely, even on your forklift.

A plan of action and the tools to deal with exposure, accident, and handling of harmful chemicals should be in place long before any chemical enters the workplace. This plan should include a comprehensive listing of all chemicals used in a workplace, all of the properties of applicable chemicals, and what to do in the event of exposure or accident. The necessary equipment and employees trained to provide first aid treatment should accompany this plan. Eye injury and burns are common results of workplace accidents which involve exposure to chemicals. Although less common, exposure to chemicals in the workplace can involve the chemical being accidentally ingested or inhaled. Every employee should know protocol, vital chemical information, and how to handle chemical accidents.

Burns

An employee suffering a burn is usually the most common chemical-related workplace accident. This type of accident likely occurs when the employee doesn’t follow proper handling procedures or skips necessary steps when handling the chemical. Sometimes the employee might not even be aware of the danger, as “thought to be empty” containers could cause a burn to appear much later. Standard first aid protocol for chemical burns involves immediately and thoroughly flushing the affected body part under a low pressure clean fluid source for at least 15 minutes. Depending on the strength of the chemical and severity of the injury, the time flushed might need to be extended. If the area remains irritated, the flushing process should be repeated. The incident should be reported and the employee should seek further or follow-up medical treatment.

Eye Contact

Eye contact with workplace chemicals is usually the result of the employee not properly handling the chemical or failing to wear applicable personal protective eye equipment such as – glasses, face shields, or goggles. The failure of proper handling and/or failure to wear personal protective equipment is usually combined with a spill or splash that causes the chemical to come into contact with the employees’ eye. Standard first aid protocol for chemical eye contact involves immediately rinsing the eye with clean water.

For the above purpose, health and safety legislation requires that any entity using chemicals have an eye wash station. The affected eye(s) should be rinsed for a minimum of one minute. If the irritation remains, the eye wash procedure should be repeated. In the event that irritation or vision problems remain, emergency treatment should be sought. As always, the incident should be reported.

Inhaled Chemicals

If an employee looses consciousness after inhaling (breathing in) a chemical, standard first aid protocol is to resuscitate and immediately seek emergency services for hospital transportation.

Chemical Ingestion

It is actually easy to ingest a chemical when proper hand washing doesn’t occur. The employee might ingest the chemical after handling tobacco or food with contaminated hands. There are two common misconceptions about chemical ingestion – an oral antidote of water, milk, or charcoal can neutralize the chemical and inducing vomiting can remove the chemical. Inducing vomiting, in particular, can actually cause further harm if the chemical (re)burns the esophagus on the way up. The standard procedure, for most incidences of chemical ingestion, is to dilute the chemical by drinking 8 to 10 ounces of water.

We all know that carbon monoxide (CO) is a lethal gas that is produced when fuels such as gasoline are burned. What we might fail to recognize is that people have been victims of carbon monoxide poisoning while using small gasoline-powered engines and tools because the equipment produced hazardous concentrations of the gas even in well-ventilated spaces. The reason this can occur is that carbon monoxide can accumulate quickly, even in areas that seem to have enough ventilation. The gas is tasteless, colorless, odorless, and nonirritating, and it can overcome the exposed person without their realizing it. By the time they understand what is happening, they are so weak and confused that they lose the ability to get themselves to safety.

Carbon monoxide can poison a person in two ways. The first is by tightly binding to hemoglobin in the blood, replacing the blood’s oxygen supply, and diminishing the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen to other parts of the body. The second way is by binding to tissues and cells of the human body and interfering with their normal function. That’s why persons with pre-existing health conditions, such as heart disease, are at increased risk.

Recognizing the early warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning can be difficult because the early symptoms of exposure, headache, dizziness, and nausea, can be mistaken for symptoms of other illnesses such as colds, flu, or food poisoning. Fortunately, not all instances of exposure to carbon monoxide are fatal. The severity of the symptoms is affected by three main factors:

• The concentration of carbon monoxide in the environment
• How long the exposure lasts
• The exposed person’s work-load and breathing rate

However, it is never a good idea to assume your work environment doesn’t pose a risk. The best approach is to implement safe practices to avoid exposure as much as possible. To that end, The National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed the following guidelines:

• Do not use or operate gasoline-powered engines or tools inside buildings or in partially enclosed areas unless gasoline engines can be located outside and away from air intakes. Use of gasoline-powered tools indoors where CO from the engine can accumulate can be fatal. An exception to this rule might be an emergency rescue situation in which other options are not available. Such an exception should only be made when equipment operators, assisting personnel, and the victim are provided with supplied-air respirators.
• Always place the pump and power unit of high-pressure washers outdoors and away from air intakes so that engine exhaust is not drawn indoors where the work is being done. Run only the high-pressure wash line inside.
• Consider the use of tools powered by electricity or compressed air if they are available and can be used safely. For example, electric-powered tools present an electrocution hazard and require specific precautions for safety.
• If compressed air is used, place the gasoline-powered compressor outdoors away from air intakes so that engine exhaust is not drawn indoors where the work is being done.
• Use personal CO monitors where potential sources of CO exist. These monitors should be equipped with audible alarms to warn workers when CO concentrations are too high.

Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of CO overexposure: Headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness, visual disturbances, changes in personality, and loss of consciousness. Any of these signs and symptoms can occur within minutes after equipment is turned on. If you suspect someone is experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, have them turn off all equipment immediately and go outdoors or to a place with uncontaminated air. If the symptoms persist, don’t take chances. Take them to a hospital emergency room for treatment.