Learn How to Manage Safety and Health in the Workplace

You want to work for a company that prioritizes its employees’ safety and health, particularly when you’re working in an industrial or warehouse setting. Before you take a job, you can look up a company’s OSHA violation record using OSHA’s Establishment Search Tool. All you need is the company’s name, state, and zip code. Companies that prioritize worker safety will follow policies like the ones we’ve outlined below. 

 

The foundation for an effective safety and health program is making it an organizational priority, rather than just an initiative you take on in addition to your "real" work. Establish safety and health as a core value of the company and make decisions based upon it. Include language regarding your dedication to employee safety and health in your mission statement, in your job postings, and as part of your onboarding.

 

The push for productivity can often make it easy to ignore known hazards for the sake of speed, however, that will backfire when accidents occur. Take a risk assessment of the most common hazards in your workplace. This can be done by reviewing accident reports, surveying your employees' feedback, or looking at a list of the most commonly cited Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations. Determine ways you can reduce the risk of these existing hazards, such as processes that could be changed. 

 

Communicate to your employees why following health and safety procedures is so important, so they take it seriously rather than viewing it as yet another set of rules to remember and follow. Ask for their opinions on what could be done differently to make them feel safer. By engaging them in the process, you are more likely to get employees’ buy-in so they will voluntarily follow the rules. 

 

Managing health and safety in the workplace is not a one-time project – it should be a consistent priority. Set aside time on a monthly or quarterly basis to focus on regular occupational safety reviews. Analyze the accident or illness rate from the previous time period to determine if you’ve made progress or if further tweaks need to be made.

 

Ensure that you have the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for your facility including hard hats, safety vests, spill kits, hearing protection, face shields, and safety goggles. One of the most commonly cited OSHA infractions is lack of eye and face protection in construction. 

 

If respirators are required at your job site for industrial safety, you must conduct a fit test to select the right size respirator. Fit tests are required annually thereafter or sooner if there are changes in the user’s physical appearance that could affect the fit. According to OSHA, “an additional fit test is required whenever there are changes in the user's physical condition that could affect respirator fit (e.g., facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight).”

 

According to OSHA requirements, employers are required to pay for protective equipment when it is necessary to comply with OSHA standards. This requirement typically includes hard hats, safety shoes, gloves, safety goggles, welding helmets, safety glasses, face shields, fall protection equipment, and chemical protective equipment. 

 

Aside from just having the right safety equipment, make sure your employees are well-versed on where it’s located and how to use it. Also, inspect your equipment regularly. Are your safety goggles, hard hats, and safety vests clean and in good condition? Are your spill kits, PPE, face shields, gloves, and hearing protection easily available and in a highly visible location?

 

Even if you only have office space, there are ergonomic and office safety standards that you should follow to protect the health and safety of your employees. It can be something as simple as properly supportive chairs, ergonomic mouse pads, blue-light filtering monitors, and anti-slip rugs in entryways. Maximize employee workplace safety and minimize the risk to your company.

 

One of the best ways to keep employees focused on workplace safety is through regular safety training. On a quarterly basis, review the proper procedures and safety equipment usage with your employees. Also make sure that everyone in the company knows the emergency response protocols in case of an incident. Especially for industrial safety, it’s highly recommended to make signs with your emergency response protocols and post them in highly visible areas like the lunchroom and by the time clock.

 

Also encourage employees to report unsafe conditions. Make sure they know that there will be no repercussions or retaliation for reporting potential hazards. 

 

For industrial safety, keep the workplace free from clutter and debris. The simple act of maintaining a clean environment can help prevent slips and falls. It can also help keep you from getting cited during a surprise OSHA inspection.

 

Find top candidates for your open positions by working with Nesco Resource. We are among the leading employment agencies in the nation and can assist you in attracting candidates with the right skills and traits for positions in industrial, manufacturing, administrative, information technology (IT), engineering, and more. Nesco Resource is an E-Verify staffing firm. E-Verify compares a new hire’s I-9 information with the federal government’s databases to confirm their employment eligibility. Contact us today to learn more about the employment services Nesco Resource can provide.