Category: Safety

As a safety professional, your commitment to fostering a safe workplace is unwavering. You are well-versed in identifying potential hazards, implementing the latest safety protocols, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. But while your expertise is crucial, it’s important to remember that not everyone in your organization has the same depth of understanding when it comes to workplace safety. The reality is, even the most advanced safety measures and equipment will fall short if the entire workforce isn’t aligned with the same commitment to safety.

Understanding the True Essence of Safety Culture

Many organizations make the mistake of equating a strong safety culture with the presence of top-tier personal protective equipment (PPE) or the existence of comprehensive safety programs. While these elements are undoubtedly important, they are only pieces of a much larger puzzle. A true safety culture goes beyond the tangible aspects of safety; it is rooted in the collective mindset and behaviors of every individual in the organization.

Simply put, having the best PPE and the most well-designed safety programs means little if the people they are meant to protect aren’t fully engaged, aware, and motivated to use them correctly. Without a culture that genuinely values safety—where every employee feels a personal responsibility for their own safety and that of their colleagues—those efforts can become ineffective, even pointless.

Check out the information I have available on PPE here

The Heart of Safety Culture: Caring and Accountability

At the core of a strong safety culture is a deep-seated care for the well-being of everyone in the organization. It’s not enough to have policies and procedures in place; what truly makes a difference is fostering an environment where employees inherently understand and appreciate the importance of safety.

In a thriving safety culture, employees don’t just wear PPE because it’s mandated by policy; they do so because they care about their own safety and the safety of those around them. They recognize that every task, no matter how routine, carries potential risks, and they take proactive steps to mitigate those risks. This mindset doesn’t come from top-down directives alone—it comes from a shared understanding that safety is a fundamental value, integral to the way the organization operates.

So, how do you go about establishing a safety culture?

Traveler’s Insurance says there are 4 steps to starting a successful safety program, they are as follows:

1. Evaluate risks. To understand how to create a safer workplace, you must first understand the risks you face every day. Each task and associated risk should be properly evaluated, and safety-based changes should be considered.

• Analyze past incidents and near misses.Understand that past incidents can help you identify root causes and identify risks and exposures that threaten the safety of your employees and the success of your business.
• Identify the risks before they result in loss. Review your work policies and procedures, buildings and equipment, employee work practices and behaviors and geographic location to determine if there are opportunities to prevent or mitigate loss. And hold people accountable to the practices.

Check Out: How to Improve Your Safety Culture

2. Design a plan to keep safe. A good plan is the best place to start, but it is only the beginning. Once you have a plan, you must act to eliminate or minimize risk.

• Get commitment. Your management team should be committed to a safety culture from the beginning.
• Stay focused. Keep focused on the risks and exposures identified during your evaluation.
• Prioritize your efforts. Focus on the risks that pose the greatest threat. You should consider frequency and severity of the loss potential, and/or the opportunity to prevent or mitigate risks.
• Identify solutions and resources.Your solutions can vary from implementing engineering controls to creating administrative policies and procedures. These can help create positive changes in safety attitude, commitment and culture.

3. Implement your plan. Implementation entails communication of the plan and its details, training, regularly scheduled practice and drills, and ongoing review. A thorough plan will cover a number of potential risk areas, including buildings and equipment, the environment, employees, customers and vendors.

• Communicate and train – the real test of a safety program and culture is not what is written down on paper, but rather how well it actually works. How well your plan works is often dependent on what your employees know and what they do at the time of an incident.

Check Out: SMART Goals Guide

4. Monitor, evaluate and improve your plan. As your business environment changes, so should your safety program. Regularly test your plan to determine if it fits the changing business environment and reflects changing accountabilities.

• Monitor the plan and collect feedback to determine the effectiveness of the plan.
• Regularly compare your safety performance against the plan’s expectations.
• Make adjustments when necessary.
• Recognize success. Be sure to communicate and celebrate your safety successes.

–Source

As you see, the steps towards building a safety culture according to Traveler’s Insurance are simple, and should be followed in order.

Once you’ve surpassed the basics of a safety culture in your workplace, consider building a sustainable safety culture. Do you know what steps to take concerning doing that, do you know the steps? The foundation of a sustainable workplace safety culture according to EHS Today:

There are four cornerstones on which an effective safety culture can be built:

• leading indicators,
• accountability,
• good relationships
• and discretionary effort.

Safety culture is not about compliance; it’s about commitment. It’s about creating a workplace where safety is ingrained in the fabric of the organization—where every employee, from the CEO to the newest hire, understands that safety is not just a policy but a shared value.

When employees work towards their own safety, when they wear PPE not out of obligation but out of care, and when they approach each task with an understanding of the risks involved, that’s when a true safety culture is born. It’s not just about having the right equipment or the best programs; it’s about fostering a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility and everyone’s priority.

As a safety professional, your role is not only to implement safety measures but to inspire and cultivate this culture of care, awareness, and commitment. When this culture is fully realized, the impact is profound—reducing incidents, protecting lives, and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

This pamphlet presents to you 6 Steps towards improving your safety culture, no matter where in the process you are. So start working towards a safer workplace today!

Download the pamphlet 6 Steps to Improving Your Workplace Safety Culture

View the pamphlet 6 Steps to Improving Your Workplace Safety Culture

An employee is walking down a hallway, carrying a cup of coffee. While turning a sharp corner, they nearly collide with another employee, spilling coffee on the floor. Stepping into their office, the employee stumbles over an extension cord run across the doorway to power a printer, which pulls it to the floor.

No one is hurt in this scenario. However, the employees in it experience multiple near-miss situations – any one of which could have led to a serious injury.

It is important to have employees know how to identify these incidents as potential injury situations, called near misses. Besides identifying them, it is equally important to report them, so hazards and risks can be mitigated before they lead to a serious incident.

Workers should be trained on how to properly identify and recognize potential hazards. To help make it easy for employees to submit near misses and ensure good data, consider allowing them to turn in near-miss reports anonymously.

Collecting near-miss reports helps create a workplace safety culture that seeks to identify and control hazards, which will reduce risks and the potential for injury, according to OSHA. A well-run program goes beyond the collection of reports, it treats every near miss as important as an accident and investigates them. Conducting a root cause of a near miss can lead to a corrective action, before an injury occurs.

Need to learn more about how to conduct root cause analysis?

Check out my book here, and also check out my posts about root cause analysis.

Reporting near misses and conducting a root cause of them, is only valuable if you complete the final step and correct the issues, otherwise the hazards remain a risk to employees.

Consider using an Action Plan tracking sheet, like this one to ensure identified issues are corrected.

A well laid out near miss program that involves properly trained employees, will decrease total workplace accidents over time. Don’t expect it to happen tomorrow, it can take 1-2yrs to see the changes. Don’t allow the program to slip in that time, because it requires long commitment to the program to reap the rewards.

Download the Near Miss Program below

View the Near Miss Program below

Additional Near Miss Program resources

Near Miss Reporting Form

Near Miss Tracking Form

A self-conducted mock OSHA inspection should be done at small, low hazard workplaces without a safety director or safety department.

• The typical mock OSHA inspection should begin with a brief opening conference with senior management to plan the audit. In a self-inspection this would be a chance for the group to get together and set parameters for the scope of the self-inspection.
• The inspection process should begin with a review of all OSHA-required written programs, followed by an evaluation of the facility injury and illness records (OSHA 300 log).
• A detailed wall-to-wall inspection would then be conducted.
• The audit will conclude with a closing conference where the group comes together and first crafts a corrective action plan, then presents that action plan to senior site management.

The mock audit should be conducted with a group of people, involving:

• A representative of management
• A representative from each distinct workplace(for example, this would include office personnel and floor personnel)

Use this OSHA inspection checklist to see if your workplace meets OSHA compliance:

• OSHA required training should be conducted and documented.
• Documentation of training should be kept for a minimum of three years.
• Is the Safety manual up to date, relevant, and explained to employees?
• Do you have an OSHA poster? If not, download one free from this OSHA Web site at www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3165.pdf.
• Make sure the eyewash station works properly, has cold water only, and that a sign designates its location.
• Are all fire extinguishers mounted on walls, signs designating location, inspected monthly/annually, and fully charged. Learn more about fire extinguisher requirements.
• Are emergency exits OSHA compliant, unobstructed, and operational.
• Make an inspection of the workplace for safe work conditions such as electrical and trip and fall hazards.
• Review evacuation plans and protocols. If you don’t have evacuation plans, you can download samples here.
• A first aid kit should be available for employees to use for minor cuts and injuries.
• Review Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): are employees clearly explained when to wear it, PPE should be provided at no charge to employees, is PPE in good condition?
• There should be an annual review and evaluation of job hazards, and also appendixes for any workplace changes
• Hazard Communication Standard must be followed:
  • Inventory of hazardous substances
  • Organize Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each hazardous substance
  • Place labels on containers not identified (secondary containers)
  • Inspect all chemical containers for leaks
  • Employees should be trained on proper use of and handling of hazardous substances
  • PPE provided for handling chemicals
  • Training and information on chemical spill, disposal, and cleanup should be provided
• An explanation of what labels, signs, and symbols mean (chemical, biohazard, radiation, etc.) must be provided.
• There should be an ergonomic plan to reduce incidents of musculoskeletal injuries.

Some of the other things that should be reviewed during the mock OSHA inspection:

• Fire protection – take the fire safety quiz here
• Walking and working surfaces
• Elevated surfaces or areas with fall potential
• Stairways
• Ladders – Take the ladder safety quiz here
• Hand and power tools
• Equipment, machines, and machine guarding
• Lockout/Tagout
• Welding operations – Take the welding safety quiz here
• Gas cylinders
• Compressors
• Hoists
• Forklifts
• Confined spaces
• Flammable, combustible, and hazardous materials
• Electrical hazards
• And so on… (It’s a pretty exhaustive list.)

Your workplace should conduct a mock audit annually, comparing results annually and tracking improvements.

Download the Mock OSHA Audit Checklist:

View the Mock OSHA Audit Checklist:

Even if you don’t regularly use ladders in your job, with the holidays coming up you will likely be using a ladder to put up lights and other decorations. If you only use a ladder once or twice a year, be sure to review these important tips to stay safe this holiday season.

Pre-Work:

Before starting your project, you should check to make sure you’re using the right ladder for the job. There are a few different types of ladders (extension/straight, fixed access, tripod orchard, and stepladder), but if you’re completing household tasks, like putting up lights or clearing gutters, you’ll likely be using either a straight ladder or stepladder depending on the height.

Regardless of the ladder you’re using, be sure to check the load rating. The load rating needs to cover your weight AND the weight of your tools. You should also consider the material that your ladder is made of and whether it’s appropriate for your intended use. Aluminum and steel ladders conduct heat and electricity and should never be used for electrical work. Fiberglass and wood ladders are suitable for electrical work, but wood ladders are especially vulnerable to damage and decay. No matter what type of ladder you’re using, you should always inspect it, check for cracks, and ensure the frame, rungs, and feet are not compromised.

Check Out: Ground Ladder Safety

During Work:

When placing your ladder, make sure that the footing is on a firm, non-slip surface that is clear of any debris or hazards. You can also reduce the risk of a fall by wearing non-slip shoes and gloves. If you have to adjust the placement of the ladder, avoid pushing or pulling it from the sides – repeated sideways movement can make ladders wobbly since they are weaker in those directions. When you’re using any type of portable ladder, use the 4:1 ratio: for every four feet you go up, the ladder should be placed one foot out.

You should always face the stepladder when climbing up or down and maintain a firm grip with both hands. You have climbed too high if your knees are above top of the stepladder or if you cannot maintain a handhold on the ladder – and never stand on the top rung or step. Before you climb, always look up for powerlines and other overhead hazards and adjust the placement of your ladder if needed.

Test you ladder safety knowledge with my Ladder Safety Quiz

Post-Work:

Taking care of your ladder is important to ensure that it remains in good condition and useable for your next project. After each use, you should clean your ladder and ensure that any moving parts are well lubricated. Inspect for damage such as broken rungs, split side rails, worn or broken safety feet, and oil or grease which can make climbing surfaces slippery.

If your ladder is damaged, don’t try to repair it yourself. DIY repairs, such as tying or binding with wire, or painting over damaged areas, are not safe in the long-term and can hide cracks and weak points.

To take good care of your ladder, be sure to store it inside on horizontal racks with support every 2 meters. Protect yourself and others when your ladder is stored by fixing it to the wall or racks so that it doesn’t fall or present other hazards.

When using a ladder, always be mindful of your individual circumstances as well. Do not use a ladder if you are affected by medication or a health condition that affects your balance. Before you start your project, always make sure that you have a plan in the case of an accident, and never use a ladder if you are working alone and cannot get help easily.

Every quality safety and health program provides measures to control electrical hazards. The information provided in this training should be helpful in getting a better understanding of electrical safety. The responsibility for an electrical safety program should be delegated to someone with a complete knowledge of electricity, electrical work practices, and the appropriate OSHA standards for installation and performance.

Everyone has the right to work in a safe environment. Safety and health add value to your business and your workplace. Through cooperative efforts, employers and employees can learn to identify and eliminate or control electrical hazards.

Electrical Hazard Recognition

Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to electric shock, electrocution, burns, fires, and explosions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016, 134 workers died from electrocutions, which represents a decrease from 174 in 2011. What makes these statistics tragic is that most of these fatalities could have been easily avoided.

The first step toward protecting yourself is recognizing the many hazards you face on the job. To do this, you must know which situations can place you in danger. Knowing where to look helps you to recognize hazards.

• Inadequate wiring is dangerous.
• Exposed electrical parts are dangerous.
• Overhead powerlines are dangerous.
• Wires with bad insulation can shock you
• Electrical systems and tools that are not grounded or double-insulated are dangerous.
• Overloaded circuits are dangerous.
• Damaged power tools and equipment are electrical hazards.
• Using the wrong PPE is dangerous.
• Using the wrong tool is dangerous.
• Some on-site chemicals are harmful.
• Defective ladders and scaffolding are dangerous.
• Ladders that conduct electricity are dangerous.
• Electrical hazards can be made worse if the worker, location, or equipment is wet.

Check Out: How to Conduct a Job Hazard Analysis

Electrical Terms

What are Volts? A Volt is a measure of the electrical force that seems to push current along. Think of voltage as a lot of water stored in a high water tank. Because the water tank is high, the water will have more force behind it as it flows down the water pipe to your home. This is why they put water tanks up high! If the same tank was placed at ground level, your water pressure would not be as great. By the way, the symbols commonly used for voltage are “E” or “V”.

What is an “ampere?” An ampere is the unit used to measure the amount of electrical current. Amperage is often referred to as “current” by electrical workers and engineers. Let’s go back to our water tank. If the diameter of your pipe coming from the water tank is large, a lot of water (amperage) will flow through the pipe. If the pipe’s diameter is small, a smaller amount of water will flow through the pipe. If you need a lot of current (many amps) to operate your equipment, you’ll need large wires to run the current or they’ll burn up! The symbol for amperage is “I”.

What is an “ohm?” Think of an ohm as “resistance“. An ohm is the unit used to measure the opposition (a.k.a. resistance) to the flow of electrical current. This is pretty easy to understand. A small water pipe is going to oppose a lot of water from flowing. Relatively little water will be able to flow through the pipe. So, the pipe offers a high resistance to the flow of water. You can see that a large pipe would offer little resistance to the flow of water. Big pipe: a lot of water! It’s that simple. In an electrical circuit, components are usually sources of resistance. Any component that heats up due to electrical current is a source of resistance. The symbol for resistance is “R”.

• • What is a “series” circuit? The current in a series circuit takes only one path. For example, water from high in the mountains may flow down one stream (series) into a river that flows to the ocean.
  • What is a “parallel” circuit? The current in a parallel circuit takes many paths. For example, the water flowing from a water tank up on a hill will flow through many different water pipes (parallel) before it reaches the ocean.

Effects of Electrical Current on the Body

Overloading an Electrical System Hazard

Overloads in an electrical system are hazardous because they can produce heat or arcing. Wires and other components in an electrical system or circuit have a maximum amount of current they can carry safely. If too many devices are plugged into a circuit, the electrical current will heat the wires to a very high temperature. If a tool uses too much current, the wires will heat up.

The temperature of the wires can be high enough to cause a fire. If their insulation melts, arcing may occur. Arcing can cause a fire in the area where the overload exists, even inside a wall.

To prevent too much current in a circuit, a circuit breaker or fuse is placed in the circuit. If there is too much current in the circuit, the breaker “trips” and opens like a switch. If an overloaded circuit is equipped with a fuse, an internal part of the fuse melts, opening the circuit. Both breakers and fuses do the same thing: open the circuit to shut off the electrical current.

If the breakers or fuses are too big for the wires they are supposed to protect, an overload in the circuit will not be detected and the current will not be shut off. Overloading leads to overheating of circuit components (including wires) and may cause a fire.

You must recognize that a circuit with improper overcurrent protection devices – or one with no overcurrent protection devices at all – is a hazard.

Hopefully you have learned about electricity here, it presents a hazard, which can be unseen and is often overlooked.

Consider testing your knowledge on electrical safety with this quiz

Download the Electrical Safety Training below:

View the Electrical Safety Training below:

OSHA has a scale for citations, which measures and accounts for the issues they find in the workplace.

OSHA Citations Explained

• Willful violation: A willful violation is cited when the employer intentionally and knowingly commits the violation. It is also cited when the employer commits a violation with plain indifference to the law. OSHA may propose penalties of up to $145,027 for each willful violation.
• Repeated violation: This violation is cited by OSHA when it is the same as a similar or previous violation. OSHA may propose penalties of up to $145,027 for each repeated violation.
• Serious violation: OSHA cites a serious violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.
• Other-than-serious violation: An other-than-serious violation is cited when the violation has a direct relationship to safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA may propose penalties of up to $14,502 for each serious, other than serious, and repeated violation.
• Failure to abate: When the employer fails to abate a violation, a maximum of $14,502 may be proposed for per day unabated beyond the abatement date. Generally there is a 30-day maximum limit.
• Falsifying information: An employer that provides false information to OSHA can receive a fine up to $14,502 or up to six months in jail, or both.

State Plan States

States that operate their own Occupational Safety and Health Plans are required to adopt maximum penalty levels that are at least as effective as Federal OSHA’s.

Want to avoid citations? Learn how to conduct a mock OSHA inspection

OSHA cites employers, not employees. It’s important to know that the OSHA Act does not provide for the issuance of citations or the proposal of penalties against employees. Employers are responsible for employee compliance with the standards.

Penalty Adjustments: OSHA may adjust penalties downward depending upon the employer’s size (maximum number of employees), good faith, and the history of previous violations. Adjustments may be applied as follows:

• A 10 percent reduction may be given for history.
• A maximum of 25 percent reduction is permitted for good faith; and
• A maximum of 80 percent reduction is permitted for size.