Kevin Ian Schmidt

10 Essential Components For a Safer Working Environment

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A safe working environment is a condition or state, it is not necessarily an event like an incident of an accident. This means that the low number of incidents or accidents doesn’t mean that the workplace is particularly safe. What really counts is the process of safety because it is an integral part of everyday activities in the workplace.

10 Essential Components for a Safer Working Environment

  • Daily safety briefings. Every morning at the beginning of the work day or the shift, the leader holds an interactive safety briefing with his or her team. It lasts less than 10 minutes and has contributions from the team members.
Check out the toolbox talks I have for sale on Amazon here
  • Weekly inspections to identify unsafe conditions. Every staff member participates in turn and conducts a regular safety inspection where they look for hazards and unsafe conditions. This can occur weekly or twice a week.
  • Weekly inspections to identify unsafe behavior. Each week two staff members carry out a regular inspection where they are identifying unsafe behavior. The objective is to identify the unsafe behavior and mention it at the next daily safety briefing. Of course, no names are mentioned.
Check Out: How to Develop an Internal Safety Audit Schedule
  • Accident and incident investigation. Every accident or near accident is investigated with the sole objective of prevention in the future. The process of investigation is not a witch hunt to apportion blame.
Want to learn more about Incident Investigations? Check out what I have available here.

 

  • Constant improvement. During the daily safety briefings, the group members have an opportunity to recommend and discuss improvements to the workplace and the processes that are carried out within it
  • Reporting near miss. Every single near miss (this is an incident where no damage or injury occurs) is investigated and prevention measures are put in place, so it will not happen again.
Check Out: Near Miss Policy
  • Positive reinforcement. Each day the leader goes into the workplace and gives positive reinforcement to those members of staff for working safely. This encouragement and enthusiasm for safety is a great motivator for safe working practices.
  • Blame. It is noticeable that all safe working environments do not use blame or punishment as tools for creating safe behavior. Instead, they use positive reinforcement, encouragement and recognition.
  • Practical on-the-job training. Group members are continually receiving on-the-job training from experts within the company and outside.
  • Effective leadership. It is no coincidence that all safe workplace environments have good leadership. This means that the leader is prepared to listen and has the skills to create followers. These leaders engender cooperation and most of all discretionary effort. They are the main reason why people are working safely. They are not invisible and spend between 30 and 50% of their time with their team members.

Basic Emergency Response Plan

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This Basic Emergency Response Plan template is useful for small businesses that want an emergency response plan, when it is only required to have a verbal plan. Having a written plan over a verbal plan provides additional safeguards, so all employees know the same responses to emergencies, and it can be referenced during an actual emergency.

During an emergency in the workplace, it can seem chaotic. People forget what they have been taught, people forget numbers; which can potentially make the situation worse.

If planning on using this form as an addition to your workplace’s verbal plan, ensure it is communicated to employee’s, ensure it is posted prominently in the workplace, ensure it is easily accessible in an emergency.

Why have a workplace emergency response plan?

Besides the major benefit of providing guidance during an emergency, developing the plan has other advantages. You may discover unrecognized hazardous conditions that would aggravate an emergency situation and you can work to eliminate them. The planning process may bring to light deficiencies, such as the lack of resources (equipment, trained personnel, supplies), or items that can be rectified before an emergency occurs. In addition an emergency plan promotes safety awareness and shows the organization’s commitment to the safety of workers.

The lack of an emergency plan could lead to severe losses such as multiple casualties and possible financial collapse of the organization.

An attitude of “it can’t happen here” may be present. People may not be willing to take the time and effort to examine the problem. However, emergency planning is an important part of company operation.

Since emergencies will occur, preplanning is necessary. An urgent need for rapid decisions, shortage of time, and lack of resources and trained personnel can lead to chaos during an emergency. Time and circumstances in an emergency mean that normal channels of authority and communication cannot be relied upon to function routinely. The stress of the situation can lead to poor judgment resulting in severe losses.

Related Post:  DHS Bomb Threat Checklist

What is the objective of a quality emergency response plan?

An emergency plan specifies procedures for handling sudden or unexpected situations. The objective is to be prepared to:

  • Prevent fatalities and injuries.
  • Reduce damage to buildings, stock, and equipment.
  • Protect the environment and the community.
  • Accelerate the resumption of normal operations.
Check Out: Emergency Response Plan Best Practices

View and Download the Basic Emergency Response Plan template below:

 

Basic Emergency Action Plan

 

How to Develop an Internal Safety Audit Schedule

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An internal safety audit program is used by an organization to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedures and processes used to meet OHS legislative and other statutory administrative requirements.

An internal safety audit schedule is a considered approach by an organization to identify the extent and methods by which to conduct safety related audit verification activity. The internal audit is also global best practice in safety management systems.

It’s also a vital internal quality check on safety systems and operations. The internal safety audit is a particularly useful management tool for ensuring that the safety management is being conducted efficiently and properly at all levels.

A senior manager should actively participate in the internal audit to ensure currency of management information and proper critical organization-wide scrutiny of administrative and operational functions.

Internal audit scope

The organization will need to identify the types of internal audit activity to be conducted.

These can include one or more of the following audit activity types:

  • Safety management system (SMS) audit – system level
  • Procedural compliance audit – operational level
  • OHS legislative compliance audit – analyzing compliance capability
  • Incident management
  • Reporting systems
  • Records management and documentation

A determination of audit types will be based on requirements defined within the safety management system. Factors relevant to the audits may involve the level of maturity of the SMS, policy initiatives and implementation, and similar issues. The knowledge and understanding of key stakeholders within the organization and Further organizational factors (e.g. number of sites, geographical locations, State, national or international application) may also apply.

Check Out: Slip, Trip, and Fall Audit

Schedule considerations

Having identified the types of internal audit activity to be conducted, the organization will need to consider the most suitable audit delivery options and scheduling. Best practice is a standardized, thorough and transparent methodology which provides clearly defined outcomes to compliment an organization’s business goals and objectives.

These considerations will include one or more of the following points:

  • Mandatory audit requirements (e.g. Defined by statutory authority) – These very useful audit areas may include self-insurers annual requirements for audit activity to be conducted for inclusion in reporting requirements. The internal audit in these cases can also act as “radar” for management, ensuring compliance issues are under proper scrutiny.
  • Size of organization and geographical locations – Consideration should be given to the different types of activities (and risk potential) within an organization, similarity of activities at different locations to evaluate uniformity of application, geographical locations that may impact on audit schedule delivery. This approach additionally allows for targeting of areas related directly to policy implementation.
  • Identified high risk potential subject areas – These areas naturally have high priority in an SMS. Any high-risk areas identified because of statistical analysis or management review require audit verification to assist in implementing strategic management.
  • Changes in legislation or organizational structure – Changes in legislation or organizational structure that may impact on the capacity to implement safety requirements. (Note: Legislative changes usually include a time frame for compliance and may involve significant modifications to the SMS. It’s strongly advised that all compliance issues are included in the audit to ensure management has adequate information regarding these matters.)
  • Resource base from which the organization can allocate qualified and competent auditors to conduct the audit verification activity type – Requirements of the provision of internal or external resources depending on scope of activity to meet audit needs. The resource base must be able to deliver the necessary standard of auditing to ensure SMS efficiency and compliance.
  • Organizational planning and development cycles – Planning of audits to align provision of audit reports with review cycles. This planning is a particularly useful management tool which can ensure proper control and timeliness of operational data. The forward planning also ensures well integrated SMS reporting.
  • Prioritized activities (e.g. Based on risk evaluation or business need) – which will impact on implementation of safety requirements.
Check Out: Conduct Your Own Mock OSHA Inspection

Internal Audit schedule detail

The internal audit schedule should be owned by a person who has authority to manage and review the implementation of the schedule. Senior management should have direct oversight of the process, to allow checks on audit functions and efficiency.

The internal audit schedule will provide, as a minimum the following information:

  • The type of audit to be conducted
  • The expected timeframe in which the audit is to be conducted
  • The lead auditor responsible for the audit activity
  • Location of the audit
  • Timeframe for final report

Common Problems Faced During Internal Audits

One major issue in relation to developing internal audit schedules is that they either do not meet organizational needs and/or merely aim to achieve a level of conformance with statutory body requirements of regulators.

This is quite inadequate and may expose organizations to serious liabilities. To ensure a fully functional SMS which can deal with all safety issues and meets the standards of both statutes and major legal claims, the organization must ensure that the internal audit is conducted on a holistic, best practice, basis in which all areas of liability, risk management and safety are properly audited. The SMS must achieve full coverage of all potential liabilities.

Conversely, the needs of internal audits may exceed the capacity of the organization to meet the requirements defined therein. The organization may lack the expertise required to deal with some areas of risk management. Any internal audit carried out on this basis will inevitably be inadequate and can create a risk of serious deficiencies in the SMS.

Another key problem is to ensure that audit competency (either internal or external) is at a level to achieve a suitable outcome as defined within the internal audit schedule, e.g. There are serious risks in using auditors to conduct compliance audits without the necessary understanding in relation to legislative application of requirements.

It is essential that any audit of an SMS is conducted by auditors having:

  • The correct level of audit experience
  • Comprehensive experience in statutory compliance, including both self-insurance regulatory requirements and any other relevant statutory issues
  • A strong knowledge base and resources, including relevant industry knowledge where applicable
  • Proper accreditation for the audit operations required

The safest approach to these issues is to obtain professional guidance. The best SMS consultants can meet all these criteria and can also provide ongoing support and services as required.

Developing an Effective Internal Marketing Plan

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Internal marketing is one of the most complicated forms of marketing there is. Internal marketing is when a business markets its products, services and brand to its own employees. Instead of “selling” to consumers (external marketing), the business sells to its employees, treating them like internal consumers — which they are. The best way to conduct internal marketing in an effective way is to create a comprehensive plan.

Internal marketing is important because, firstly, it leads to more employee engagement. It’s one thing for an employee to work for your company in exchange for a paycheck, but another for them to truly believe in your company and what it does. When the latter is the case, employees are motivated to work harder and their loyalty to the company increases.

Developing an internal marketing plan for the launch your new safety policy requires time and effort. It is not something that can be done without planning and proper preparation. Few safety professionals truly understand what they need to do in order to develop an internal marketing plan that will succeed.
Following are five simple steps that can help safety professionals develop effective plans that will work consistently over time. Taking the time to complete these steps can be the deciding factor between success and failure.

5 Steps to Internal Marketing

1) Assemble the right team for the job: Internal marketing doesn’t happen on its own. It often falls solely into the hands of the department launching the new internal policy/program/initiative, but this is a mistake. Often times business professionals know how to inform employees of what’s going on with the company, but don’t have the necessary skills for marketing initiatives. The intent must be to sell, not tell.

Choose one or more of your marketing employees, to work with your department on the internal marketing project. Make sure whoever’s chosen knows how to sell rather than tell, but most importantly, ensure they know the brand inside and out. It may end up being you, the business leader, or other members of upper management who take on the project. If it’s other employees, you may need to give them a lot of direction and guidance. However you do it, get everyone on the same page before moving forward.

2) Assess other department’s current internal marketing: In order to properly strategize your internal marketing, it’s wise to first assess where other departments currently stand. You can then formulate your strategy according to what others are doing well, poorly or not at all, which will make your campaign more targeted and informed.

3) Leaders need to define their goals: Without goals there is no way to determine if marketing efforts are successful or not, internal or external. Determine how you will reach this goal. Set metrics that help measure the success of the strategy. For example, if you intend to decrease injuries by 10 percent by the end of the year, be sure to keep track of where the team is in terms of meeting this goal. Ensure the goals are attainable and reward employees when they are met.

4) Determine a budget: How much money is available to dedicate to your department’s internal marketing efforts will be a large factor in determining what can and cannot be done. Don’t worry if there are little to no funds available to support your marketing efforts. Developing an idea sheet along with approximate costs for each activity during the research process is a great way to keep track of your potential expenses.

Check Out: Budgeting for Training

5) Create materials: Now that you have your internal marketing plan outlined, it’s time to turn it into concrete materials that you can communicate to your team. Mitchell recommends using your team’s everyday experiences at work, like checking email or attending meetings. That way they’re immersed in the brand, making it harder to tune out.
Some ideas:

  • Internal newsletter: Create a newsletter to circulate only to your team. Use it to educate them on your brand, products, services, values, goals, etc. Make it interesting by including sections like history, trivia, interesting facts, quotes, images or video.
  • In-person meetings: This one may be a little oldschool, but if you regularly conduct meetings and find that they’re successful, call a meeting to discuss the new internal branding effort. Be sure to allow time for questions and discussion.
  • Video: Create an internal infomercial that conveys the campaign’s major points. There’s no better platform for merging audio, imagery and text all in one place.
  • Signs/Posters: Provide a constant visual message reminder with great graphics to be displayed around the workplace.
  • Digital signage: Display internal branding materials like graphics or video on digital screens throughout the office.

Whatever platform(s) you choose, make sure the content is highly personalized. You want your employees to feel individually valued, which leads to more feelings of engagement.

Implementing these steps fosters a culture where employees not only work for the company but genuinely believe in its mission. Employee engagement increases, translating to heightened motivation and loyalty. Moreover, these engaged employees become powerful advocates for the brand, conveying the company’s message authentically.

Check Out: Corporate Volunteering Leads to Engaged Employees

In conclusion, internal marketing, particularly when strategized effectively, plays a pivotal role in cultivating a workplace where employees are not only aware of the company’s goals, products, and services but are deeply engaged and aligned with its mission. This engagement bridges the gap in effectiveness with customers and prospects, making internal marketing a cornerstone for the success of the company brand.

 

Accident Investigation Report

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A proper investigation after an accident is best summarized with a post accident investigation report.

This form is a summary of your entire investigation, and should be completed with assistance from all statements, evidence, witnesses, and the injured party.

Accident investigations are intended to determine the cause of an incident, to identify unsafe conditions or acts and to recommend corrective actions so that similar incidents don’t occur in the future. In conducting an accident investigation, the team must look beyond the immediate causes of an incident. It is far too easy, and often misleading, to conclude that carelessness or failure to follow a procedure alone was the cause of an incident. The purpose is prevention, not blame. To do so fails to discover the underlying or root causes of the incident, and therefore fails to identify the systemic changes and measures needed to prevent future incidents. When a shortcoming is identified, it is important to ask why it existed and why it was not previously addressed. After an investigation, employers should without any undue delay take corrective actions to mitigate all of the identified hazards.

For example:

  • If a procedure or safety rule was not followed, why was the procedure or rule not followed? This might be an opportunity to review the workplace job hazard analysis, and determine if the rule is appropriate.
  • Did production pressures play a role, and, if so, why were production pressures permitted to jeopardize safety?
  • Was the procedure out-of-date or safety training inadequate? If so, why had the problem not been previously identified, or, if it had been identified, why had it not been addressed?

 

Following these steps can make for an effective accident investigation process, allowing for better identification of all contributing factors:

  • Report the accident to the designated person
  • Provide first aid and medical care to injured person(s) and prevent further injuries or damage
  • Investigate the accident
  • Identify the causes
  • Report the findings
  • Develop a plan for corrective action
  • Implement the plan
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective action
  • Make changes for continuous improvement

 

View & Download the Accident Investigation Report below:

Accident Investigation Report

 

 

Contributing Factors: Lift, Push, Pull Injuries

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Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), these are injuries to the skeleton, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and joints that support and bind tissues and organs together so the body can move and sustain itself.

MSDs are the most common injury at work. They cost the economy dearly in lost productivity and high workers compensation costs. This is despite known and accessible methods to prevent or minimize risk of injury.

The sources of risk are well known. They are poorly planned work processes, unsafe workplace layout and tasks done unsafely.

The most common Musculoskeletal disorders are:

  • Neck:
    • Tension Neck Syndrome,
    • Cervical Spine Syndrome;
  • Shoulder:
    • Shoulder Tendonitis,
    • Shoulder Bursitis,
    • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome;
  • Elbow:
    • Epicondylitis,
    • Olecranon Bursitis,
    • Radial Tunnel Syndrome,
    • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome;
  • Wrist/Hand:
    • De Quervain Disease,
    • Tenosynovitis Wrist / Hand,
    • Synovial Cyst,
    • Trigger Finger,
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
    • Guyon’s Canal Syndrome,
    • Hand-Arm Syndrome,
    • Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety has a very in-depth article concerning MSDs here.

There is nothing inherently wrong with relying on lifting, pulling or pushing to do work. Many tasks still cannot be done any other way even with advances in some industries to automate much heavy and repetitive manual work.

When conducting an incident investigation after an incident from a lifting, pushing, pulling incident, you need to consider all contributing factors.

This form is a list of factors to consider in the course of an investigation. As with any root cause investigation, it can be a mix of contributing factors vs just a single factor.

Some of the factors here are not simple corrections, where as other factors are easily corrected with training, awareness, or procedural change.

Don’t be afraid of change management simply because it appears daunting.

Do you have all of the required accident investigation forms you would need to improve workplace safety? You can find more components of a quality program here.

View & Download the Contributing Factor Worksheet here:

lift push pull contributing factors

Property Damage – Accident Investigation Form

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Many times when an accident occurs that is just property damage, it is overlooked in the investigation process, because no injury occurs. That is actually a root cause of an injury accident, because if property damage was investigated thoroughly, it could identify issues that if events were different could have resulted in an injury.

When doing a property damage investigation, it should be treated equally to an injury accident, this includes conducting a root cause.

If your employees aren’t trained on root cause analysis,  check out the training presentation here. This training explains how to find the root cause of every incident, which can mitigate future incidents.

Don’t overlook my book on Root Cause Analysis available for sale on Amazon

Other forms you want to include in a property damage investigation:

Check out all other incident investigation forms available

A property damage investigation can be difficult, as not all property damage is reported, which means occasionally an investigation is conducted without a witness, without an involved party, and very few facts. In the event of this, an investigation should still be conducted, using the best information available.

A good defense against this type of investigation is a safety rule that if accidents are reported, it will result in no punishment. Many companies don’t wish to put that clause into employee rules, for fear they can not discipline employees for horseplay that results in property damage, but that isn’t true, as if horseplay is against the rules, you won’t be documenting them for the accident, but rather the horseplay. This encourages employees to come forward when an accident results in property damage that is a result of improper setup, or lack of training, therefore assisting in investigations to negate these accidents from occurring.

Download & View the Property Damage Investigation Report below:

Property Damage Investigation

Forklift Safety – Workplace Safety Series

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With nearly 100,000 injuries or fatalities due to forklift accidents in the U.S. each year, proper training is a critical part of forklift safety. Forklifts present a unique workplace hazard for many reasons: they weigh at least double the weight of the average car, they carry very heavy loads at heights, they work in areas close to people and other equipment, and they steer from the rear. It’s estimated that proper training can help prevent 70% of forklift accidents. To ensure that all operators are sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable, training standards are set by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) in the U.S. and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) in Canada.

In the U.S. training standards for Powered Industrial Trucks (forklifts) require employers to develop and implement a training program based on:

– general principles of safe truck operation

– types of vehicle(s) being used in the workplace

– the hazards of the workplace created by the use of the vehicle(s)

– general safety requirements of the OSHA standard

OHSA requires that employees receive a combination of formal (eg. classroom lectures or video) and practical (eg. demonstration and hands-on exercises) training and that employers certify that each operator has received the training. Before an operator can use a forklift, the employer must evaluate his ability to safely use a forklift and declare him competent to operate it. Operators must be reevaluated by their employer at least once every three years. In the event of an accident or situation where the operator failed to safely operate the forklift, refresher training is required.

 

Click here for the offerings I have for you concerning Powered Equipment

 

The CSA Safety Standard B335-15 is a document which specifies the required elements of a forklift safety program as well as the requirements of vehicle design and construction, maintenance and inspection, safe operation, and operator training. It also makes recommendations regarding the qualifications for forklift safety trainers and maintenance technicians. The CSA Safety Standards were last updated in 2015 and this most recent edition included changes to operator training to ensure that the instruction is better understood and absorbed, and that operators are more thoroughly evaluated. CSA training requirements include theory, hands-on experience, knowledge verification, and practical evaluation. Although retraining is recommended every three years, employers are required to monitor performance on an ongoing basis and the provinces are able to legislate the frequency at which retraining should occur. Retraining is also required whenever new equipment is introduced, when the operating conditions have changed, when legislation has changed, or when skill or knowledge deficiencies are identified.

Although proper training is the most important factor in preventing workplace accidents, operators should also be aware of some of the top mistakes that lead to forklift accidents:

– Not being aware of load capacity – Carrying loads that are too heavy will make the vehicle unstable. The load capacity will be displayed clearly on the forklift so be sure to check this before starting work.

– Failing to plan your route – Forklifts often operate in congested areas and you need to be familiar with your driving path and look in advance for any obstacles that may be along your route.

– Operating with an unsecured load – You should always assess the stability of the load you’re carrying to make sure it doesn’t present any risks to you or other people and equipment. Take extra time to secure odd shaped loads and, if your load is extra wide, make sure to check that you have a wide enough path to navigate it through.

– Lack of communication – Forklifts operate in busy environments and to keep everyone safe, it’s important to let others know what you’re doing and where you plan to go. If you see someone else moving a load that may interfere with your work, be sure to take the time to stop and ask them how you can coordinate to work safely.

– Entering and exiting the forklift – Slips and falls are the most common workplace injury and these can happen when entering or exiting the forklift. Be sure to wear non-slip footwear before and while operating the forklift.

– Check your battery and fluid levels – You need to make sure your forklift is in proper working order in order to complete your job. Check that your battery is charged and that your levels of hydraulic fluid are adequate.

– Using a forklift that hasn’t been inspected – Forklifts should be inspected daily to ensure they’re in good working order.

– Driving too fast – Moving at a speed too fast for your vehicle or environment is a common cause of accidents. Pay attention to any speed limits or speed bumps, and whether your forklift’s speed is limited mechanically.

Operating a forklift safely starts with OHSA approved training that uses a combination of theory and practical hands-on training. However, safely operating a forklift requires that you’re always vigilant when operating the vehicle and pay close attention to detect any changes in the condition of your vehicle and the environment.

Accident Analysis Report – SAMPLE

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sample accident analysis report - free downloadAn accident analysis report should be conducted for every accident, but also conducting an accident analysis for a near miss will create a safer workplace. It may seem excessive to treat every near miss as a full accident, but a near miss is just an accident where someone didn’t happen, this time.

A quality incident analysis consists of a root cause of every underlying factor, and corrective action for all identified.

I provide root cause training  on my blog here

This incident analysis report includes a root cause worksheet and instructions of use, so including it in your accident investigation packet serves as a constant reminder.

I have also published a book for Root Cause Analysis, available in softcover and hardcover. Check out my book on Amazon.

Reasons to Conduct an Accident Analysis for all Incidents:

  1. accident investigations are important even with a near missMore incidents and observations mean more data to analyze
  2. Incidents, observations, and investigations keep us aware
  3. Incident reporting is a key habit that creates culture
  4. Minor incidents and observations help to find out why serious incidents do not occur

The need for every near miss to be treated as an accident in the course of the investigation is based around the understanding that for every accident that results in an injury, there were 10 accidents in which no one was hurt, and for every one of those there were 10 near misses. So, that means that for every injury accident, there were 100 chances to address this issue, BEFORE someone was injured.

I have available all the necessary components of a comprehensive Incident Investigation Program.

 

This accident analysis report is a complete summary of your investigation, and is great for group review with an accident investigation committee or a workplace safety committee.

The four-point approach to accident analysis

You hope an accident doesn’t occur, but if one does, investigate and this systematic approach to analysis the investigation notes.

  • Collect data: Ideally, accidents should be investigated right away. Talk to witnesses as soon as possible. Take pictures and review maintenance and training records.
  • Identify the causes: By identifying the causes (there could be several), you can reduce the risk of a similar incident occurring. Accident investigation looks at four possible causes:
    • Equipment: Is it working properly? Are the guards and other safety precautions present and functioning?
    • At-risk behaviors: Were there safety procedures that weren’t implemented? Are safety procedures routinely enforced? Was the employee working alone?
    • Personnel: Was the employee properly trained for this particular job? Which shift was the employee working, and how long was the employee’s shift? Was the employee wearing personal protective equipment?
    • Environment: Was the work area properly lighted? Were work surfaces and the floor free of clutter? Was noise an issue? What about chemicals or dust? Was space sufficient to do the task? Was the workspace adjusted to the employee’s ergonomic needs?
  • Analyze the findings: Examine the facts and observations. Distinguish between immediate causes and underlying causes.
    • Examples of immediate causes: Unsafe conditions like a broken rung on a ladder or other mechanical failure, or an unsafe action by an employee such as running instead of walking.
    • Examples of underlying causes: Poor machine maintenance, a missing machine guard, a crowded work area or lack of training.
  • Develop a plan for corrective action: Here’s where you have a chance to learn from what’s happened and take steps to prevent it from happening again. Make recommendations to remedy each of the possible causes you identified. For example, you might suggest changes to machinery, work procedures, employee training, safety process or personnel.
Check Out: Simple Solutions to Reduce Workplace Accidents

A quality corrective action requires temporary measures, such as:

  • taking equipment out of service
  • training employees on safe operation of equipment
  • changing policies and/or procedures within the workplace
  • conducting an updated job hazard analysis

While also planning for permanent corrective actions such as:

  • implementing a preventative maintenance program
  • routine workplace inspections for deficiencies
  • training employees on hazard identification
  • creating a culture of workplace safety

Temporary corrective actions are ones that can be implemented anywhere from immediately after the incident up to 15 days, while a long term corrective action may take up years to fully roll-out and will require a commitment from the top of the organization.

View and Download the Sample Accident Analysis Form below

 

Sample Accident-Analysis Report

5 Important Points in a Bloodborne Pathogen Training Program

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Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that transmit disease via human blood and other body fluids. When a person is exposed to infected blood the pathogens can pass on to him/her. Therefore, healthcare workers need to be careful as they regularly deal with potentially infected blood and body fluids. Bloodborne pathogen training helps them to know about the precautionary measures to prevent exposure to these harmful pathogens.

Listed below are five important points covered in a bloodborne pathogen training program.

  1. Route: First, the training teaches you that bloodborne pathogens are transmitted mainly through human blood. Other body fluids like semen, vaginal discharge, amniotic fluid and cerebrospinal fluid may also be carriers for the pathogens. However, tears, sweat, and nose discharge are not usually a pathway for them. Any of these fluids, when mixed with infected blood become more harmful.
  2. Spread: Bloodborne pathogens can enter a person’s body in many different ways. One very common way is through a prick by a sharp instrument or needle. In hospitals, this may happen accidentally when a nurse, doctor, or laboratory technician handles the infected blood of a patient. Other than this, any wounded or broken skin can also create an entry point for infected blood. Thus, special care must be taken to cover up any wounds. A pregnant mother who is infected can also transmit the disease to her unborn child.
  3. Diseases: This training will teach you to recognize the various diseases that can be caused by exposure to bloodborne pathogens. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and Hepatitis B and C are the three main bloodborne diseases. However, less common conditions like leptospirosis infections, syphilis, Babesiosis, Brucellosis, and viral hemorrhagic fever can also be caused as a result of bloodborne pathogen infections.
  4. Prevention: Bloodborne pathogen training covers the precautionary measures that must be taken to prevent infection by these harmful microorganisms. These precautionary measures are known as universal precautions. Universal precautions refer to the practice of avoiding any contact with human blood and body fluids by using certain protective clothing like masks, gloves, eye gear, to name a few. Other measures like hygiene maintenance, proper disposal of syringes and sharp instruments, sterilization are also covered in the training.
  5. Action: Despite taking all the precautions, sometimes, accidents can still occur. Once you finish the training you will be able to handle any such accidents in your workplace which may involve you or any other colleague. Firstly, you must treat the person and show him to a doctor to assess the extent of exposure. Next there are several necessary formalities to complete, like reporting the incident to the appropriate people, filling reports, and follow-up. This will equip you to act immediately and prevent any further damage that may be caused due to the exposure.
Check Out: Understanding OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Bloodborne pathogen training not only provides you with knowledge about the various prevention and treatment measures, but also trains you how to practically follow procedure to keep yourself safe.

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