Do you know the potential risk of injury and illness to your employees? All employees and their employers are covered under OSHA. That means whether or not you are in a high risk industry like construction or mining, you need to know what your employees are exposed to on a daily basis, and provide safety programs and awareness training to reduce their risk and keep your employees safe. Not only is it a federal government regulation, but HR professionals know that health and safety are key to a productive workplace. It is time to show your employees you care about them. Whether you are in MA, RI, NH, CT, ME, VT or NY, now is the right time to develop a comprehensive safety program!
We have listed a few things to get you started:
- It’s important to know what your employees are exposed to in their work environment, and what tasks they complete on a daily basis. Depending on the size of your workforce this could be a large undertaking. Enlist the help of us or some managers to do a workplace safety assessment, and report and correct their findings.
- Organize a safety committee. The purpose of the safety committee should be the development and continual improvement of a safety program, including an annual training plan. Make sure to involve the final decision makers as well as folks who have “boots on the ground” and have intimate knowledge of each area of your day to day operations.
- Learn the regulations! gov is a great resource for employers, and has many tools available to you. Or you can take a class, there are a number of great courses available. Check out the courses we offer here. This list is just a sample of what we offer.
- It is also important to get your employees involved in your safety program! They will be far more likely to comply with safety regulations if they are helping to create them. Employees have a responsibility to keep their environment safe too. Give them several ways to report safety concerns. Encourage your employees to come up with solutions.
- Enlist the help of a safety professional to review your safety plan, or to do a site audit. This will ensure you are being proactive and also help with compliance.
There is a lot more to OSHA and employee safety than hanging a poster and keeping an accurate and up to date OSHA log. But don’t be worried, we can help get you there! If you would like more information, help with a safety plan or site audit, please call 508-525-5711.