workplace safety

Workers suffer more than 190,000 illnesses and 50,000 deaths annually related to chemical exposures, according to "Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for Leadership in Chemicals Policy and Innovation" In the US, workers use tens of thousands of chemicals every day. While many of these chemicals are suspected of being harmful, only a small number are regulated in the workplace. Workplace chemical exposures have been linked to cancers, and other lung, kidney, skin, heart, stomach, brain, nerve, and reproductive diseases. Employers should both introduce employees to the "Right-To-Know" regulations and provide training on the various types of chemicals found in work environments. Topics covered should include: Chemical hazard concepts. The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Types of hazardous chemicals. Characteristics and effects of various types of chemicals. Safe handling practices. Container labeling. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Spills and cleanup. and more. Get a Quote for a Class: Right-To-Know for Industrial Facilities Live Instruction Training Courses at YOUR Location Responsible Employers need to establish a chemical management system that goes beyond simply complying with OSHA standards and strives to reduce or eliminate chemical hazards at the source through informed substitution best protects workers. Transitioning to safer alternatives can be a complex undertaking, but a variety of existing resources make it easier. OSHA has developed this step-by-step toolkit to provide employers and workers with information, methods, tools, and guidance on using informed substitution in the workplace. Some Employer resources for Safety Training Materials, DVDs, Poster and Plans: DOT HAZMAT General Awareness DOT HAZMAT Safety Training DOT HAZMAT Security Awareness DOT In-Depth HAZMAT Security Training Materials Handling Safety Monitoring Procedures & Equipment MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet OSHA Formaldehyde Standard OSHA Laboratory Standard OSHA Lead Standards Planning for Laboratory Emergencies Preventing Contamination Respiratory Protection and Safety Right-To-Know Why Transition to Safer Alternatives? It is widely recognized that the most effective method to eliminate or reduce adverse health and safety outcomes in the workplace is to eliminate hazards at the source, before applying other, less effective forms of protection. This industrial hygiene principle, known as the hierarchy of controls, has been well-studied, widely accepted and prominently incorporated into practice by businesses and industrial hygiene professionals throughout the world. Continue reading →

Employees have never been looked after so well than they are in today's workplace. With many new legislation and laws in place, employer’s duties to protect employees have steadily increased, over the past few years. But even with this increased protection it is still important for individuals to have an understanding of workplace safety rules and what they entail - as although your employer has a legal duty of care from when you arrive at the workplace to when you leave, you also have an individual responsibility to look after your own safety. To help you understand the differing levels and layers of workplace safety your own organisation should have either a 'safety management plan', 'health and safety strategy', 'workplace safety directive' - or a document named by any other connotation of these titles. It is these documents which will show how the safety responsibility cascades down from the Board of Directors to individuals at ground level, showing that everyone has a role to play in managing safety. Safety in the workplace is of course there to protect you as an individual and the workforce as a whole. The objective of any safety plans or communications is to ensure all employees are aware of the dangers involved in tasks they have to undertake, and how to minimize any risks. It has been proved that by engaging employees in safety awareness accidents and injuries in the workplace can be dramatically reduced, therefore reducing personal injury, time off work and ultimately leaving the workplace a safer, healthier and happier place to be. So what type of jobs are covered by safety in the workplace? Many people think this relates solely to heavy manual jobs, engineering work or jobs where there are immediate and obvious dangers. But in reality safety in the workplace relates to ANY job - for example if you are office based and at a desk for most of your working day then you may have been privy to a 'workstation assessment' - having your monitor checked and your sitting position analysed - if so you may be surprised to learn that these actions are indeed part of an organisations safety plans. These checks and measures are carried out to ensure you are advised well on your own working circumstance so any related risks can be minimized or avoided -in this instance back and neck pain or eye strain. Maybe you spend time outside during your working day and have been issued waterproofs, hi-vis clothing and safety boots, if so then this is also part of the overall safety plan for the organisation. Your safety and well being are being considered as you are kept protected from the natural elements to ensure you are physically comfortable and safe whilst completing your tasks. Of course there are tasks which are more dangerous and unfortunately have the potential to lead to serious injury but safety in the workplace is there to protect everyone at all levels within an organisation not solely the roles facing obvious dangers. Safety is of course important from the employers perspective - as an economic tool, minimizing any accidents will reduce time off work, loss of productivity and decreased earnings. However it is hoped that for the most genuine organisations the moral reasons of implementing workplace safety processes will outweigh these economic ones . Author Bio: Vivienne Ollis - Journalist & Copywriter for www.essexinsulation.co.uk   Safety Books, CDs, Videos American Red Cross Cal / OSHA Standards Disaster & Survival DOT / 49 CFR Standards Fall Protection Federal OSHA / 29 CFR Standards Forklift Maritime Oil & Gas OSHA Safety Training Products Continue reading →