Archive for the ‘Safety Culture’ Category

GHS The Final Countdown: Common Misconceptions About Compliance

by Julianne Bass

GHSCompliance

It’s been a long road to compliance; the updated Hazard Communication Standard (GHS) process officially started in 2009 and is set to wrap up this June 2016. A fully compliant GHS facility will bring with it improved quality and consistency of hazard information provided throughout the workplace, better comprehension for workers, quicker and more efficient access to SDS for workers, and a ton of money saved across industries.

With that being said some safety managers are still having trouble understanding a couple of areas of GHS that perhaps aren’t as cut and dry.  Read on to get some clarity on these lingering misconceptions in GHS compliance.

Q: The containers within my facility vary in size and some of them are tiny, what is the minimum required information for small bottle GHS labeling?

A: There has been some debate on the minimum required information for small bottles. Initially, OSHA stated that labels must include all the required information. If the container is too small to print everything legibly on the label, then an extended content label would be necessary.

Added cost will not be an acceptable excuse for noncompliance.

There has been recent discussion that the following is the minimum you’re required to print on the small labels.

  • Product identifier • Appropriate pictograms • Manufacturer’s name and phone number • Signal word • A statement indicating the full label information for the chemical

This might mean you can avoid the added cost of an extended content label.

Q: If there are 3 red squares on a label but I only need two pictograms can I keep the third one blank?

A: No. You either need to use a label template with the exact number of pictogram diamonds you’ll need or you’ll need to completely black out the unnecessary pictogram with black ink. If you’re printing your labels on-demand with a Brady Printer, this will not be an issue. Be advised that if a blank red frame is not fully covered and filled in, the label will not be in compliance.

Q: What is the major change between old HazCom Labeling and New GHS labeling?

A: The Old Hazcom standard was not universal and all business had their own system. Under the New GHS Standard all chemical manufacturers and importers are required to provide a universal GHS labels that includes a harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided.

Q: Are any chemicals exempt from the GHS regulation?

A: No. GHS covers all hazardous chemicals. There are no complete exemptions from the scope of GHS for a particular type of chemical or product. The term “chemical” is used broadly to include substances, products, mixtures, preparations, or any other terms that may be used by existing systems. The goal of the GHS is to identify the intrinsic hazards of chemical substances and mixtures and to convey hazard information about these hazards.

For more information on the GHS regulations, click here.

Does OSHA Really Help Companies Get Compliant

by Julianne Bass

OSHAComplianceHelp

There has always been a not so secret elephant in the room when it comes to businesses embracing OSHA regulations. Instead of welcoming OSHA and feeling like they have both company and worker best interests in mind, many see OSHA as the enemy; only worried about handing out fines and less about really helping to improve the safety of facilities.

OSHA was started with the goal of saving lives and compliance assistance in doing so for companies, where did this mission get lost in the minds of businesses along the way?

For businesses that are struggling to understand the complexity of a regulation given conflicting compliance resources, often times they feel like they are fighting a losing battle, with their only OSHA interaction being that of the bearer of bad news.

An ongoing senate subcommittee hearing titled “Examining Agency Discretion in Setting and Enforcing Regulatory Fines and Penalties” has set out to try and understand the perceptions of OSHA and how the focus can be shifted from writing fines (which inspectors are required by law to do if they find a violation) to a more ongoing compliance assistance approach.

OSHA does currently offer some compliance assistance services including: consultations, training courses, resources and partnerships.

If you feel like your facility could benefit from exploring these OSHA resources, click here for more information.

Tips on Developing the Best Safety Program for Your Facility

by Julianne Bass

workplace safety

Many companies across the country have been recognized as “The Safest in America” over the years, for their dedication to making workplace safety a priority within their business. What’s the magic formula for success? It depends on the company, there is no single way to be the safest; however there are over arching themes that mostly all of the companies have in common.

Here are a few tips on how to develop the best safety program for your facility, as learned from the Safest Companies in America.

Go Beyond Compliance

While you are technically fulfilling your obligation by being compliant, sometimes that isn’t enough. Some OSHA regulations haven’t been updated for 20 or 30 years. Your workers lives could very well still be in danger. Go the extra mile and ask your workers if there are aspects of their jobs in which they feel that they are still over exposed to hazards and would like more protection.

Start from the Top

If your CEO doesn’t care about safety, neither will your managers or workers. A successful and sustainable workplace safety program only happens when it is enforces from the highest levels of a company. Set the tone from the top that procedures are important an must be followed because it is not only in the best interest of the workers but also the best interest of the company and its success.

Empower and Reward Employees for Making “Tough” Safety Decisions

It is not unheard of that workers are afraid to speak up or “waste” time with proper safety procedures out of fear that it will negatively impact production or a company’s bottom line. If a worker makes a call to “stop work” because a task is deemed too dangerous, don’t punish them for it, reward them! Make them aware that you support their decision and want to work towards a safer solution.

Make Comprehension a Priority

Not all workers are created equally, nor are the jobs they are hired to do. Some will need more time to grasp the safety principles that go along with their daily work tasks, or may need to learn by example. Be understanding of each of your workers’ individual needs in order to be their safest, most efficient workers. Allow them to shadow a more experienced worker, and continue to provide them the training and resources they need on a routine basis to keep them safe and maintain a clear understanding of the safety expectations within their position.

Track and Verify Effectiveness and Safety Performance

Implementing a program is not the tough part, sustaining it is. Once you have a good safety program in place, map out how you will maintain it. This should include input from all of your employees. Get managers and higher management involved to perform annual safety “town hall meetings” or surprise mock OSHA inspections to see how your program is doing and what ways it can be made better.  A feeling of involvement goes a long way in a safety programs long term success or failure.

Back to Basics: Workplace Safety 101

by Julianne Bass

Whether you’re a business owner or an employee; implementing health and safety in the workplace is of paramount importance. At the end of the day, it’s all about keeping people safe, but so many businesses neglect it and don’t treat it seriously. In the worst cases, bad health and safety practices can lead to death and/or a massive legal case. In the best circumstances, life-changing accidents can be prevented.

Read the source article at World Classed News

Four Approaches to Workplace Safety

by Julianne Bass

While the safety of each and every employee is a concern common to all organizations, the approaches employers take when it comes to workplace safety vary, particularly from industry to industry. Creating and maintaining a safety-obsessed culture should always be a top priority because the alternative is quite expensive. OSHA estimates that employers pay almost $1 billion per week in direct costs related to workplace injuries and illnesses.

Read the source article at Construction Executive eNewsletters

Why Safety Leadership Matters

by Julianne Bass

Every year, many businesses are forced to spend billions of dollars on costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses. These costs are directly deducted from the company’s profits, often putting them at a loss. It is no secret that companies, who promote and encourage a culture of safety within their work environment, reduce the costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses by up to 40 percent.

Read the source article at huffingtonpost.com

Workers’ Memorial Day Is Coming Up

by Julianne Bass

Somebody has to explain to little boys and girls why Mommy or Daddy will never be there to tuck them into bed again.  Grieving parents have to do what no parent should ever have to do – bury their children.  Husbands or wives will need to rebuild their lives and raise their children alone.

Why?  Because the equipment cost too much, or because the project was behind schedule, or because training took too much time away from the jobsite, or because nobody bothered to find out how to operate safely.  Sure, sometimes the loss seems to be squarely on the shoulders of the victim, but is it really?  Could better training have prevented their deaths?  Better management?   Better planning?  Better oversight?  More than likely.

Read the source article at Fall Protection Systems and Equipment

Is Your Incentive Program Punishable Under OSHA’s Whistleblower Act?

by Julianne Bass

Years ago, my employer gave employees a coaster every quarter that the group had no OSHA reportable incidents. Now it would have been in violation to have such a program. Despite criticism from workers compensation carriers who recognize the benefits of incentive programs, OSHA has reiterated its policy and it continues to enforce against companies that have safety programs that reward on the job safety.

Read the source article at jdsupra.com

How to Build Your Safety Program

by Julianne Bass

A structured, deliberate approach to safety is the best way to optimize effectiveness and ensure you reap the full reward of your program. 1. Commit to workplace safety. The first step in building a safety program is getting a commitment from the company’s executives to safety and wellness. This commitment should rank high on every executive’s priority list. One way of achieving this is to include the importance of workplace safety in the company’s mission statement.

Read the source article at Home – WorkSafeMT

The Importance of Safety Innovation

by Julianne Bass

Safety innovation is becoming an increasingly important component of workplace safety management. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) professionals confront workplace hazards every day. Innovation, whether in processes, technology and/or approaches to people, is helping to solve those ongoing safety problems, and most importantly, helping employees go home safely after every workday.

Read the source article at Uniforms