Near Misses: Identify and Eliminate Hazardous Workplace Conditions with Proper Training

Seventy-five percent of all accidents are preceded by one or more near misses, according to the National Safety Council.

In other words, close calls should be wake-up calls for employees and employers to realize that something is wrong and needs to be corrected. 

Employees may not realize they are expected to report near misses—no matter how trivial they may seem. Although there may not have been a serious outcome, these incidents could result in future accidents. By recognizing near misses and taking action to correct the underlying problems, employees will not only reduce the number of near misses, but more importantly, they will reduce the number of actual accidents in the future. 

Defining "Near Misses"

"Near misses" can be defined as minor accidents or close calls that have the potential for property loss or injury. A near miss will prevent a task from being completed as planned. Most accidents can be predicted by close calls. These are accidents that almost happened or possibly did happen but simply didn't result in an injury this time around. Here are some examples of near misses in the workplace:

• An employee trips over an extension cord that lies across the floor but avoids a fall by grabbing the corner of a desk.
• An outward-opening door nearly hits a worker who jumps back just in time to avoid a mishap.
• Instead of using a ladder, an employee puts a box on top of a drum, loses balance and stumbles to the ground. Although the employee is shaken, there is no injury.

When incidents like these happen, most workers are simply relieved they were not injured and then forget about what happened moments later. However, when employees narrowly avoid an accident or injury, everyone should assume they are at risk of that same avoidance. Another person, possibly the employee with the close call, is very likely to be injured by that very same hazard on a future date. In fact, the difference between a near miss and a serious injury is often a fraction of an inch or a split second of time. They are red flags waving at employees to let them know something is very wrong or unsafe and requires immediate attention.

Dealing with "Near Misses"

Here is a list of questions for employers and employees to ask themselves when a near miss occurs:

• How do you handle these incidents in your workplace?
• What’s your attitude toward a near miss?
• Do you feel momentarily relieved that what happened wasn’t any worse?
• Do you just return to your routine after the near miss occurrs?
• Do you simply tell yourself that you should be more careful next time?
• Do you have a plan for preventing a repeat performance?

A close call is a call to action. What a person does about these warnings can make all the difference between future injuries and a zero-accidents safety record. Employees need to seize the moment and use the close call as a training opportunity to prevent the imminent accident.

Remove Hazards

Hazards should be removed as soon as possible, but they still should be reported to supervisors so they can make note of it—even after the hazard has been removed. By discussing these near misses and hazards, it can raise awareness for employees to look out for other hazards that should be reported to a supervisor. 

Damaged equipment and property should also immediately be reported to a supervisor. Examples of damaged equipment might include fractured hand tools, power tools that give a shock, machine guards that don’t fit or work properly, forklifts with damaged parking brakes, ladders with broken rungs and worn PPE. Examples of damaged property might include crumbling stairs, loose handrails, loose plates in the floor, holes in the floor, loose hinges on the door and broken sidewalks. While some of these examples may not seem important or particularly hazardous, it’s important to note that employers and employees need to be aware of these hazards, as well.

Conduct "Near Miss" Training Sessions

When an unfortunate near miss occurs, call a safety meeting to discuss what actually happened, what could have happened, and ways to ensure it doesn't happen again. This may be the perfect opportunity to conduct a full-scale training session on near misses in general and what employees should be looking out for in a particular environment. It is also a chance for an employer to hear firsthand from an employee what he or she thinks are safety hazards within the workplace. Opening up a discussion with the topic of safety at the center is a chance for employees and employers to share ideas, tips and concerns. It’s only an advantage for an employer to develop a preventative—not reactive—safety program. The warning signs of near misses should never be neglected or ignored; employees and employers understanding what happened will reduce or control any future hazards.

The near miss session could begin with the trainer sharing his or her own experiences with close calls, which could prompt the trainees to give close call examples of their own, as well as examples on how to prevent near misses. This will heighten awareness of the safety hazards illustrated by the near misses and will encourage employees to take action to correct those underlying problems. Trainees will begin to understand and learn that they will not be lucky enough to avoid these accidents every time. It’s important for employees to discuss examples of near misses to really grasp the importance of the issue. The discussion should then turn to the causes of near misses and then end with corrective action. It’s important for these meetings to end with a discussion of proactive measures that need to be taken against near misses. 

Here is a list of questions for employers and employees to discuss when talking about near misses that actually occurred in the workplace:

• Was the worker using unsafe practices?
• Was the worker careless because the tasks were too repetitious?
• Was the work violating safety practices?
• Were conditions unsafe? 
• DID:
•  
• the worker have proper lighting?
• Was the worker taking shortcuts?
• Is the worker accident-prone?
• Was the "near" victim authorized to be in that work area?

Encourage All Employees to Identify and Report "Near Misses"

The problem with near misses is that employees often do not know they happened, which makes it very difficult to fix them or prevent future ones. Similarly, one employee may report a near miss to a supervisor, but the rest of the staff will not be made aware of the situation. All too often, these incidents are not reported at all. Many employees simply say, "Whew! That was a close one!" and move on to their next task. They go back to work without mentioning the incident to their supervisor, as if the incident was a one-time occurrence and not worth mentioning or reporting. Employees sometimes decide if nobody gets hurt and there is no damage, then it’s not really an accident, but this is a part of the problem. All near misses need to be reported and discussed with a supervisor. 

Unfortunately, there are countless work environments where this mentality can be found on a daily basis. If this sounds all too familiar, then this is the first thing that needs to change in the workplace. Even before near misses occur, employers should discuss the importance of reporting near misses to create the best—and safest—work environment. Open discussion between employees and employers is an important aspect of near misses. Encouraging employees to treat close calls exactly the way they treat accidents, which includes reporting them right away, is the crucial first step to finding causes, taking corrective action and training employees to avoid the real accident waiting to happen. 

Source: http://www.constructionbusinessowner.com/topics/safety/construction-safety/near-misses-identify-and-eliminate-hazardous-workplace-conditions/page/0/1

Forklift Safety Is No Laughing Matter

The editor-in-chief of EHS Today’s sister publication Material Handling & Logistics (MH&L) has a bone to pick with OSHA for citing forklift safety hazards as “other-than-serious” violations:

Forklifts are such an integral tool to warehouses that they’re almost like the air workers breathe – taken for granted. But forgetting to ventilate a warehouse’s work area for operators on LP trucks can prove suffocating – even in the summertime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yx67JVIc2Gw

It was September when four workers at a food distribution center, including a forklift driver, suffered nausea and almost passed out while unloading an idling diesel truck. The forklift happened to be LPG-powered [liquid petroleum gas powered], so that contributed to the seriousness of this incident.

The warehouse had some natural ventilation, but no mechanical ventilation. Idling vehicles, no CO alarms and poor employee training all contributed to the danger. This story was recounted in a publication from the Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industries. Washington State is heavily agricultural, with a lot of heavy lifting needed both outdoors and indoors. This explains why carbon monoxide poisoning is a common occurrence there.

So never mind the fact it’s cold outside. Forgetting about carbon monoxide is a year-round hazard – as common as inadequate forklift operator training. Many times those two go hand-in-hand. The consequences can be as fatal to a business as they are to its people.

Here’s a case in point courtesy of an OSHA press release: Fritz Aluminum Services Inc. OSHA came down hard on this company last year, citing it for 37 violations, including combustible dust accumulations, at the company's Eustis, Fla., facility. Three willful violations proved to be the most damning in OSHA’s eyes: failing to provide workers with an abrasive blasting suit or apron during sandblasting operations, not replacing missing and clogged filters in the powder coating booth, and not implementing a housekeeping program or providing proper ventilation to keep combustible dust accumulations at a minimal level. Fritz got socked with $139,800 in proposed penalties and eventually went out of business.

But something about this announcement made me a bit nauseous. The company was also cited for six “other-than-serious” violations, including failure to have forklift operators complete a refresher training course in the last three years; failure to certify the training of forklift drivers; and failure to remove defective or unsafe powered industrial trucks from service. The OSHA press release about this incident describes an other-than-serious violation as one that “has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.”

Huh? First of all, the release doesn’t say whether these lift trucks were electric or propane powered, but being that LP trucks are common in aluminum plants, it’s logical to think that these operators were exposed to carbon monoxide as well as to potentially explosive combustible dust. Even if these lift trucks were electric, were they rated ExplosionProof (EX-rated) for use in hazardous and explosive environments? The OSHA press release doesn’t say anything about that either.

But never mind any of that. Working in this kind of environment, just having untrained forklift operators is dangerous enough to be fatal. I wouldn’t classify the possibility of suffocation or being blown up “other-than-serious.” Apparently someone at OSHA could use a refresher on powered industrial truck appreciation.

Source: http://ehstoday.com/blog/forklift-safety-no-laughing-matter

Top 9 Warehouse Safety Violations

Working in a warehouse can be a deadly job if you do not follow all the safety guidelines that are set out for you. There are at least 9 warehouse safety violations that are the most common. Knowing what this violations are and what you can do to prevent them will help keep everyone safe. While working in a warehouse you need to be aware of all the dangers that are around you. There are so many things that can and will go wrong if everyone is not working safely. Below is a list of the top warehouse safety violation. Use this list as a guide for what not to do in the warehouse.

 Workplace Safety Violations In A Warehouse.

• The most common safety violations in a warehouse occur while operating the forklift. The only people that use the forklift must be trained and certified to do so. You cannot operate any heavy machinery such as a forklift without being certified. An inexperienced driver can cause all sirts of problems. They will not know how to properly work the forklift and also may get into an accident. Many injuries occur from forklifts in a warehouse. Whether it was loaded incorrectly and the materials fell off or the person driving was not paying attention and hit someone or something. If you run into a shelf you run the risk of bring down the entire thing and everything on it.
• Loading dock violations can be anything from minor injuries to death in some cases. Volations on the loading dock include lifting incorrectly. When you are loading or unloading a truck you must be sure to use proper lifting safety techniques to reduce your chances of injury. All employees should be taught the correct way to lift objects before they even begin woking. Another violation is clutter on the floors. Dirty floors with papers, trash or wet spots are a sure way to insure an accident will happen. You have to keep to loading dock floors swept ans dry at all times.
• Personal Protective equipment is often the least used safety product in the workplace. Many people think that personal protection is unnecessary since they have never been hurt on the job before. This is simple not true. Accidents can happen at anytime for any reason which is why they are called accidents. If you are not prepared for one than you could be risking your health or life. When working in a warehouse you should always wear sturdy slip proof work boots. If they have steel toes that is even better. The leather and steel will help keep your feet safe. You should also wear a back brace anytime you are going to be lifting. A brace will help relieve some of the pressure on your back muscles. Other safety gear that may be used in a wasrehouse are gloves, goggles and hard hats. Depending on the task you have been assigned that day.
• Storage violations are another major problem in warehouses. If you do not properly stack and store the boxes a number of accidents could occur. First the boxes could fall and possible land on a person working below. Second too much weight in one area of the storage racks and little or none in the others couls stress out the metals and cause a break. Finally if the storage racks are not properly installed they could collapse when pushed or even on their own under the stress.
• Emergency exit volations usually include fire exits that have been blocked and can not be accessed if needed in an emergency. It is important to make sure that all fire exits are clearly marked with lit exit signs. They must also be easily accessible to everyone. If there is somthing blocking the exit you must remove it immediately. Keep all exit hallways and stairwells clean and free of clutter at all times.
• Lockout/tagout violations can be deadly. The lockout tagout system is in place to make sure no one is injuried during general maintenance of machinery. It requires that two or more different people with separate keys lock a machine before it can be fixed or cleaned. This is to prevent the machine from accidentally being turned back on while it is being worked on. Often times people think the cleaning or repair will be quick and easy so there is no reason to go through the long process of locking the machine. That is not the case, you must lock the machine to prevent any injuries from occuring.
• Communication violations are when there are no signs warning employees of the dangers that are present in the area. If there is a chance of hearing loss due to loud noises you must post a sign that states earplugs are required in the area. You should post signs any place in the warehouse were a danger may be present. If there are chemicals used in the warehouse they must also be correctly labeled and stored in a clearly marked storage area. All companies are required by OSHA to have a material data safety sheet that is hung in an area where all employees have access to read it.
• The handling of Hazardous materials is a huge problem. If they are handled incorrectly at anytime it can cause devesating effect to everyone in the warehouse. All employees are required to be trained in handling hazardous materials. They should know how to properly dispose of them once they are finished with them. Incorrectly disposing of hazmats can be dangers to the health and well being of all employees. Hazardous materials are classified as flammable, toxic, corrosive or biohazardous.
• fire safety violations include not having or none operational fire extinguishers in the warehouse. Each area of the warehouse should have at least on extinguisher in case of an emergency. All employees should be trained how to properly use them if needed. You should also have a fire exit plan. This will be helpful if an emergency should ever occur. It will give everyone in the building a guide for what to do during any emergency where you are required to leave the warehouse.

 
Source: http://workplacesafetyexperts.com/workplace-safety-tips/top-9-warehouse-safety-violations/

Managing Safety & Health at Workplaces

(A good informative article!) Safety Management Systems.

As an employer, it is your responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. A safety and health management system, or safety program, can help you focus your efforts at improving your work environment. Whatever you call it, your plan describes what the people in your organization do to prevent injuries and illnesses at your workplace.

Your organization will have its own unique system, reflecting your way of doing business, the hazards of your work, and how you manage the safety and health of your employees:

• If you manage a small business in a low-risk industry, your system may simply involve listening to your employees' concerns and responding to them.
• A large business in a hazardous industry may have notebooks full of written policies and procedures and a full-time safety director.

What's most important is that your system works for your organization. It's up to you to decide how best to operate a safe and healthy workplace, and to put your plan into practice.

What makes a successful system?

A successful system will be part of your overall business operation, as important as the other things you do to succeed in business. 

Successful safety and health systems have the following in place:

• Managers committed to making the program work.
• Employees involved in the program.
• A system to identify and control hazards.
• Compliance with OSHA regulations.
• Training on safe work practices.
• Mutual respect, caring and open communication in a climate conducive to safety.
• Continuous improvement .

Take a look at your safety and health system. Some components may be strong and others may need to be strengthened. The following sections describe these key factors and give ideas about how to make them part of your program. And remember, if you operate one of many thousands of small businesses in Maine, your system can be simple and largely informal.

Use the following as a practical guide and adapt it to your needs. Because small businesses often cannot afford in-house safety and health professionals, you may need help setting up your system. You can call SafetyWorks! --- our services are free and confidential. Your workers' compensation insurance provider, your industry organization, or a private consultant may also be able to help.

I. Make a commitment

Put as much energy into your commitment to safety and health as you put into any other important part of your business. Make sure to include workplace safety and health in your business plan and integrate it into all facets of the business.

• Write a policy that emphasizes the importance you place on workplace safety and health.
• Commit the resources (time, money, personnel) needed to protect your employees.
• Begin meetings with a safety topic.
• Encourage employee participation in safety and health.
• Let employees know they will be expected to follow safe work practices if they work for your business. And follow them yourself.
• Respond to all reports of unsafe or unhealthy conditions or work practices.
• If injuries or illnesses occur, make it your business to find out why.
• Go beyond the regulations; address all hazards, whether or not they are covered by laws.

II. Involve employees

In a safe and healthy workplace, employees have a stake in the success of the program --- safety and health is everyone's responsibility. Actively encourage employee involvement if you want your program to succeed. Hold people accountable and makes sure everyone does their part.

• Establish an active workplace safety and health safety committee.
• Make daily safety inspections part of some employees' jobs.
• Keep employees informed about safety inspections, injury and illness statistics, and other safety-related issues.
• Give everyone a meaningful activity that supports safety.
• Value employee input and feedback. Employees often know more about safety problems and solutions than managers do.
• Make sure employees help review and improve the program.
• Hold employees accountable
  • Include safety and health responsibilities in job descriptions. Make following safe work practices part of performance evaluation.
  • Set safety goals and hold everyone accountable.
  • Discipline employees who behave in ways that could harm themselves or other.
  • Establish a clear system for reporting hazards, injuries, illnesses and close calls.
  • Recognize employees who contribute to keeping the workplace safe and healthy.

"… we’ve had the employees involved with safety. They are aware of what’s going on and at this plant there is a culture of people who constantly are looking out for each other and if they see that someone is doing something unsafe or risky, they are going to say something to them. They are not afraid to go directly to that person and say, you should have your hair tied back, or your safety glasses on, or you shouldn’t really be reaching into there." Ken David, Pride Manufacturing

III. Identify and control hazards

Before you can control hazards you need to know what the hazards are. Here are some ways to identify safety and health hazards:

• Review records of accidents, injuries, illnesses, and close calls
• review OSHA logs, first aid logs, workers' compensation reports, complaints, and close calls
• look for trends or common factors in
  • kinds of injuries or illnesses
  • parts of body
  • time of day/shift
  • location
  • equipment
  • protective equipment
  • department
• Survey employees
• Review inspection reports from enforcement inspections, insurance surveys, or consultations.
• Learn the OSHA regulations that have to do with your workplace.
• Inspect your workplace for safety and health problems, current and potential. SafetyWorks! consultants can help you survey your workplace.
  • Use checklists to locate dangerous conditions.
  • Watch employees work to spot unsafe work practices.
  • Perform Job Hazard Analysis.
  • Conduct air and noise sampling where exposures exist.

Once you know the hazards, you can decide how to control them.

• Prioritize the hazards you found
  • Which are most likely to cause serious injury or illness?
  • Which can you fix immediately?
  • Do you have to make long term plans to correct some of the hazards?
• Make a plan for correcting the hazards
  • Conduct job hazard analysis to identify how best to correct the hazards
  • Find out best practices from companies in your industry
• Correct the hazards
  • Engineering controls eliminate the hazards through safe tools, facilities, and equipment. These are the best controls.
  • Administrative controls don't remove the hazards; they reduce exposure by changing the work practices. For instance, rotating workers, rest breaks, training programs.
  • Personal protective equipment puts a barrier between the employee and the hazard, using, for example, gloves or safety shoes. If you use personal protective equipment, you have toassess the hazard beforehand and train employees the right way to use the equipment.
• Evaluate the changes to make sure they have corrected the problem and not created other hazards. And periodically re-survey the work environment and work practices.

IV. Comply with regulations

Employers must identify the OSHA regulations that apply in their workplaces and comply with them. SafetyWorks! classes and consultations can help with this.

• Develop required programs
• Maintain the OSHA 300 log if required for your business.

V. Train Employees

Train personnel about the hazards they may be exposed to at work and how to protect themselves. Keep records of all training. Provide:

• General safety orientation for new employees and employees starting new jobs, including company safety regulations and emergency procedures.
• Specific training on the hazards of their jobs and how to do their jobs safely. (Many OSHA standards include specific training requirements)
• Retraining
  • As required by the standards
  • When jobs change
  • When employees return from long absence
  • As needed to ensure employees know how to do their jobs safely.

VI. Support a culture of safety

Workers hold safety as a value; they actively care about themselves and others. Mutual respect is the norm.

• Establish effective two-way communication. Respond to the needs and concerns of workers.
• Make sure management goes beyond the regulations to ensure a safe workplace.
• Encourage workers to go "beyond the call of duty" to ensure a safe workplace.
• Support a work environment that fosters trust, creativity, and general well-being.
• Celebrate your success with SHARP or other recognition programs.

VII. Continually improve your system

Review your program's strengths and weaknesses. Does it accurately reflect how you want to manage safety and health?

• Use OSHA's Safety and Health Program Assessment Worksheet to find out how you're doing.
• Review annually and as needed
• Investigate accidents, injuries, illnesses and close calls as they occur.
• Conduct frequent (daily, weekly as needed) inspections of specific equipment and processes.
• Evaluate your injury and illness statistics
• Document all your safety efforts.
• Change analysis: Review new and changed processes, materials, facilities and equipment for hazards
• Ensure hazard correction systems are in place and working
• Evaluate effectiveness of training
• Listen to your staff: Do employees know the hazards of their jobs and how to work safely? Are managers enforcing safe work practices and praising safe behavior?

Source: http://www.safetyworksmaine.com/safe_workplace/safety_management/

How to build a strong safety culture?

Every company wants to believe it is a safe place to work, but are you doing what is necessary to create a culture of safety in your business?

If you’re not, an unsafe workplace can be costly, and not only in terms of disability and medical costs.

“In addition to the more obvious costs, there are many other reasons for employers to focus on improving safety in the workplace,” says Eric W. Sandoe, claims account executive with ECBM Insurance Brokers and Consultants. “Lost productivity as a result of replacing injured workers with other employees who may not be trained for the job they are being asked to do, higher insurance premiums and a hit to your reputation are only the beginning.”

 

Smart Business spoke with Sandoe about how to build and maintain a strong safety culture in your company.

Why is having a strong safety culture 

important for a business?

Having a strong safety culture brings large benefits to your business. One obvious benefit is increased productivity. Having fewer worker injuries means less down time. It reduces disability costs and the hidden costs from lower employee morale.

The cost of an unsafe workplace is much, much more than simply the hard dollar costs that the employer will pay for disability and medical treatment. The lost productivity caused by replacing injured workers with less experienced staff creates inefficiency and exacerbates the cost of injuries.

A safe workplace protects your business from higher insurance premiums, experience modification rates and regulatory issues. It allows you to bid for more work, especially if you are in any type of contracting business. Most important, it provides a strong reputation for your company and helps you attract the best workers available.

What must be present for a business to define its culture as a strong safety culture?

All levels of the business must be focused on safety and buy in to the idea of a safe workplace. There must be a focus on providing the proper equipment that is necessary to protect workers, such as machine guarding, safety glasses, earplugs and the like. Also, there must be proper ongoing training on lifting techniques and material handling procedures, and any other procedure where safety is required to protect from injury. Management must ensure that these and other proper protections are used at the proper time and that any violation is enforced. There must be constant review with all levels through seminars and other employee and management communication vehicles using lessons learned and real workplace examples. It should be stressed to all levels the costs associated and the jobs lost when these procedures are not followed.

How can a business build a strong safety culture?

Building a strong safety culture is not a top-down strategy. It should involve all levels of your organization. It means being committed to safety regardless of any other concerns in your business. Everyone must hold each other and themselves accountable for safety.

Employees should be encouraged to speak up and give their input to avoid injuries. Avoidable accidents should not be tolerated and regular training should be provided to prevent them. Constant communication is key, and the sharing of ideas to prevent accidents and injuries should be encouraged at all levels.

What are the keys to getting employees to buy in to this culture?

Companies need to create and implement a written program that is consistent with other policies and procedures and encourages employees to report concerns about safety conditions. It’s also important to ensure timely and appropriate responses to employees concerning known hazards, with real action plans in place to address and remove them.

Employees should be encouraged to report safety concerns without fear of reprisal from management and to help in the enforcement of work safety rules. For example, a company could tell an employee, ‘Joe, you need to put your safety glasses on before you get something in your eye.’ Not only is enforcing these rules in the best interest of the employees, but it is vital for employers, as well, because lost workers translates to lower profits and the potential for job losses.

What steps must a business take to maintain the culture?

Communication is key. Procedures must not be allowed to go stale. To keep everything fresh and up to date, these procedures must constantly be reviewed in light of any recent accidents or injuries. Reinforcement of current safety practices must be maintained through ongoing employee coaching and discipline where necessary. Ongoing training must be provided to demonstrate lessons learned and educate new and existing employees in proper safety techniques and procedures.

Metrics should be established to determine what is working in terms of reducing accidents and injuries. Then, those metrics should be reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis.

What results can a business expect from committing to safety?

Increased productivity is a given, due to the lower employee absentee rates that occur when a business commits to safety. Companies can also expect better employee morale resulting from a sense of buy in and reduced injuries. Another welcome result is lower insurance premiums and costs due to fewer injuries and workers’ compensation claims. Also, companies can expect a better overall reputation, which will help them attract the best and brightest workers. No exceptional employee wants to work in an unsafe environment.

Finally, companies will benefit from an increased ability to bid for work due to lower experience modification ratings.

Source: http://www.sbnonline.com/2012/02/how-to-build-a-strong-safety-culture/

How to Conduct a Health & Safety Training that Employees Love

As an employer or employee, you will surely be familiar with the typical reaction from staff when the subject of health and safety training comes up. People’s eyes glaze over immediately and they may even take on the physical appearance of a child who has been sent to tidy their bedroom.

Considering how difficult it can be to find anyone able to recall attending a health and safety training session that was anything like fun or engaging this is to be fair, quite an understandable reaction.

Health and safety training sessions have a bad reputation. Staff will tell each other how they sat watching power point presentations for hours, just to learn how to pick up a box on a manual handling course, whilst others will be able to tell you exactly what type of biscuits they were offered during the breaks but have no idea what the trainer was droning on about all day because their brain switched off shortly after arrival.

  

For an employer investing money for staff to receive essential training this is surely a complete waste of time, after all, it should not be about simply ticking the safety training box out of sheer obligation for the sake of it, the aim should always be for staff to receive quality training that has a positive impact on safety in the workplace.

In order to improve safety levels and reduce the risk of accidents in your workplace, it is crucial to find and implement a health and safety training program that is effective, rather than boring and tedious. Without proper training, the likelihood of accident and injury is increased and accidents at work have a negative impact on an entire business.

Statistics show that an alarmingly high percentage of accidents at work could have easily been prevented with quality training. Accident prevention is in everyone’s best interest so if you are an employer and you know the program you currently have in place is merely satisfying your legal obligation to your staff, but could be significantly improved, perhaps now would be a good time to revisit this important area of your business and begin to implement some changes.

It is important for employers to communicate with staff and involve them in this process. By involving them in the decision making process, employers clearly demonstrate that they value their teams opinion and input and this can help to create a more positive working environment. Staff should always feel comfortable about approaching their managers and sharing concerns so that obvious risks can be highlighted and resolved at the earliest opportunity.

A quality health and safety training program should be:

Cost Effective

A beneficial starting point is to hire a safety officer to visit the premises, to assess the various risks, observe staff in the working environment then offer their advice as to any improvements they would recommend.

Frequently the most cost effective option for businesses is to provide training on site, via a quality-training provider. Training providers should be reputable, with plenty of experience and able to tailor a suitable package to meet the needs of each business. As well as it being more cost effective to carry out training on site, this is often the preferred option for employees as it is more convenient and they tend to feel more comfortable in a familiar environment.

Relevant

It is vital for training to be specific to the businesses needs and directly relevant to those being trained so that they can relate to the content of the course. The type of risks faced by individuals working in a scientific lab will vary a great deal to those faced by office workers or construction workers. A bespoke course is therefore essential.

Engaging

There is always going to be a fair amount of legislation to cover during a health and safety training session but this should not take over the day. Death by power point achieves nothing and thankfully there are a number of excellent training providers out there who understand the importance of engaging their audience and encouraging them to interact with one another, take part and share their experiences. Practical, hands on training is fun and productive.

Ask trainers for information about their preferred training approach and find out about the techniques they use to deliver health and safety training. If you are not convinced they have what it takes to engage a group, simply look elsewhere. If a trainer finds their own subject of expertise boring they will have zero chance of getting anybody else interested in it!

Some successful training approaches to look out for could include:

• Motivational games
• Interactive demonstrations
• Role-playing games
• Team challenges
• Prizes

Any combination of the above can significantly help to engage course candidates and maintain their attention; in fact you would be surprised at what an excellent motivator a small bar of chocolate can be for many people (me included)!

Summary

Health and safety training should not be viewed as a necessary evil or waste of money. Businesses are obliged to comply with health and safety laws so it makes sense to implement a quality, informative program of training, to ensure that employees are safe, remain in good health and maintain a high level of productivity.

Proper training results in confident employees who have an increased awareness of risk and know the correct procedures to follow in the event of an accident. What is more, they feel valued, safe and trust you their employers all the more for they know that they are not at risk beyond the normal levels associated with their work environment or job.

Happy employees means productive employees. If nothing else will convince you of the benefits of investing time and effort in a health and safety training programme then perhaps that will!

Source: http://workawesome.com/your-job/health-safety-training/

Worker's death 'due to negligence'

2011/11/07
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/8sxc/Article/
KOTA KINABALU: Police believe that the death of a restaurant worker, whose head was trapped inside a dumb waiter, was caused by her own negligence.


Investigations revealed that Lau See Yen, 20, was alone when she operated the dumb waiter, which is used to transport food and utensils between the floors of the two-storey restaurant in Luyang, on Sunday.

City police chief Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sofi Zakaria said Lau appeared to have put her head inside the dumb waiter instead of her hands.

"Investigations are continuing into the case, which has been initially classified as sudden death," he said, adding that the probe had not uncovered any criminal element.

Police are trying to determine whether the chute had malfunctioned when Lau used it.

In the incident on the upper floor of the restaurant on Sunday about 1pm, Lau sustained injuries to her head and neck.

Police, however, were not able to confirm how her head got stuck inside the chute.

Her colleagues pulled her out of the chute and two doctors who happened to be in the premises administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation on her.

However, Lau died about 9.15pm at the intensive care unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital.



Read more: Worker's death 'due to negligence' http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/8sxc/Article/#ixzz1d5PJ9320

Safety Tip's

Protecting Your Home

One of the biggest enemies of home security is thinking “It won’t happen to me” Although we all know that prevention is important; most people don’t take the steps they need to protect their home and family. Whether it’s installing a monitored home security system, or just being able to identify potential risks of hidden dangers, such as fire and carbon monoxide throughout your home, these precautions can help create a safer environment to live in.

So what can you do better to protect your home and family from fire, break-ins or medical emergencies?

WHO'S THERE?

The first step to keeping unwelcome visitors out is to protect the entrances to your home.

THE FRONT DOOR

A locked front door is your first line of defense. And with locks, you get what you pay for. By spending a few dollars more for a good lock, you can potentially save thousands. So get the best quality locks you can afford. We recommend deadbolt locks. Deadbolts provide better security than sliding locks because they can’t be opened without a key. Bored-in deadlocks that are embedded into the door are even harder for a burglar to get through.

Without a deadlock, burglars may be able to open your front door simply by using a credit card to push back the tongue of the lock. Doors with exposed hinges are even more vulnerable because a burglar can simply remove the pin on the hinge and get inside.

Locks are just the beginning. Another good investment is a peephole. 180-degree peepholes give you the advantage of checking to see who’s at the door before you open it. And make sure that the area outside your door is well-lit. If you can’t see who’s at the door, don’t open it.

JUST MOVED IN?

If you’ve just moved into your new home, it’s a good idea to replace all the locks. Locks only provide security if you know who has every key. Pay for a qualified and reputable locksmith to change your locks. And keep track of all the keys you have made. This is especially important if there have been a lot of previous owners. The only keys to your new home should be the ones you have made.

A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY?

To help prevent burglars from getting into your home through a window, install locks or pins. We recommend using the same brand of lock for all your windows so it’s easy and convenient to use them. And that’s an important point, because when safety and convenience are at odds, convenience usually wins. Make sure to keep the key in a safe but easy-to-access location so you can get to it quickly if there’s a fire.

Also keep any trees or shrubs around windows trimmed. While they may seem to increase your privacy, they also increase a burglar’s privacy while they’re breaking into your home.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Two of a burglar’s biggest enemies are noise and light. Installing lights around your home that are activated by movement can help scare off unwelcome visitors. Exterior sensor lights also help to light the path to your front door when you come home. It’s also a good idea to use timers to light inside areas of your home if you’re home alone or away. Setting these economical timers gives the appearance that someone is at home, and is a good way to make sure you’re consistently protected.

ALARMING YOUR HOME

A security system is your best protection. There are two main types of security systems available: a local alarm and a monitored system. Local alarms are designed to make a lot of noise to help scare off a potential intruder.

A fully monitored system doesn’t just make a lot of noise, it sends an emergency signal to a monitoring center so that the right people can respond in case of an emergency. Another benefit of having a monitored home security system is that it may qualify you for up to a 20% discount on your homeowner’s insurance.

Here’s a list of things to think about when considering monitored alarm systems:

1. Is the system easy to use?
2. Does the system come with a maintenance plan to cover parts and service?
3. Does the system have a rechargeable backup battery?
4. Is the system connected to a UL-Listed, 24-hour monitoring center?
5. Who does the monitoring, and what is their experience and reputation?
6. Can the system help protect you against fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, household flooding and other dangers, as well as burglary?

FIRE PREVENTION

In addition to protecting your home against break-ins and intruders, you can also take some simple precautions to help prevent another, and often even more devastating threat—fire.

CHECK HOT SPOTS

The first step toward better fire prevention is to determine where your home’s potential hot spots are located. Hot spots are hazard areas that can start a fire. One potential hot spot can be faulty wiring. To help avoid this danger, be sure to have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.

CHECK CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Another common problem is overloading your circuits. If you need more outlets, have them installed professionally.

CHECK YOUR KITCHEN

Your kitchen has a lot of hot spots. The biggest ones are the oven and range. Always make sure your burners are off when you leave the house or go to sleep at night. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher handy in this area, and that all members of your household know where it is and how to use it. And of course, if you smell gas, you are advised to leave your home immediately. Once you’re in a safe location, call the gas company and alert them of the situation.

GRILLING SAFETY

1. Keep your grill away from anything flammable — including your home, shrubs and cars.

2. Protect yourself with oven mitts and a heavy apron.

3. Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by never using a charcoal or gas grill inside your home or in an enclosed area.

4. Don’t let small children remove or place food on the grill.

5. Don’t leave an uncovered grill unattended.

6. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

7. Check gas grill tubes leading into the burner for any blockage from insects, food or grease.

8. Prevent gas leaks by promptly replacing scratched or nicked connectors.

9. Keep propane containers upright at all times.

10. Keep propane containers outdoors.

CHECK SMOKE ALARMS

Smoke alarms play an important part in fire protection. Be sure they’re working and that the batteries are always charged. Also be aware that when a smoke alarm goes off, there isn’t a lot of time to escape.

MAKE A PLAN

Take time to set up a fire emergency plan for your family. Making sure everyone knows exactly what to do and how to get out today could save a life tomorrow.

HOME SECURITY CHECKLIST

1. Turn the telephone and answering machine volume down when you go out so burglars can’t hear that no one’s home.

2. Don’t leave notes for family or friends outside your home.
3. Don’t leave tools or ladders lying around your yard since impulse burglars can use them to gain access into your home.

4. Install sensor lights at all outside entrances.

5. Remove any shrubs or trees next to your home that could hide a potential burglar from sight.

6. Install a monitored security system, and make sure all members of your household know how to use it.

7. Install deadbolt locks on your outside doors and make sure all door hinges are on the inside.

8. Lock garage doors and sliding glass doors every night and whenever you are away from home.

9. Don’t hide keys outside your home, such as in your mailbox, under doormats or above doorways. Burglars usually know where they are.

10. If you’re planning to go away, either have your mail picked up by a trusted neighbor or have your local post office stop delivery until you get back. You’ll also want to cancel any other regular deliveries such as newspapers.

11. Tell relatives or neighbors when you’ll be back and let them know where you can be reached in an emergency.

12. When you buy a new appliance such as a TV or computer, destroy the box or hide it in your trash so others won’t know you have something new and valuable inside.

13. Videotape, photograph and keep a written register of all your valuables and their serial numbers.

14. Store valuable documents such as insurance policies and wills in a safety deposit box.

15. Program emergency contact numbers into your phone memory and clearly label them so it will be easy to dial them in an emergency.

16. Every six months or so, inspect your home as if you’ve been locked out without your keys. How would you get in? Examine any weak spots and realize that if you can get inside, so could someone else.

17. Check to see if there’s an active Neighborhood Watch association in your community. This program helps keep you updated on problems in your neighborhood, and gets more people to help watch and protect your home and family. If there is no active Neighborhood Watch group in your community, contact your local law enforcement agency to find out how you can start one.