Health & Safety Risk Assessment Tools For The Work Place
A Health and Safety Risk Assessment is something to be considered at almost every business and industry, both for employees and consumer safety. There are federal standards and state requirements, and full insurance coverage will depend on reporting and solving risk discoveries. Risks will involve dangers and hazards with tools and equipment, possible chemicals in the workplace and workplace practices and environment.
Health and Safety in the Workplace
Any business where there is an employee, other than a sole owner/employee situation, must conduct health and safety risk assessment for that particular business. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was founded under the U.S. Department of Labor with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. OSHA provides federal safety standards for the health and safety of any worker.
Health and safety in the workplace begins with looking for potential hazards and dangers. What kinds of tools, machinery or equipment is used by employees? What types of chemicals are used that employees and/or consumers may be in contact with? Are safety policies written and enforced? Are Emergency Action Plans known? What about employee first aid training?
On its website, OSHA provides a Safety and Health Management eTool that businesses can use to evaluate their procedures and know what would need to be improved.
Safety Committees
A safety committee, at least two to four people, can perform health and safety assessments. OSHA rules determine the number of employer-selected and employee-elected persons on the committee, so that both management and employees are represented.
The safety committee members have had training in hazard recognition and procedures, so they are able to formulate policies and procedures for worker safety. Committee minutes are open for all employees to review, and the policies and procedures will be presented, with possible safety training, for any employee the policies and procedures affect.
Hazardous Materials
The Hazard Communication Standard is a way for workers to know about potentially hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Recognizing the possible dangers of a chemical, such as flammability or pH values, the employer and employees can be aware of the chemicals and work safely with them. Safety policies can include workers using safety equipment such as eye protection, aprons, and gloves, to the Emergency Action Plan, which dictates evacuation procedures, first aid requirements, and summoning emergency services.
All chemicals used in a business should have information kept current for them, both for common usage, and in the case of an emergency. The Material Safety Data Sheet for any chemical is provided by manufacturers of those chemicals. The MSDS comes with delivery of a chemical and should be saved. Copies are also available in online databases.
A Material Safety Data Sheet gives the name and description of the product, manufacturer information and identification numbers; the composition and ingredient list; hazard identification; first aid measures; fire and explosion data; accidental release measures; handling and storage information; exposure controls and personal protection information; physical and chemical properties; stability and reactivity data; toxicological information; ecological information; transport information; regulatory information; and other information.
Emergency Action Plan
An Emergency Action Plan is created for known potential emergencies; also after an unplanned accident or emergency, an Emergency Action Plan is developed to prevent similar accidents.
Evacuating a building is one kind of Emergency Action Plan. Buildings will have maps in all areas and rooms, with a "YOU ARE HERE" notation and directions for exiting. Evacuation may be because of fire, because of a chemical spill or vapors, acts of terrorism, or for a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or tornado.
Specific Emergency Action Plans are created by a business for when potential situations arise that require emergency response. For instance, in a park setting with a public pool and lifeguards, there will be Emergency Action Plans when a customer requires lifeguard response in the water, or when there is an incident or injury in one of the locker rooms, where a lifeguard must assure safety of all patrons and assist in the injury.
Required Recordkeeping
Documents that are kept available are health and safety policies and procedures developed for a specific business, the Material Safety Data Sheets for chemicals used by that business, the Emergency Action Plans, and Safety Committee meeting minutes. Businesses are required to record any work-related injury, illness, or fatality. There is a form, the OSHA 300 log, that keeps a summary of work-related incidents, and it is publicly posted in a business from February 1 to April 30 of the following year, so that employees are more aware of safety issues. Each incident logged on the OSHA 300 form will also be entered completely on Form 301, the Injury and Illness Incident Report. Incidents are to stay on these logs for five years. Workers compensation insurance often needs incident reports within 24-72 hours.
OSHA inspections can occur both announced and unannounced. When an employee reports an "imminent danger" and a certified safety committee has not addressed the situation, this will result in an inspection. If a business has not established a safety committee, or a safety committee has not been following OSHA guidelines, that can result in an inspection. An inspection will also occur if at least half of a safety committee request it.
Conclusion
A health and safety risk assessment is important in any business. OSHA guidelines and free consultation services will assist any new business, or those refreshing safety requirements. Other countries have agencies similar to OSHA for worker health and safety.
Health and Safety in the Workplace
Any business where there is an employee, other than a sole owner/employee situation, must conduct health and safety risk assessment for that particular business. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was founded under the U.S. Department of Labor with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. OSHA provides federal safety standards for the health and safety of any worker.
Health and safety in the workplace begins with looking for potential hazards and dangers. What kinds of tools, machinery or equipment is used by employees? What types of chemicals are used that employees and/or consumers may be in contact with? Are safety policies written and enforced? Are Emergency Action Plans known? What about employee first aid training?
On its website, OSHA provides a Safety and Health Management eTool that businesses can use to evaluate their procedures and know what would need to be improved.
Safety Committees
A safety committee, at least two to four people, can perform health and safety assessments. OSHA rules determine the number of employer-selected and employee-elected persons on the committee, so that both management and employees are represented.
The safety committee members have had training in hazard recognition and procedures, so they are able to formulate policies and procedures for worker safety. Committee minutes are open for all employees to review, and the policies and procedures will be presented, with possible safety training, for any employee the policies and procedures affect.
Hazardous Materials
The Hazard Communication Standard is a way for workers to know about potentially hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Recognizing the possible dangers of a chemical, such as flammability or pH values, the employer and employees can be aware of the chemicals and work safely with them. Safety policies can include workers using safety equipment such as eye protection, aprons, and gloves, to the Emergency Action Plan, which dictates evacuation procedures, first aid requirements, and summoning emergency services.
All chemicals used in a business should have information kept current for them, both for common usage, and in the case of an emergency. The Material Safety Data Sheet for any chemical is provided by manufacturers of those chemicals. The MSDS comes with delivery of a chemical and should be saved. Copies are also available in online databases.
A Material Safety Data Sheet gives the name and description of the product, manufacturer information and identification numbers; the composition and ingredient list; hazard identification; first aid measures; fire and explosion data; accidental release measures; handling and storage information; exposure controls and personal protection information; physical and chemical properties; stability and reactivity data; toxicological information; ecological information; transport information; regulatory information; and other information.
Emergency Action Plan
An Emergency Action Plan is created for known potential emergencies; also after an unplanned accident or emergency, an Emergency Action Plan is developed to prevent similar accidents.
Evacuating a building is one kind of Emergency Action Plan. Buildings will have maps in all areas and rooms, with a "YOU ARE HERE" notation and directions for exiting. Evacuation may be because of fire, because of a chemical spill or vapors, acts of terrorism, or for a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or tornado.
Specific Emergency Action Plans are created by a business for when potential situations arise that require emergency response. For instance, in a park setting with a public pool and lifeguards, there will be Emergency Action Plans when a customer requires lifeguard response in the water, or when there is an incident or injury in one of the locker rooms, where a lifeguard must assure safety of all patrons and assist in the injury.
Required Recordkeeping
Documents that are kept available are health and safety policies and procedures developed for a specific business, the Material Safety Data Sheets for chemicals used by that business, the Emergency Action Plans, and Safety Committee meeting minutes. Businesses are required to record any work-related injury, illness, or fatality. There is a form, the OSHA 300 log, that keeps a summary of work-related incidents, and it is publicly posted in a business from February 1 to April 30 of the following year, so that employees are more aware of safety issues. Each incident logged on the OSHA 300 form will also be entered completely on Form 301, the Injury and Illness Incident Report. Incidents are to stay on these logs for five years. Workers compensation insurance often needs incident reports within 24-72 hours.
OSHA inspections can occur both announced and unannounced. When an employee reports an "imminent danger" and a certified safety committee has not addressed the situation, this will result in an inspection. If a business has not established a safety committee, or a safety committee has not been following OSHA guidelines, that can result in an inspection. An inspection will also occur if at least half of a safety committee request it.
Conclusion
A health and safety risk assessment is important in any business. OSHA guidelines and free consultation services will assist any new business, or those refreshing safety requirements. Other countries have agencies similar to OSHA for worker health and safety.
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