Workplace Safety Facts
Safety in the workplace is the priority of the U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) . Established to monitor and police safety regulations in the workplace, OSHA is an authority and leader, offering employers and employees training materials, safety reports and safety guidelines free of charge. Here's what you need to know about safety in the workplace.
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Significance
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By law, an employer must educate and train employees on all potential safety hazards and how to avoid injury and remain safe on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has outlined a complete instructional guide for workplace safety by industry and job title. It the responsibility of management to track all training initatives and document the completion of each program by each employee. Generally, the employee will initial or sign and date a training schedule to confirm his participation in the program. If training materials and/or information is recieved, he must acknowledge the date and time these materials were acquired.
Function
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An effective and informed safety program will offer instruction on the following: How to prevent an accident; How to comply and implement all safety regulations; How to respond in an accident or emergency situation; How to handle personal protective equipment; How to follow safety practices; How to properly opperate equipment and machinery; How to ensure chemical and hazardous materials safety; How to identify and avoid workplace hazards; and How to participate in employee training.
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Warning
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An employer creates a job safety report to determine what training programs should be implemented, which employees are directly effected on the job and how mnay safety hazards employees are exposed to on a general basis. To make an accurate assessment, each employee or employee group is observed during his normal tasks. Based on the observations that are made, additional training may be offered to strengthen the regulations that are currently being followed. For a comprehensive program, inspectors (and/or management) will marry basic safety training related to how the employee performs his job with more specific training and education about working in a hazardous environment
Warning
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Employers must identify all hazardous substances and chemicals in clear view. Poisonous substances must be marked with the international sign for poison and all biohazardous substances must be restricted from human and animal contact. In most cases, laboratory equipment is used to prevent a person from reaching into a container that contains needles or toxic waste. Generally, the container will contain a flap that opens downward, only allowing items to fall in, rather than open to allow a person to retrieve a disposed of item.
Every employer must clearly mark all exits, provide fire safety information, provide a map of the building (with marked exit signs), house fire extinguishers within specified locations throughout the building and post instructions for all equipment.
Significance
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Hazardous substances kill about 438,000 workers every year. Added to this, about 10 percent of all skin cancer cases are linked to workplace exposure to one or more hazardous substances, chemicals or manufacturering processes. Considered preventable accidents or illnesses, OSHA believes that sickness and disease should never be "part of the job." OSHA regulates the necessary inspection codes that, if adhered to, can worker injury; regardless of how toxic or hazardous the work environment.
History
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April 28 marks Safety and Health World Day. An extention of Memorial Day, Safety and Health World Day began in 2001 and was established to commemorate workers who have suffered disease, illness, death, injury or accidents at the work place.
Types
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In 2004, 3.7 million workers suffered disabling injuries or work related illnesses while at work. According to research compiled by OSHA, the most dangerous jobs in America are: Fishermen with 147.2 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Pilots with 90.4 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Timber cutter with 84.6 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Structural metal workers with 61.0 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Waste collectors with 40.7 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Farmers and ranchers with 37.2 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Power-line workers with 34.9 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Miners with 34.5 fatalities per 100,000 employees; Roofers with 33.5 fatalities per 100,000 employees; and Truck drivers with 27.5 fatalities per 100,000 employees.
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