Risk Management and Risk Liability are two terms that are “hot topics.” The economy is at a place where most people who do not have college degrees are looking for any type of work. Sometimes this work comes in the form of working in a plant or facility that might have the employee doing a job that while is not skilled is still considered hazardous. When people work in environments that have a higher propensity for injuries work place safety becomes a leading concern.
Risk Management and Risk Liability are two terms that are “hot topics.” The economy is at a place where most people who do not have college degrees are looking for any type of work. Sometimes this work comes in the form of working in a plant or facility that might have the employee doing a job that while is not skilled is still considered hazardous. When people work in environments that have a higher propensity for injuries work place safety becomes a leading concern. It is imperative that as plant and facility owners increase their workforce that they give consideration to safety and the environment in which they ask their employees to work.
Often times Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH) will find that they have an influx in calls to their firms after OSHA has given a plant or facility a citation for some form of improper operating procedures. OSHA has a very long and detailed book of what is and isn’t a “safe working environment.” It is confusing and difficult for plant managers and directors to stay up to date on all the new regulations. Hazards come in many different forms. Some hazards are airborne and require the use of masks and some hazards are noise levels. There are also hazards that are more common, like ladder safety, fall prevention and LOTO or Lock Out Tag Out.
Yearly training is required by all employers on certain topics in safety. Some topics must be renewed yearly while others like the forklift don’t require yearly training. A CIH is a person that could help with training and implementation of new training materials. Training doesn’t just happen in regards to equipment however, training also happens with PPEs or Personal Protection Equipment. Respirators are considered a PPE. If a facility requires employees to use respirators then programs must be written and training must be held. It is required that a Safety Consultant come and do some monitoring to determine which respirator is right for the job being performed.
All the training paperwork is filed away so that if OSHA ever did come by then the managers and directors would know where to find the documentation that every employee was current on their training. There are so many rules and so many different aspects of the safety protocol in a plant or facility. Often times a CIH will develop what is called a HASP or a SEMP plan. HASP stands for Health And Safety Plan and SEMP stands for Safety and Environmental Program. They cover different things but there is some overlapping. With a SEMP the Environmental aspect of managing a plant or facility is discussed, and in a HASP it is primarily about the health and safety of the employees.
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Occupational Health Overcomes Everyday Hazards
Many workers face different types of hazards on a daily basis. Each company has a responsibility to proactively protect their employees from hazards encountered in the workplace. Accidents or injuries can bring production to a halt, reduce the workforce while the employee is recovering and lead to costly worker compensation claims. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can help your company improve the Occupational Health present at your facility.
The Risk from Asbestos
Asbestos poses a major health risk in many office buildings and homes due to the wide adoption and usage of asbestos as an insulator in the construction process. Asbestos can be found in the glue beneath vinyl flooring or in material applied to concrete to regulate the temperature between floors in an office building. These buildings and homes are being remodeled and modernized as an update to the space, but the demolition process can be hazardous if asbestos is present. Test for asbestos prior to starting your next remodeling project to ensure workers are safe.
Communicating the Dangers with HazCom
Hazard Communication focuses on explaining the dangers present at the workplace. The employees have a right to understand the hazards present and how to remain safe on the jobsite. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can work with your company to fulfill the HazCom requirement set forth by OSHA.
