Is your company failing to address potential workplace hazards? Are you and your employees committed to safety? Unfortunately, accidents can happen at work which means people can get very hurt. However, with the right plans and procedures in place, the likelihood of dangerous accidents and safety violations decreases. Keep reading for a list the of the top five OSHA safety violations in the United States so far in 2019 – and what you can do to prevent them.
5. Respiratory
Employers are required to provide respirators for employees who may be exposed to harmful health hazards such as dust, vapor, smoke, fog, fumes, gases, and other toxic elements. Could your Respiratory Protection Plan use an update? If so, partner with an Environmental Health and Safety company. They can help you assess if your plan is up to date and what your next steps should be.
4. Lockout/Tagout
LockLockout/Tagout policies help prevent the release of hazardous energy while employees are servicing machinery or equipment. Employees can be seriously injured or even killed when energy sources are not properly contained. In fact, compliance with lockout/tagout procedures helps prevent an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries every year. And for those reasons, be sure to take time to review your company’s lockout/tagout procedures. Then, make updates as needed to prevent serious injuries or fatalities from happening.
3. Scaffolding
Unsecure scaffolding can put your employees’ lives and safety at risk. Ensure that the scaffolding used on job sites is reliable, trustworthy, and safe for your employees to use. Equipment that is set up appropriately with the proper OSHA scaffolding requirements in mind can help prevent workers from falling and becoming injured.
2. Hazard Communication
Chemicals can create a number of hazards to our health and our environment. For example, chemicals can be irritating to the skin or can be highly flammable. Reach out to an Environmental and Safety company if you need help communicating safety standards to your employees. They can review your chemical hazard labels.
1. Fall Protection.
According to OSHA, falls are the leading cause of death in construction. To prevent falls from happening at your company, OSHA recommends planning ahead, providing the right equipment, and training everyone on how to use the equipment safely. Do you have a Fall Protection Plan in place? If not, work with a company like EHS Management, to help you implement new and updated safety standards.
As you can see from the list above, there is always room for improvement. However, the top five OSHA safety violations for this year are preventable with the right policies and standards in place. Be sure to contact EHS Management today for assistance to help prevent any of these violations from happening at your company. Ask us about your free consultation!