CoatingsPro Magazine

JUL 2013

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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injuries. For instance, you may be striving to reduce hand injuries or slips, trips, and falls. If so, engage individual employees and work groups by asking them to develop personal goals for these specific areas of emphasis, and then take note of what happens. You may be surprised by the results. Promoting Success As you consider the goals that are set by you, your teammates, and company as a whole, determine what it w i l l take to be successful. If your goal is to perform a pre-job briefing for each job, what will you need to accomplish that goal? Maybe you need to take steps A Four-Point SyStem Putting together an SHMS can be a crucial part of your company's safety plan. This includes taking a very close, step-by-step look at your company and its safety components. Make sure that the system has approval by leadership and buy-in by the workforce. And be sure to be aware of all OSHA standards that apply to your company. (NOTE: Depending on your company, OSHA regulations may not require employers to have a SHMS. You should verify with OSHA whether or not this checklist is voluntary for your company.) According to OSHA, an effective SHMS should include four basic components: 1. A commitment from management and employees 2. Analysis onsite 3. Prevention of hazards 4. Training for all employees mAnAgement Commitment And emPloyee involvement The first component of an SHMS covers the commitment to safety and your company's safety plan. This commitment, which should come from the top down, includes the following activities: • Develop and communicate a safety and health policy to all employees. • Demonstrate management commitment by instilling accountability for safety and health, obeying safety rules, and reviewing accident reports. • Conduct regular safety and health meetings involving employees, managers, and supervisors. • Assign responsible person(s) to coordinate safety and health activities. • Integrate safety and health into business practices (e.g., purchases, contracts, design, and development). • Involve employees in safety and health-related activities (e.g., self-inspections, accident investigations, and developing safe practices). • Recognize employees for safe and healthful work practices. WorkSite AnAlySiS Analyzing your workplace must be done continuously to observe any current or potential hazards. Consider this checklist during your worksite analysis: • Evaluate all workplace activities and processes for hazards. • Reevaluate workplace activities when there are changes in: processes, materials, and machinery. • Conduct on-site inspections, identify hazards, and take corrective actions. • Provide a hazard reporting system for employees to report unsafe and unhealthful conditions. • Investigate all accidents and near misses to determine their root causes. Work It Safe No matter the size of your business, your coatings contracting firm should be in compliance with the standards set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). However, small businesses seem to have to work a little harder than big businesses to do so. Although they may be the same regulations, smaller businesses seem to have fewer resources to utilize. Therefore, CoatingsPro has gathered information regarding OSHA's Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) in one place to help. You have to start somewhere, after all! to ensure that a pre-job check list or form is readily accessible and easy to use. Perhaps you or others need some training on how to conduct the briefings. If your goal is to make each job i nju r y-f ree, you may need to work to understand t he common hazards associated with each task and how to HAzArd Prevention And Control Anything that can be done to control a hazard should be done. Therefore, at your work site, you should: • Eliminate and control workplace hazards (e.g., engineering controls, workstation design, and work practices). • Establish a preventive maintenance program. • Keep employees informed of safety and health activities and conditions. • Plan for emergencies (e.g., create an evacuation plan, train employees, and conduct fire drills). • Record and analyze occupational injuries and illnesses. trAining For emPloyeeS, SuPerviSorS, And mAnAgerS All employees must be trained to know how to handle current or potential on-site hazards. A supervisor might not be around when something happens so having everyone informed is very important. Consider the following checklist for training: • Provide training on specific safe work practices before an employee begins work. • Provide additional training for new work processes and when accidents and near misses occur. • Provide refresher training on a routine basis. SAFety SuCCeSS As OSHA states in their Small Business Handbook, "The key to the success of a safety and health plan is to see it as a part of your business operation and to see it reflected in your day-today operations." These components together make up the Four-Point Workplace Plan. But to begin implementation of your plan, you must start somewhere — and start now. For more information, including the online worksheet to help you construct your Safety and Health Management System, check out: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/smallbusiness/ small-business.html. And for up-to-date standards, please read OSHA's Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Standards are continuously changing, and it is your job to stay on top of your worksite safety. July 2013 g www.coatingspromag.com 25

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