Safety Insights From The Pros

03/07/07

These nine safety tips—gleaned from a recent safety conference in New England—come both from OSHA inspectors and safety managers in private industry.

1. When doing safety inspections, prepare to get dirty. Look underneath equipment, in the back of closets, etc. Carry a flashlight.

2. Always involve employees in the inspection. One way to do that is to ask, as you walk around, “Do you feel safe in your area?” Follow up on any concerns.

3. Correct hazards/problems immediately. And go to the source. If something is broken, ask, “How did it get broken?”

4. Remember: Safety hazards go way beyond things like broken glass, frayed wires, ruptured chemical containers and so forth. Other things to look for include poor lighting, inadequate guards or rails, poor air quality, and items stored improperly.

5. Understand that basic housekeeping problems cause a huge amount of safety problems. Redefine “clean” to include “safe.”

6. Keep in mind the adage, “A place for everything and everything in its place.”

7. If you use a prepackaged safety program, don’t complete it and then let it collect dust on the shelf. Your safety program is only worthwhile when it’s in action. Keep updating it.

8. Because most safety teams are top-heavy with management personnel, get lower-level people involved and rotate team members frequently to put fresh eyes on problems.

9. Post the dates of safety audits a month in advance. People will be thinking safety until then.