Safety goals in the workplace can be implemented or refined at year’s end to ensure a safe start to the new year. Hear about five targets of safety growth.
Dan Clark says reviewing the current year and looking ahead to expected regulations are a couple ways to reach your safety goals. Communication, eliminating distractions and practicing for emergencies also increase the safety odds at work.
Finally, Dan reminds safety managers and owners to have reasonable, reachable goals.
TRANSCRIPT:
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intro music and effects
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Dan Clark: It’s that time! New year, new goals —and not just to eat better or go to the gym. Set goals for improving workplace safety. We’ll look at 5 Safety Goals For The New Year that apply to almost any workplace, regardless of the industry, in a moment.
Hi, I’m Dan Clark with The Safety Brief. We take on health and safety hazards in today’s demanding industrial and construction worksites, a service of Creative Safety Supply. Save 10 percent off your entire order at creativesafetysupply.com with coupon code BIG10.
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Let’s dive right into it: 5 Safety Goals For The New Year.
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1. IMPROVE ON THIS YEAR’S PERFORMANCE. Stop and assess what went well and not so well this year. Were there injuries or accidents and what caused them? Did any of these incidents have anything in common? What where this year’s goals and were they met? Use this year’s data to spotlight areas that need ratcheting up.
2. BE PREPARED FOR ONCOMING NEW OR UPDATED OSHA RULES. On the horizon, potential rules on:
— Silica
— Slips, trips and falls
— Eye and face protection
— Injury tracking.
Don’t forget updates to GHS labels and safety data sheets if you haven’t already. June 1, 2016 is the final deadline.
(1:25)
3. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION.
— Visual communication. Signs, labels, 5S and lean tools.
— Oral communication in training and meetings. Also in one-on-one interaction with employees and coworkers.
4. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS SO EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON THE JOB. Accidents related to cell phone use are increasing in vehicles and on foot. Create rules about when it’s OK to use technology and when it’s not. If you’ve already got rules, restate them and make sure they’re understood.
(1:58)
5. PRACTICE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. In 2015 we’ve discussed many kinds of emergencies: earthquakes, wildfires snowstorms. Other kinds of emergencies such as floods and active shooter situations have been in the news. If you don’t have written emergency procedures, create them then distribute them, post them or have a meeting to go over them. These can include evacuation or shelter-in-place info, information about meet-up points outside the facility and contacts for emergency services. Plan emergency drills and conduct them regularly.
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Here’s a tip: Remember that goals should be specific, measurable and achievable. This kind of goal is easier to track and keeps people more motivated than a vague, generic goal. If you select one of the five goals I’ve mentioned here, tailor it to your facility and figure out how you’ll measure it and who will be responsible.
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That’s all for this episode, 5 Safety Goals For The New Year. Join me again for more ways to stay safety compliant in today’s always-changing landscape of safety requirements. I’m Dan Clark of The Safety Brief, a service of Creative Safety Supply. Save 10 percent off your entire order at creativesafetysupply.com with coupon code BIG10.
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