Just Google It – 10/18/2021
Safety E-QuickTips
U.S. Compliance Systems, Inc.
Monday Oct 18, 2021
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Just Google It
Over the years I’ve talked about the 4 Steps to implementing and maintaining workplace safety. The way I’ve gone about it has always been the same – list the 4 Steps and describe them in detail.
This time we’re going to look at them a little different.
We’ll start by renaming the 4 Steps.
- 1.Establish safety policies and procedures – Developing a Safety Resource Guide, Company Safety Program
- 2.Effectively communicate your policies and procedures on safety – Educate Employees to prevent exposure to workplace hazards
- 3.Perform regular and frequent worksite safety inspections – Find potential hazards
- 4.Enforce safety with your employees – Fix and eliminate hazards to prevent future exposure
You may be thinking right now, “What’s the big deal? Renaming the 4 Steps doesn’t change anything,” right?
Well, there is no question the 4 Steps are still the 4 Steps. But sometimes it’s how you look at them that determines whether you move forward or not.
Let’s look at the 1st Step, developing a safety resource guide and maybe you’ll see what I mean.
Real safety is all about preventing workplace accidents; it’s not about a company’s safety policies and procedures.
So, wouldn’t developing a safety resource guide that provides information about potential hazards in the workplace and how the company and their employees will prevent exposure to those hazards be a better way to refer to your company safety program?
Who wants to hear about company safety policies and procedures anyway? But we can all relate to a safety resource guide because Google has done a great job of showing us the value of a resource center.
Is there anyone reading right now that has not used Google as a resource for information?
I didn’t think so.
The great thing about a safety resource guide is that, like Google, you can go back to it time and time again to learn more and better understand what you need to do to protect yourself and those working with you.
And yes, a safety resource guide (Safety Program, Plan or Manual) can contain company policies and procedures on safety, but they are just a part of what it takes to keep employees safe from workplace hazards.
Employees and management also need to understand:
- ·Potential workplace hazards
- ·How employees may be exposed to workplace hazards
- ·When exposure might take place
- ·What equipment can be used to protect employees from hazards
- ·When protective equipment might be necessary
- ·And it may even be a resource that reminds you of why workplace safety is important (something you might forget during your busy workday)
Workplace safety is all about you, the manager, employee and even the owner and it’s simple. Policies and procedures don’t even come close to meeting all your needs when it comes to workplace safety.
Employee QuickTip
It is estimated that the average person does between 3 and 4 Google searches a day. When was the last time you asked to look at your company’s safety program, or as I would like to call it Safety Reference Guide?
The information it contains might even be more important than your next Google search.
Employer/Management QuickTip
As you probably already know, most of us don’t want to hear about company policies and procedures, but we do like to learn more. Otherwise why would the average person perform 3 to 4 Google searches a day?
You might want to consider developing your Company Safety Program and then referencing to it as your Company Safety Resource Guide. Maybe your company can get to where everyone uses it like Google – or at least use it on a more regular basis.
I wanted to get in one more reminder . . .
October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, and we are providing our Noise Exposure/Hearing Conservation Online Training for FREE.
To participate, employees only need to be enrolled in the Noise Exposure/Hearing Conservation Training between October 1-31st, 2021. There is no limit to how many employees you can enroll in the course for free.
Go to uscompliancesystems.com and login into your account, click on the Online Training System and sign your employees up. If you are not a client, sign-up for your free Online Training Account and start enrolling your employees in the free course.
Provide your employees the information they need this month to help protect their hearing for the future.
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Thanks for Reading and Please – Stay Healthy and Work Safe.
