Statistics Show… – 2/21/2021

Safety E-QuickTips

U.S. Compliance Systems, Inc.

Monday February 22, 2021

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Statistics Show…

Here’s a question.

Why is it when you walk through a shop or a jobsite you see power tools and machinery with their safety guards removed or tied back?

I’m sure you have already started to list off why this is the case for those tools and machinery that you use throughout your workday, but just to make sure we’re all on the same page here are several I have heard over the years.

• They get in the way and don’t allow me to do my work.
• When performing maintenance, it’s a hassle removing and replacing them all the time.
• Safety guards slow me down.
• Using the guards is more dangerous than working without them.
• I’ve been doing this for years and I don’t need guards to keep me safe.
• They come loose all the time or break, and I don’t have time to keep fixing them.
• This machinery is so old it didn’t come with any guards.

I could list more, but I won’t. I will leave you with this instead.

Safety guards are not only required by OSHA, statistics show that when guards are in place, they prevent accidents. That circular saw guard that you tied back to make those cuts a little easier or that guard you decided not to put back on after doing some maintenance on a piece of equipment are there for a purpose – to protect you.

Employee QuickTip

Don’t shortcut safety by removing or working without proper safety guards in place. At times they may seem like an inconvenience, but just think how inconvenient it might be to lose a thumb or finger.

Employer/Management QuickTip

If you have machinery from years past that does not have the required guards in place that meet OSHA standards, you will be cited if OSHA visits your site. But don’t worry . . . you’ll find everything you need online to retrofit any piece of machinery.

DON’T FORGET: It’s that time of year when many employers with more than 10 employees are required to complete OSHA 300 Logs and some are required to electronically submit their records.

Get a free Fillable PDF 300 Log with instructions and Excel OSHA 300 Log templates. The 2020-OSHA300 Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses must be posted at your workplace from February 1^st through April 30^th, 2021. If you are required to electronically file your 2020-300A report, the information must be uploaded by March 2^nd, 2021. 

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Thanks for Reading and Please – Stay Healthy and Work Safe.