What Do I Really Need to Include – 02/07/2022

Safety E-QuickTips

U.S. Compliance Systems, Inc.

Monday Feb 7, 2022

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What Do I Really Need to Include?

Over the years we have provided safety programs to more than 30,000 clients. To this day, we hear one question more often than others.Do you know what that question is?

“There are items in our safety program that do not apply to the work we perform. Can they be removed from our Safety Program?”

Seems like a good question, right? It is a good question, but our answer might surprise you.

Before I give you our answer to that question, let’s look at what an employer’s responsibility is when it comes to protecting their employees from hazards in the workplace.

To understand the employer’s responsibility, we can go directly to OSHA, the regulatory agency responsible for workplace safety.

Although getting an answer to a workplace safety requirement form OSHA is not usually easy, OSHA has summed it up in just one sentence.

The OSHA General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, requires that each employer furnish to each of its employees a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

Now, my question to you is, do you see anywhere in there that says you only have to protect your employees from hazards created from the work your company performs?

I didn’t think so.

So, now that I’ve given you OSHA’s requirements for protecting workers from hazards in the workplace, here is the answer we give to those wanting to remove items from their safety programs.

We always recommend that the employer consider including information in their safety programs that includes potential exposure from others they may be working with or around.

Consider your safety program as a reference manual that provides the employer and their employees the necessary information to protect employees from hazards in the workplace.

And if you’re concerned about having to provide employees training on everything in your safety program, remember this.

OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires that each employer furnish to each of its employees a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

So, if there is no exposure, employees do not have to be trained on items covered in your safety program that they are not being exposed to.

Anyway, what good is a reference manual if you can’t find what you need, when you need it?

Next week I will provide some examples and ideas that you might find helpful when developing or updating your company safety program.

Employee QuickTip

Workplace safety only works when everyone understands their responsibility and yours is to always do your best to work in a safe manner.

Employer/Management QuickTip

Don’t forget!

If you have 11 or more employees at any time during the previous calendar year and are not included as one of OSHA’s low-hazard industries, you will need to complete the OSHA 300 Log and complete the 300A for posting.

For more information regarding OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, go to: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/

Have you received your first Safety E-QuickTip or just want to look at 500+ past issues? Check out our Safety E-QuickTips Archive Page on our website.

If you know of someone or a company that might benefit from receiving Safety E-QuickTips, please take a moment to share this with them so they can sign-up today.

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