Category: Special Topics in Safety Management

Safety is a process, and as such, needs to be managed. This section offers resources to create a viable safety program, sell it to senior management, train supervisors and employees in using it, and then track and report your progress. Look also for ways to advance your own skills in these areas, both for your current job, and those that follow.

OSHA Recordkeeping Lapses: Why Do They Happen; What Should You Do?

When lapses in OSHA recordkeeping occur, the fault usually is with line managers. Here’s why it happens and how to keep them involved. Yesterday’s Advisor began a discussion of OSHA recordkeeping, starting with the 300 Log program, the basic form that requires reporting all workplace or workplace-related injuries and illnesses that cross OSHA’s threshold. The […]

Successful Safety Training: Preparation Is the Key

In celebration of this extra day of the year, our Safety Training Tips editor provides an extra helping of training advice, along with the ingredient that makes it all work. Successful safety training that gives you a good ROI in terms of fewer accidents, better compliance, and lower costs doesn’t just happen. You have to […]

Safety Training for Spanish-Speaking Workers: More Tips

In our previous article, we defined the linguistic and cultural divide. Today, more ideas to bridge it. Yesterday’s Advisor began a discussion of safety training for Spanish-speaking employees with limited or no knowledge of English. This is an increasingly familiar situation as the Hispanic component of American business grows at 36 times the rate of […]

For Safety Commitment, Use a Safety Committee

Organizations with safety committees often have better accident records, lower operating costs, fewer lost workdays, and lower workers’ comp claims. This Friday, our Safety Training Tips columnist focuses on what you need to know about them. (See also the notice of a special April 1 BLR audio conference on committees at the end of the […]

‘Performance Safety’: Is It a Better Approach?

To prevent workplace injuries, change worker behavior, say many safety experts. But one safety consultant, Randy DeVaul, suggests a three times wider approach. Yesterday’s Advisor began an exploration of Randy DeVaul’s concept of “Performance Safety.” DeVaul, a Westfield, NewYork-based safety consultant who also produces BLR safety audio conferences, developed his idea partially in response to […]

OSHA Compliance: Does it INTERFERE With Safety?

OSHA spends millions to promote safety. But some say their efforts produce just the opposite by diverting resources to compliance that could be used in injury prevention. Which side of the controversy are you on? OSHA is one of Washington’s most established agencies, with an extensive program, a half-billion dollar budget, and 2,000 employees, all […]

Forklift Safety: What You MUST Teach, and the Best Way to Teach It

Both OSHA and best practices mandate what a forklift operator must know. And effective training techniques mandate the best way to teach it … in action. Yesterday’s Advisor began a discussion about forklift safety and operator training. We noted that while OSHA has a comprehensive standard on forklift training, the regulation includes no provision for […]

Are Your Forklift Trainers Up to the Job?

OSHA has strict standards for forklift driver training but says nothing about certifying that the trainers know what they’re doing. How good is the quality of your forklift training program? After you read this, you might just wonder. The story is a tragic one, made more so by the victim’s youth. Kevin Hrcka, just 13, […]

Healthcare Workers: What’s Being Done to Protect Their Health?

The nation’s 13.5 million healthcare workers look out for us, but what’s being done to protect them? Here are some ideas and strategies. In this election year, we’re hearing about “health care” almost as much as about ”change.” But while the candidates are pushing plans to improve things for patients, perhaps they should spend some […]

Designing a Safety Metrics Program: Steps to Take

Choosing the measurements is only one step in designing a safety metrics program. Here are some of the others. Yesterday’s Advisor began a discussion of safety metrics. We noted that the traditional way of tracking safety, the OSHA 300 Log, was among the least effective paths to safety. The reason: It’s a trailing indicator, a […]