Workplace Safety Checklist

Workplace accidents cause multiple problems: Employees get hurt. Your company's productivity suffers. There's the threat of third–party lawsuits or an OSHA investigation.

To ensure greater on–the–job safety and OSHA compliance, your company should follow this simple workplace safety checklist:

  1. Implement a written health and safety program that has been endorsed by upper management.
  2. Provide documented safety programs appropriate for your industry. For example, a construction company might need a demolition plan, whereas a general industry company might need an emergency action plan.
  3. Require industry–appropriate safety training for all employees and document when it’s taken place. During an OSHA inspection, investigators interview employees to verify that they have been adequately trained. Clear and written documentation is your proof that they have.
  4. Implement a written disciplinary program that includes progressive punishment for employees who violate health and safety rules. It shows that your company is serious about workplace safety and won't tolerate unsafe actions.
  5. Properly maintain an OSHA 300 log. During an inspection, OSHA investigators can ask to review three years of your company’s OSHA 300 logs. It's important that you know what is recordable and what is not. (This information also comes in handy when your company bids for work, since potential clients often want to know your DART and lost time rates.)
  6. Conduct regular inspections to identify and correct potential hazards - and document them.

Doing the above, your company can improve workplace safety and should fare well during an OSHA inspection.

 

TriSure Provides Safety Consulting

At TriSure, we help clients strengthen their corporate safety programs — which, in turn, can reduce the cost of workers’ compensation and property and casualty insurance. TriSure proudly offers the expertise of Tom Hayes, former bureau chief of compliance with the N.C. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division’s Eastern region for 10 years.

Hayes helps TriSure clients with:

  • Workplace safety needs assessment and program development
  • OSHA inspections and audits
  • Accident and near–accident investigations
  • Site–specific situation evaluation and advice
  • Support during OSHA compliance inspections, informal conferences and contested cases

For more information about our safety and health consulting services, please contact your TriSure representative by phone or email.