Employers are responsible for providing a safe
and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure the
safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards;
providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and
encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and
health.
About this
Handbook
This handbook is provided to
owners, proprietors and managers of small businesses by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency of the U.S. Department
of Labor. For additional copies of this publication, write to the U.S.
Government Printing Office, (GPO), Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop
SDE, 732 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC 20401, or call the OSHA
Publications Office at (202) 693-1888, or fax (202) 693-2498 for ordering
information. Please note that the entire text of the Small Business
Handbook is available on OSHA’s website [PDF
- 260 KB].
The handbook should help small business employers meet
the legal requirements imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970 (the Act), and achieve an in-compliance status before an OSHA
inspection. An excellent resource to accompany this information is OSHA’s
Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines, (54 Federal Register
3904-3916, January 26, 1989), also available on OSHA’s
website.
This handbook is not a legal interpretation of the
provisions of the Act and does not place any additional requirements on
employers or employees. Employers cannot be cited under the General Duty
Clause in Section 5(a)(1) of the Act for failure to follow recommendations
in this handbook.
The materials in this handbook are based upon
Federal OSHA standards and other requirements in effect at the time of
publication and upon generally accepted principles and activities within
the job safety and health field. They should be useful to small business
owners or managers and can be adapted easily to individual
establishments.
It is important to point out that 24 states, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands operate their own OSHA-approved safety and
health programs under Section 18 of the Act. While the programs in these
State Plan States may differ in some respects from Federal OSHA, this
handbook can be used by employers in any state because the standards
imposed by State Plan States must be at least as effective as Federal OSHA
standards. A list of states that operate their own safety and health
programs can be found on OSHA’s website.
Material in this
publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced, fully or
partially, without permission. Source credit is requested but not
required.
This information will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request by voice phone (202) 693-1999 or
teletypewriter (TTY) (877) 889-5627.
Please Note: The small
business employer seeking information on procurement or contracting with
the Department of Labor or OSHA should contact the Department of Labor’s
Office of Small Business Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room
C-2318, Washington, DC 20210.
Contents
PREFACE
Office
of Small Business Assistance
Cooperative
Programs
State
Plans
Office
of Training and Education
OSHA’s
Website
Safety
and Health Add Value
INTRODUCTION:
The Value of a Safety and Health Management System
A
Profit and Loss Statement
Developing
a Profitable Strategy for Handling Occupational Safety and
Health
A
FOUR-POINT WORKPLACE PROGRAM: The Basis of a Plan
Using
the Four-Point Program
MANAGEMENT
COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT
WORKSITE
ANALYSIS
HAZARD
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
TRAINING
FOR EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS
Documenting
Your Activities
Safety
and Health Recordkeeping
INJURY/ILLNESS
RECORDS
EXPOSURE
RECORDS AND OTHERS
STARTING
A SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: Creating a Plan
Decide
to Start Now
Designating
Responsibility
Ask
for Help
Organize
the Workplace
Start
Gathering Specific Facts About Your Situation
Establish
a Four-Point Safety and Health Program
Develop
and Implement Your Action Plan
SELF-INSPECTION
Self-Inspection
Scope
Self-Inspection
Checklists
EMPLOYER
POSTING
RECORDKEEPING
SAFETY
AND HEALTH PROGRAM
MEDICAL
SERVICES AND FIRST AID
FIRE
PROTECTION
PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
GENERAL
WORK ENVIRONMENT
WALKWAYS
FLOOR
AND WALL OPENINGS
STAIRS
AND STAIRWAYS
ELEVATED
SURFACES
EXITING
OR EGRESS - EVACUATION
EXIT
DOORS
PORTABLE
LADDERS
HAND
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
PORTABLE
(POWER OPERATED) TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
ABRASIVE
WHEEL EQUIPMENT GRINDERS
POWER-ACTUATED
TOOLS
MACHINE
GUARDING
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
PROCEDURES
WELDING,
CUTTING AND BRAZING
COMPRESSORS
AND COMPRESSED AIR
COMPRESSORS/AIR
RECEIVERS
COMPRESSED
GAS CYLINDERS
HOIST
AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT
INDUSTRIAL
TRUCKS - FORKLIFTS
SPRAYING
OPERATIONS
ENTERING
CONFINED SPACES
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONTROLS
FLAMMABLE
AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS
HAZARDOUS
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCES COMMUNICATION
ELECTRICAL
NOISE
FUELING
IDENTIFICATION
OF PIPING SYSTEMS
MATERIALS
HANDLING
TRANSPORTING
EMPLOYEES AND MATERIALS
CONTROL
OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES BY VENTILATION
SANITIZING
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
TIRE
INFLATION
ASSISTANCE
IN SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
OSHA
Assistance
OSHA’S
OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
ON-SITE
CONSULTATION
OTHER
COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS
VOLUNTARY
PROTECTION PROGRAMS (VPP)
OSHA
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (OSPP)
OSHA
ALLIANCE PROGRAM
States
with Approved Plans
OSHA
Publications
Other
Sources of Assistance
VOLUNTARY
PROTECTION PROGRAMS PARTICIPANTS’ ASSOCIATION (VPPPA)
SMALL
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
NATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH)
WORKERS’
COMPENSATION CARRIERS AND OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES
TRADE
ASSOCIATIONS AND EMPLOYER GROUPS
TRADE
UNIONS AND EMPLOYEE GROUPS
THE
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL AND LOCAL CHAPTERS
PROFESSIONAL
ASSOCIATIONS
SPECIFIC
MEDICAL CONSULTATION
YOUR
LOCAL LIBRARY
FINANCING
WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENT
ADDITIONAL
WEB PAGES OF INTEREST TO SMALL BUSINESSES
Appendix
A: Overall Action Plan Worksheet
Appendix
B: Model Policy Statements
Appendix
C: Codes of Safe Practices
Appendix
D: OSHA Job Safety and Health Standards, Regulations and
Requirements
Appendix
E: Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
(SBREFA)
OSHA
Regional Offices
OSHA’s
Non-Retaliation Policy
PREFACE
American
employers and workers want safe and healthful places in which to work.
They want everyone on the job to go home whole and healthy each day.
Determined to make that dream possible, OSHA is committed to assuring – so
far as possible – that every working man and woman in the nation has safe
and healthful working conditions. OSHA believes that providing workers
with a safe workplace is central to their ability to enjoy health,
security and the opportunity to achieve the American dream.
OSHA
seeks to cut unnecessary rules, regulations and red tape. It is
eliminating thousands of pages of outdated regulations and continues to
rewrite standards in plain English. OSHA is paring down its regulatory
agenda so that it more accurately reflects realistic goals that best serve
the needs of American employers and employees.
Confronted by the
realities and demands to keep pace with the workforce and problems of the
future, OSHA is developing new strategies to reduce occupational
fatalities, injuries and illnesses. Coupled with strong, effective and
fair enforcement, OSHA strives to provide improved outreach, education and
compliance assistance to America’s employers and
employees.
Office of
Small Business Assistance
OSHA wants
to provide quality service to our small business customers. In October
2002, OSHA created the Office of Small Business Assistance to provide
small business direction, to facilitate information sharing and to help in
finding and achieving regulatory compliance. The office also works to
educate small businesses on using up-to-date tools and materials, and
facilitates opportunities to comment on OSHA’s regulatory agenda. The
Office of Small Business Assistance maintains OSHA’s specialized small
business web pages found on OSHA’s
website.
The Office of Small Business Assistance can be
contacted by telephone at (202) 693-2220 or by writing to: Director,
Office of Small Business Assistance, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room
N-3700, Washington, DC 20210.
Cooperative Programs
Years of experience show us that voluntary collaborative
relationships between OSHA, the private sector and other government
entities lead to improved safety and health. As a result, OSHA continues
to expand its cooperative programs which currently include the free and
confidential Consultation Program, the Voluntary Protection Programs, the
Strategic Partnership Program and OSHA’s newest addition, Alliances. For a
more detailed description of each of these programs, please see pages 40-
42.
Small businesses are encouraged to investigate the full array
of cooperative programs offered by OSHA. Participation can be on an
individual company basis or through an industry association. Detailed
information on each program is also available on OSHA’s website, by contacting any OSHA
office, or by calling (800) 321-OSHA.
State Plans
OSHA
has important partnerships with the 24 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands that operate their own OSHA-approved safety and health programs.
State workplace safety and health programs frequently lead the way in
developing innovative approaches to making America’s workplaces safer and
healthier.
States that operate their own worker safety and health
plans must provide worker protection that is “at least as effective as”
the Federal program. However, because their standards and other procedures
may vary, businesses should become familiar with their state regulations
and agencies. See OSHA’s website for a list of State Plan
States.
Office of
Training and Education
OSHA’s Office
of Training and Education provides training and instruction in all facets
of occupational safety and health. OSHA’s Training Institute, located in
Arlington Heights, IL, provides training for OSHA compliance safety and
health officers as well as for the general public and safety and health
staff from other Federal agencies. In addition to OSHA’s Training
Institute, there are 32 additional education sites located throughout the
country. These OSHA education centers operate in conjunction with
universities, colleges and learning centers to conduct OSHA courses for
the private sector and other Federal agencies, making safety and health
training and education more accessible to those who need it. There are
tuition fees for private sector students. For more information about
OSHA’s Training Institute, OSHA’s education centers, or to obtain training
catalogs with course schedules, write the OSHA Training Institute, 2020
South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 or call (847)
297-4810. The information is also fully accessible on the Internet at OSHA’s
website.
OSHA’s
Website
OSHA has made every effort
to continuously expand and improve its website. OSHA’s extensive website
provides employers and employees with practical, easy-to-understand and
up-to-date guidance on regulations, compliance assistance and learning how
to identify and control hazards. Each OSHA cooperative program has
individual web pages describing program elements and highlighting
successes of the participants. Several pages are devoted to small
business, technical links, news items, publication lists and an inventory
of compliance assistance tools, including expert advisors and e-tools.
E-tools are “stand-alone” interactive, web-based training tools on
occupational safety and health topics. Regulations, standards, directives
and interpretations relating to OSHA can be found as well. There is a
Spanish version of the OSHA website, and many posters and some
publications are also available in Spanish.
OSHA’s web pages
include MyOSHA, which allows users to create their own personalized OSHA
web page with customized content and links. Quick Start is another tool on
OSHA’s Compliance Assistance web page that allows the user to identify
many of the major OSHA requirements and guidance materials that apply to
their individual workplaces or industry sectors.
Through its
website, OSHA invites citizens to email questions that can be routed to
appropriate agency officials for response. Any communication conducted via
the “Contact Us” link on the OSHA website is considered an informational
exchange rather than an official communication with the Department of
Labor. For an official response to a question or concern, inquiries should
be submitted in writing.
If you would like to receive regular
updates from OSHA about new programs, tools, best practices and other
useful information, subscribe to the agency’s e-news memo, QuickTakes.
QuickTakes is issued twice monthly to subscribers and is always available
online. You can subscribe to OSHA’s QuickTakes at OSHA’s
website.
Safety
and Health Add Value
Addressing
safety and health issues in the workplace saves the employer money and
adds value to the business. Recent estimates place the business costs
associated with occupational injuries at close to $170
billion–expenditures that come straight out of company
profits.
When workers stay whole and healthy, the direct
cost-savings to businesses include:
- lower workers’ compensation insurance costs;
- reduced medical expenditures;
- smaller expenditures for return-to-work programs;
- fewer faulty products;
- lower costs for job accommodations for
- injured workers;
- less money spent for overtime benefits.
Safety and health also make big reductions in indirect
costs, due to:
- increased productivity;
- higher quality products;
- increased morale;
- better labor/management relations;
- reduced turnover;
- better use of human resources.
Employees and their families benefit from safety and health
because:
- their incomes are protected;
- their family lives are not hindered by injury;
- their stress is not increased.
Simply
put, protecting people on the job is in everyone’s best interest–our
economy, our communities, our fellow workers and our families. Safety and
health add value to businesses, workplaces and lives.
INTRODUCTION: The Value of a Safety and
Health Management System
A Profit and Loss
Statement
As a small business owner,
you are, by nature, a risk taker. You wager your business acumen against
larger, perhaps more heavily financed corporate groups and other
free-spirited, self-employed individuals like yourself. There is
excitement and challenge in such a venture, but to succeed you need good
management information, an ability to be a good manager of people and the
intelligence and inner strength to make the right
decisions.
Thousands of workers die each year and many, many more
suffer injury or illness from conditions at work. But how often does an
owner or manager like you actually see or even hear about work-related
deaths, serious injuries or illnesses in the businesses
with which you
are familiar? How often has your business actually sustained this type of
loss?
In most small businesses, the answer is rarely. For this
reason, many owners or managers do not understand why there is controversy
about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), job safety
and health standards, inspections, citations, etc.
But others have
learned why. Unfortunately, they have experienced a loss. These
owner/managers will tell you that it is too late to do anything once a
serious accident happens. They have learned that prevention is the only real
way to avoid this loss.
Reducing losses is a goal that you as an
owner or manager share with us in OSHA. While we may see this goal in a
slightly different light, it remains a common bond.
We have learned
from small employers, like you, that you place a high value on the
well-being of your employees. Like many small businesses, you may employ
family members and personal acquaintances. And, if you don’t know your
employees
before they are hired, then chances are that the very size of
your workplace will promote the closeness and concern for one another that
small businesses value.
Assuming that you are committed to safe and
healthful work practices, OSHA wants to work with you to prevent all
losses. We believe that, when you make job safety and health a real part
of your everyday operations, you will not lose in the long run. Investing
in safety and health activity now will better enable you to avoid possible
losses in the future.
Developing a Profitable Strategy for Handling
Occupational Safety and Health
Nobody wants accidents to happen in his or her business. A
serious fire, a permanent injury, or the death of an employee or owner can
cause the loss of profit or even an entire business. To prevent such
losses, you don’t have to turn your business upside down. You may not have
to spend a lot of money, either. You do need to use good business sense
and apply recognized prevention principles.
There are reasons why
accidents happen. Something goes wrong somewhere. It may take some
thought, and maybe the help of friends or other trained people, to figure
out what went
wrong, but an accident always has a cause–a reason why. Once you know why
an accident happened, it is possible to prevent future incidents. You need
some basic facts and perhaps some help from others who already know some
of the answers. You also need a plan–a plan to prevent
accidents.
Not all dangers at your worksite depend on an accident
to cause harm, of course. Worker exposure to toxic chemicals or harmful
levels of noise or radiation may happen in conjunction with routine work as well as by
accident. You may not realize the extent of the exposure or harm that you
and your employees face. The effect may not be immediate. You need a plan
that includes prevention of these health hazard exposures and accidents.
You need a safety and health management system.
It is not difficult
to develop such a plan. Basically, your plan should address the types of
accidents and health hazard exposures that could happen in your workplace.
Because each workplace is different, your program should address your
specific needs and requirements.
There are four basic elements to
all good safety and health programs. These are as
follows:
1. Management Commitment
and Employee Involvement. The manager or
management team leads the way, by setting policy, assigning and supporting
responsibility, setting an example and involving
employees.
2.Worksite
Analysis. The worksite is continually analyzed
to identify all existing and potential hazards.
3. Hazard Prevention and Control. Methods to prevent or control existing or potential hazards
are put in place and maintained.
4.Training for Employees, Supervisors and
Managers. Managers, supervisors and employees
are trained to understand and deal with worksite
hazards.
Regardless of the size of your business, you should use
each of these elements to prevent workplace accidents and possible
injuries and illnesses.
Developing a workplace program following
these four points is a key step in protecting you and your workers’ safety
and health. If you already have a program, reviewing it in relation to
these elements should help you improve what you have.
Following
this four-point approach to safety and health in your business may also
improve efficiency. It may help you reduce insurance claims and other
costs. While having a safety and health plan based on these four elements
does not guarantee compliance with OSHA standards, the approach will help
you toward full compliance and beyond.
It will certainly give you a
way to express and document your good faith and commitment to protecting
your workers’ health and safety.
This approach usually does not
involve large costs. Developing a health and safety protection plan does
not have to be expensive and generally does not require additional
employees, especially in smaller businesses. Safety and health can be
integrated into your other business functions with modest effort on your
part.
The key to the success of a safety and
health plan is to see it as a part of your business operation and to see
it reflected in your day-to-day operations. As you implement the
plan and incorporate it into your business culture, safety and health
awareness will become second nature to you and your employees.
The
next section provides short descriptions and illustrations of each
element. Since most employers, like you, are pressed for time, these
descriptions will assist you in getting started on your own
approach.
A
FOUR-POINT WORKPLACE PROGRAM: The Basis of a Plan
The Four-Point Workplace Program described here is based
upon the Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines issued by
OSHA in January 1989. (For a free copy of the guidelines, go to OSHA’s website,
write to OSHA Publications, U.S. Department of Labor, P.O. Box 37535,
Washington, DC 200013-7535, or call (202) 693-1888.) Although voluntary,
these guidelines represent OSHA’s policy on what every worksite should
have in place to protect workers from occupational hazards. The guidelines
are based heavily on OSHA’s experience with its Voluntary Protection
Programs (VPP), which recognize excellence in workplace safety and health
management. For more information on these guidelines and OSHA’s
cooperative programs, contact OSHA’s Office of Small Business Assistance,
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-3700,
Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-2220.
Using the Four-Point Program
As you review this publication, we encourage you to use the
Action Plan Worksheet in Appendix A to jot down the things you want to do
to make your workplace safe for your employees. Noting those actions as
you go along will make it easier to assemble the total plan you
need.
MANAGEMENT
COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT
As the owner or manager of a small business, your attitude
toward job safety and health will be reflected by your employees. If you
are not interested in preventing employee injury and illness, your
employees will probably not give safety and health much thought either.
Therefore, it is essential that you demonstrate at all times your
personal concern for employee safety and health, and the priority you
place on them in your workplace. Your policy must be clear. Only you can
show its importance through your own actions.
You can demonstrate
the depth of your commitment by involving your employees in planning and
carrying out your efforts. If you seriously involve your employees in
identifying and resolving safety and health problems, they will bring
their unique insights and energy to achieving the goals and objectives of
your program. The men and women who work for you are among the most
valuable assets you have. Their safety, health and goodwill are essential
to the success of your business. Having them cooperate with you in
protecting their safety and health not only helps to keep them healthy–it
makes your job easier.
Here are some actions to
consider:
- Post your policy on worker safety and health next to the OSHA
Workplace Poster where all employees can see it. (See Appendix B, Model
Policy Statements.)
- Hold a meeting with all employees to communicate your safety and
health policy, and discuss your objectives for safety and
health.
- Make sure that your support is visible by getting personally
involved in the activities that are part of your safety and health
program. For example, personally review all inspection and accident
reports and ensure that follow-up occurs when needed.
- Ensure that you, your managers and your supervisors follow all
safety requirements that apply to all employees, even if you are only in
an area briefly. If, for instance, you require a hard hat, safety
glasses and/or safety shoes in an area, wear them yourself when you are
in that area.
- Take advantage of your employees’ specialized knowledge and
encourage them to buy into the program by having them make inspections,
conduct safety training, or investigate accidents.
- Make clear assignments of responsibility for every part of your
safety and health program, and make sure everyone understands them. The
more people who are involved, the better. A good rule of thumb is to
assign safety and health responsibilities in the same way you assign
production responsibilities. Make it a special part of everyone’s job to
work safely.
- Give those with safety and health responsibility enough people,
time, training, money and authority to get the job done.
- Don’t forget your safety and health program after you make
assignments; make sure the job gets done. Recognize and reward those who
do well and correct those who don’t.
- At least once a year, review what you have accomplished in meeting
your objectives and re-evaluate whether you need new objectives or
program revisions.
- Institute an accountability system where all personnel will be held
accountable for not following work rules designed to promote workplace
safety and health.
WORKSITE ANALYSIS
It is your responsibility to know what items or processes
that helps you make sure that you know what you need to keep your workers
safe. For help in getting started with these processes, you can call on
your state on-site Consultation Program and have an experienced health and
safety professional visit your workplace for free and confidentially.
Locations for each state are listed on OSHA’s website. Also, OSHA’s
booklet, Job Hazard Analysis, may be helpful. (See OSHA Publications at
page 42 for ordering information.)
Here are some actions to
consider:
- Request a consultation visit from your state on-site Consultation
Program covering both safety and health to get a full survey of the
hazards that exist in your workplace and those that could develop. You
can also contract for such services from expert private consultants if
you prefer.
- Establish a way to get professional advice when you make changes to
procedures or equipment, to ensure that the changes are not introducing
new hazards into your workplace. Find ways to keep current on newly
recognized hazards in your industry.
- Periodically review with employees each job, analyzing it
step-by-step to see if there are any hidden hazards in the equipment or
procedures.
- Set up a self-inspection system to check your hazard controls and
evaluate any new hazards. The checklists (at pages 18-39) provide a
starting point. Your state consultant can assist you in establishing an
effective system.
- Make sure your employees feel comfortable in alerting you or another
member of management when they see things that look dangerous or out of
place.
- Learn how to conduct a thorough investigation when things go wrong.
This will help you develop ways to prevent recurrences. Extensive
information can be found on OSHA’s website under “Accident
Investigation” in the index.
- Review several years of injury or illness records to identify
patterns that can help you devise strategies to improve your safety and
health program. Periodically review several months of experience to
determine if any new patterns are developing.
HAZARD PREVENTION AND
CONTROL
Once you have identified
your existing and potential hazards, you are ready to implement the
systems that prevent or control those hazards. Your state Consultation
Program can help you do this. Whenever possible, hazards should be
eliminated. Sometimes that can be done through substitution of a less
toxic material or engineering controls. When you cannot eliminate hazards,
systems should be established to control them.
Here are some
actions to consider:
- Set up safe work procedures based on an analysis of the hazards in
your workplace and ensure that employees understand and follow them. It
is a good idea to involve employees in the analysis that results in
those procedures. (See Appendix C, Codes of Safe
Practices.)
- Be ready to enforce the rules for safe work procedures. Ask your
employees to help you establish a disciplinary system that will be fair
and understood by everyone.
- Where necessary, ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is
used and that your employees know why they need it, how to use it and
how to maintain it.
- Provide for regular equipment maintenance to prevent breakdowns that
can create hazards. Ensure that preventive and regular maintenance are
tracked to completion.
- Plan for emergencies, including fire and natural disasters. Conduct
frequent drills to ensure that all employees know what to do under
stressful conditions.
- Ask your state consultant to help develop a medical program that
fits your worksite. Involve nearby doctors and emergency facilities by
inviting them to visit your workplace and help you plan the best way to
avoid injuries and illness during emergency situations.
- Ensure the ready availability of medical personnel for advice and
consultation on matters of employee health. This does
not mean that you must provide health care, but you must be
prepared to deal with medical emergencies or health problems connected
to your workplace
To fulfill the above
requirements, consider the following:
- Develop an emergency medical procedure to handle injuries, transport
ill or injured workers and notify medical facilities. Posting emergency
numbers is a good idea.
- Survey the medical facilities near your place of business and make
arrangements for them to handle routine and emergency cases. Cooperative
agreements may be possible with nearby larger workplaces that have
on-site medical personnel and/or facilities.
- Ensure that your procedure for reporting injuries and illnesses is
understood by all employees.
- Perform routine walkthroughs of the worksite to identify hazards and
to track identified hazards until they are corrected.
- If your business is remote from medical facilities, you are required to ensure that adequately trained personnel
are available to render first aid. First aid supplies must be readily
available for emergency use. Arrangements for this training can be made
through your local Red Cross chapter, your insurance carrier, your local
safety council, and others.
- Check battery charging stations, maintenance operations,
laboratories, heating and ventilating operations and any corrosive
materials areas to make sure the required
eye-wash facilities and showers are operational.
- Consider retaining a local doctor or an occupational health nurse on
a part-time or as-needed basis for advice on medical and first aid
planning.
TRAINING FOR
EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS
An effective accident prevention program requires proper job
performance from everyone in the workplace.
As an owner or
manager, you must ensure that all employees know about the materials and
equipment they work with, known hazards and how to control the hazards.
Each employee needs to know that:
- no employee is expected to undertake a job until he or she has
received job instructions on how to do it properly and is authorized to
perform that job. Also,
- no employee should undertake a job that appears
unsafe.
You may be able to combine safety
and health training with other training, depending upon the types of
hazards in your workplace.
Here are some actions to
consider:
- Ask your state consultant to recommend training for your worksite.
The consultant may be able to conduct training while he or she is
there.
- Make sure you have trained your employees on every potential hazard
that they could be exposed to and how to protect themselves. Then verify
that they really understand what you taught them.
- Pay particular attention to your new employees and to employees who
are moving to new jobs. Because they are learning new operations, they
are more likely to get hurt.
- Train your supervisors to understand all the hazards faced by the
employees and how to reinforce training with quick reminders and
refreshers, or with disciplinary action if necessary.
- Make sure that your top management staff understand their safety and
health responsibilities and how to hold subordinate supervisory
employees accountable for theirs.
Documenting Your Activities
Document your activities in all elements of the Four-Point
Workplace Program. Essential records, including those legally required for
workers’ compensation, insurance audits and government inspections must be
maintained as long as the actual need exists or as required by law.
Keeping records of your activities, such as policy statements, training
sessions, safety and health meetings, information distributed to
employees, and medical arrangements made, is greatly encouraged.
Maintaining essential records also will demonstrate sound business
management as supporting proof for credit applications, for showing “good
faith” in reducing any proposed penalties from OSHA inspections, for
insurance and other audits, and aid efficient review of your current
safety and health activities for better control of your operations and to
plan improvements.
Safety and Health Recordkeeping
Records of sales, costs, profits and losses are essential to
all successful businesses. They enable the owner or manager to learn from
experience and to make corrections for future operations. Records of
accidents, related injuries, illnesses and property losses can serve the
same purpose, if they are used in the same way. The primary purpose of
OSHA-required recordkeeping is to retain information about accidents that
have happened to help determine the causes and develop procedures to
prevent a recurrence.
INJURY/ILLNESS RECORDS
OSHA rules for recording and reporting occupational injuries
and illnesses affect 1.4 million establishments. Small businesses with 10
or fewer employees throughout the year are exempt from most of the
requirements of the OSHA recordkeeping rules, as are a number of specific
industries in the retail, service, finance, insurance and real estate
sectors that are classified as low-hazard. Detailed information about OSHA
recordkeeping rules can be found at OSHA's
website or refer to 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1904
for the specific exceptions.
OSHA recordkeeping can help the small
business employer evaluate the success of safety and health activities.
Success can be measured by a reduction or elimination of employee injuries
and illnesses during a calendar year.
The OSHA recordkeeping
system has five steps:
1. Obtain a report on every injury or
job-related illness requiring medical treatment (other than basic first
aid).
2. Record each injury or job-related illness on OSHA Form 300
(Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses)
using the instructions provided.
3. Prepare a supplementary record
of occupational injuries and illnesses for recordable cases on OSHA Form
301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report).
4. Every year, prepare an
annual summary using OSHA Form 300A (Summary of
Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses). Post it no later than
February 1, and keep it posted until May 1. A good place to post it is
next to the OSHA Workplace
Poster.
5. Retain these records for
at least five years. Periodically review these records to look for any
patterns or repeat situations. These records can help you to identify
high-risk areas that require your immediate attention.
Basic OSHA
recordkeeping requirements address only injuries and illnesses, so you
might consider expanding your own records to include all incidents,
including those where no injury or illness resulted. This information may
assist you in pinpointing unsafe conditions and/or procedures. Safety
councils, insurance carriers and others can assist you in instituting such
a system.
The employer is required to report to OSHA within eight
hours of the accident, all work-related fatalities or multiple
hospitalizations that involve three or more employees.
Even if
your business is exempt from routine recordkeeping requirements, you may
be selected by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or a related
state agency for inclusion in an annual sample survey. You will receive a
letter directly from the agency with instructions, if you are
selected.
EXPOSURE
RECORDS AND OTHERS
In addition to
injury/illness records, certain OSHA standards require records on the
exposure of employees to toxic substances and hazardous exposures,
physical examination reports and employment records.
As you
identify hazards, you will be able to determine whether these requirements
apply to your workplace. Your records should be used in conjunction with
your control procedures and with your self-inspection activity. They
should not be considered merely as bookkeeping.
STARTING A SAFETY AND HEALTH
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: Creating a Plan
You can use this handbook to create a basic plan of action
for starting a safety and health management system at your business. The
action plan described in this section provides the most direct route to
getting yourself organized to complete the Four-Point Program outlined in
the previous section.
Decide to Start Now
The time to start your safety and health management system
is now. You have a better picture of what
constitutes a good safety and health program. Now you can address the
practical concerns of putting these elements together and coming up with a
program to suit your workplace.
Hopefully, you have been taking
notes for your action plan as you reviewed the preceding description of
the Four-Point Program. You should now be ready to decide what you want to
accomplish and to determine what steps are necessary to achieve your
goals. Next you need to determine how and when each step will be done and
who will do it.
Your plan should consider your company’s immediate
needs and provide for ongoing, long-lasting worker protection. Once your
plan is designed, it is important to follow through and use it in the
workplace. You will then have a program to anticipate, identify and
eliminate conditions or practices that could result in injuries and
illnesses.
If you have difficulty deciding where to begin, a phone
call to your state Consultation Program will help get you started. A state
consultant will survey your workplace for existing or potential hazards.
Then, if you request it, he or she will determine what you need to make
your safety and health program effective. The consultant will work with
you to develop a plan for making these improvements and to keep your
program effective.
Whether you choose to work with a consultant or
to develop your program yourself, many publications are available from
your state on-site Consultation Program or from OSHA that spell out in
greater detail the steps you can take to create an effective safety and
health program for your workplace. The rewards for your efforts will be an
efficient and productive workplace with a low level of loss and
injury.
Designating
Responsibility
You must decide who in your company is the most appropriate
person to manage your safety and health system. Who can ensure that the
program will become an integral part of your business? In many cases it
will be you, the owner. Sometimes it will be a plant manager or key
supervisor. It could even be an engineer, personnel specialist, or other
staff member.
Whoever you choose should be committed to workplace
safety and health, have the time to develop and manage the program, and be
willing to take on the responsibility and accountability that goes with
operating an effective program. The individual will need your full
cooperation and support, but the ultimate responsibility for safety and
health in your workplace rests on you.
Ask for Help
Federal occupational safety and health law allows a state to
develop and operate its own occupational safety and health program in
place of the Federal OSHA program. It is possible that the regulatory
aspect of the law (setting of mandatory minimum standards and conducting
inspections of workplaces) is being operated by your state government as
opposed to Federal OSHA.
One of the first things to learn is which
branch of government, Federal or state, has current jurisdiction over your
business. If you are not sure what agency is responsible for administering
workplace safety and health in your state, contact the nearest OSHA Area
Office to find out. (See OSHA’s website. You will need certain
Federal OSHA publications (or comparable state publications) for use in
your safety and health activities, such as:
- OSHA Workplace Poster (Job Safety and Health
Protection - OSHA 3165). You must display the Federal or state
OSHA poster in your workplace. This poster is also available in Spanish
(Job Safety and Health Protection
OSHA-3167).
- OSHA standards that apply to your business. You need to have a copy
of all OSHA standards that apply to your type of business available for
reference. (See Appendix D.) Standards are the regulations that OSHA
uses to inspect for compliance and should be the baseline for your
inspections in determining what to do when hazards are identified. Most
businesses fall under OSHA’s General Industry Standards. If you are
involved with construction or maritime operations, you will need the
standards that apply to these classifications. (In states with state-run
occupational safety and health programs, use the appropriate state
standards.)
- Recordkeeping requirements and the necessary forms.
- Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970. You may want a copy of this legislation for
reference.
Organize
the Workplace
Poor housekeeping can
contribute to low morale and sloppy work. Most safety action programs
start with an intensive cleanup campaign in all areas of the workplace.
Get rid of unnecessary items; provide proper waste containers;
store flammables properly; make sure exits are not blocked; mark aisles
and passageways; provide adequate lighting, etc.
Get everyone
involved and impress upon employees that you want to make your workplace
safer, more healthful and more efficient.
Start Gathering Specific Facts About
Your Situation
Before making
changes in your safety and health operations, you should gather
information about the current conditions and business practices that
comprise your safety and health program. This information can help you
identify problems and determine what is needed to solve them.
Your
workplace assessment should be conducted by the person responsible for
your safety and health management system and/or a professional safety and
health consultant. The assessment consists of two major activities:
1. A comprehensive safety and health survey of your entire
facility will identify any existing or potential safety and health
hazards. This initial survey should focus on evaluating workplace
conditions with respect to safety and health regulations and generally
recognized safe and healthful work practices. It should include checking
on the use of any hazardous materials, observing employee work habits and
practices, and discussing safety and health problems with employees. See
the Self-Inspection Checklists (at pages 18-39), to help you get a good
start on creating this initial survey.
2. The second major
activity is to assess your existing safety and health program and identify
areas that work well and those that need improvement. You should gather as
much information as you can that relates to safety and health management
in
your workplace. You should include the following in this
review:
- Safety and health activities. Examine
ongoing activities as well as those tried previously, company policy
statements, rules (both work and safety), guidelines for proper work
practices and procedures, and records of training programs.
- Equipment. List your major equipment, what
it is used for and where it is located. Special attention should be
given to inspection schedules, maintenance activities, and plant and
office layouts.
- Employee capabilities. Make an alphabetical
list of all employees, showing the date hired, their job descriptions,
and experience and training.
- Accident and injury/illness history. Review
first aid cases and workers’ compensation insurance payments and awards,
and review your losses. Compare your insurance rate with others in your
group. Give special attention to recurring accidents, types of injuries,
etc.
After gathering facts, see if any
major problem areas emerge such as interruptions in your normal
operations, too many employees taking too much time off due to illness or
injury, too many damaged products, etc. General help with this kind of
problem identification can often be obtained from compensation carriers,
local safety councils, trade associations, state agencies, major suppliers
or similarly situated businesses in the same industry.
If you
discover a major problem, see what can be done to solve it. Once a problem
is identified, you can work on the corrective action or a plan to control
the problem. Take immediate action and make a record of what you have
done. Even if you find no major problems, don’t stop there. Now it is time
to develop a comprehensive safety and health program to avoid any major
problems in the future.
Establish a Four-Point Safety and Health
Program
The success of any workplace
safety and health program depends on careful planning. This means that you
must take the time to analyze what you want to accomplish and develop an
action plan in order to attain your goals. From this standpoint, you can
design a step-by-step process to take you from the idea stage to an
effective safety and health management system.
The best way to
create a safe and healthful workplace is to institute the Four-Point
Program discussed at page 8 of this handbook.
Establish your management commitment and involve your
employees. No safety and health program will work without this
commitment and involvement. The first step is to designate a person to be
responsible for your safety and health program.
Involve your
employees as widely as possible from the beginning. They are most in
contact with the potential and actual safety and health hazards at your
worksite and will have constructive input on the development of your
program. The ultimate success of your safety and health program will
depend on their support.
Make sure your program assigns
responsibility and accountability to all employees in your organization. A
good safety and health program makes it clear that each and every
employee, from you through the supervisory levels to the line worker,
carries responsibility for his or her part of the program. Make safety and
health duties clear and hold every individual accountable for his or her
safety- and health-related duties.
Refer to the recommended actions
to take in the Worksite Analysis paragraph at page 9. These will help
start your program off on the right track. You will be building the
foundation for a successful safety and health program.
Establish
and regularly conduct a worksite analysis. A
successful safety and health program depends on an accurate identification
of all the hazards and potential hazards in your workplace. This is an
ongoing process that includes routine self-inspections.
Create
systems and procedures to prevent and control
hazards identified through your worksite analysis. OSHA standards
can be helpful because they address controls in order of effectiveness and
preference. The hierarchy of controls is engineering, administrative, work
practice and PPE. Whenever feasible, engineering, administrative or work
practice controls should be instituted even if they do not eliminate the
hazard or reduce exposure. Use of such controls in conjunction with PPE
will help reduce the hazard or exposure to the lowest practical level.
Where no standard exists, creative problem-solving and consultant
resources may help you create effective controls. The basic formula for
controlling workplace hazards, in order of preference, includes:
- Eliminating the hazard from the machine, the
method, the material or the facility.
- Abating the hazard by limiting exposure or
controlling it at its source.
- Training personnel to be aware of the hazard
and to follow safe work procedures to avoid it.
- Prescribing PPE for protecting employees
against the hazard and ensuring that they not only use it, but that they
know how to use it correctly.
Establish
and provide ongoing training for employees, supervisors
and managers to ensure that everyone at your worksite can recognize
hazards and how to control them.
These points are crucial to a
safe and healthful workplace for you and your employees, making it more
difficult for accidents to occur and for work-related health problems to
develop.
Develop
and Implement Your Action Plan
Developing an action plan to build a safety and health
program around the four points can serve as a “road map” to take your
program to where you want it to be. An action plan tells you what has to
be done, the logical order in which to do it, who is
responsible and
where you want to be when you finish. It describes problems and solutions,
but is not ironclad. An action plan can and should be changed to
correspond with changes in the workplace.
A good action plan has
two parts:
1. A list of major changes or improvements to make your
safety and health program effective. Each item should be prioritized, have
a target date for completion and identify who is responsible for
implementation.
2. A specific plan to implement each major change
or improvement, including what you want to accomplish, the steps required,
who will be assigned to do what and a schedule for completion. A worksheet
to help you design an overall action plan and describe specific action
steps appears in Appendix A.
Once a plan is established, put it
into action, beginning with the highest priority item. Ensure that it is
realistic, manageable and addresses the steps you have planned for that
item. A detailed description of the steps required will help you keep
track of your progress. Keep in mind that you can work on more than one
item at a time and that priorities may change as other needs are
identified or as your company’s resources change.
Open
communication with your employees is crucial to the success of your
efforts. Their cooperation depends on them understanding what the safety
and health program is all about, why it is important to them and how it
affects their work. The more you do to involve them in the changes you are
making, the smoother your transition will be.
Putting your action
plan into operation at your workplace will be a major step toward
implementing an effective safety and health program.
Remember, a safety and health program is a plan put into
practice. Keep your program on track by periodically checking its
progress and by calling on a state consultant when you need assistance.
Any good management system requires periodic review. Take a
careful look at each component of your safety and health program to
determine what is working well and what changes are needed. Once again, a
state consultant can assist you in this area. Any necessary improvements
can be turned into new safety and health objectives for the coming year.
Developing new action plans to implement these improvements will continue
progress toward an effective safety and health program, reduce your safety
and health risks, and increase efficiency and profit.
Remember
that it is important to document your activities. The best way to evaluate
the success of your safety and health program is to have documentation of
what you have done, which provides guidance on how you can make it work
even
better.
Technical assistance may be available to you as a
small business owner or manager through your insurance carrier; your
fellow business-people; suppliers of your durable equipment and raw
materials; the local safety council; and many local, state and Federal
agencies, including the state on-site Consultation Programs and closest
OSHA Area Office.
Establishing a quality safety and health
management system will take time and involve some resources, but you
should be pleased with the results. Employees will feel reassured because
of your commitment to their safety and health on the job. You may save
money through increased productivity and reduced workers’ compensation
insurance costs. You may gain increased respect in your community. The
tangible and intangible rewards for a solid safety and health program far
outweigh the cost of an accident, injury or workplace
fatality.
SELF-INSPECTION
The most widely accepted way to identify hazards is to
conduct safety and health inspections because the only way to be certain
of an actual situation is to look at it directly from time to
time.
Begin a program of self-inspection in your own workplace.
Self-inspection is essential if you are to know where probable hazards
exist and whether they are under control.
This section includes
checklists designed to assist you in self-inspection fact-finding. The
checklists can give you some indication of where to begin taking action to
make your business safer and more healthful for all of your employees.
These checklists are by no means all-inclusive and
not all of the checklists will apply to your business. You might want to
start by selecting the areas that are most critical to your business, then
expanding your self-inspection checklists over time to fully cover all
areas that pertain to your business. Remember that a checklist is a tool
to help, not a definitive statement of what is mandatory. Use checklists
only for guidance.
Don’t spend time with items
that have no application to your business. Make sure that each item
is seen by you or your designee and leave nothing to memory or chance.
Write down what you see or don’t see and what you think you should do
about it.
Add information from your completed checklists to injury
information, employee information, and process and equipment information
to build a foundation to help you determine what problems exist. Then, as
you use the OSHA standards in your problem-solving process, it will be
easier for you to determine the actions needed to solve these
problems.
Once the hazards have been identified, institute the
control procedures described at page 9 and establish your four-point
safety and health program.
Self-Inspection Scope
Your self-inspections should cover safety and health issues
in the following areas:
- Processing, Receiving, Shipping and Storage
– equipment, job planning, layout, heights, floor loads, projection of
materials, material handling and storage methods, training for material
handling equipment.
- Building and Grounds Conditions – floors,
walls, ceilings, exits, stairs, walkways, ramps, platforms, driveways,
aisles.
- Housekeeping Program – waste disposal,
tools, objects, materials, leakage and spillage, cleaning methods,
schedules, work areas, remote areas, storage areas.
- Electricity – equipment, switches, breakers,
fuses, switch-boxes, junctions, special fixtures, circuits, insulation,
extensions, tools, motors, grounding, national electric code
compliance.
- Lighting – type, intensity, controls,
conditions, diffusion, location, glare and shadow control.
- Heating and Ventilation – type,
effectiveness, temperature, humidity, controls, natural and artificial
ventilation and exhausting.
- Machinery – points of operation, flywheels,
gears, shafts, pulleys, key ways, belts, couplings, sprockets, chains,
frames, controls, lighting for tools and equipment, brakes, exhausting,
feeding, oiling, adjusting, maintenance, lockout/tagout, grounding, work
space, location, purchasing standards.
- Personnel – training, including hazard
identification training; experience; methods of checking machines before
use; type of clothing; PPE; use of guards; tool storage; work practices;
methods for cleaning, oiling, or adjusting machinery.
- Hand and Power Tools – purchasing standards,
inspection, storage, repair, types, maintenance, grounding, use and
handling.
- Chemicals – storage, handling,
transportation, spills, disposals, amounts used, labeling, toxicity or
other harmful effects, warning signs, supervision, training, protective
clothing and equipment, hazard communication requirements.
- Fire Prevention – extinguishers, alarms,
sprinklers, smoking rules, exits, personnel assigned, separation of
flammable materials and dangerous operations, explosion-proof fixtures
in hazardous locations, waste disposal and training of personnel.
- Maintenance – provide regular and preventive
maintenance on all equipment used at the worksite, recording all work
performed on the machinery and by training personnel on the proper care
and servicing of the equipment.
- PPE – type, size, maintenance, repair, age,
storage, assignment of responsibility, purchasing methods, standards
observed, training in care and use, rules of use, method of
assignment.
- Transportation – motor vehicle safety, seat
belts, vehicle maintenance, safe driver programs.
- First Aid Program/Supplies – medical care
facilities locations, posted emergency phone numbers, accessible first
aid kits.
- Evacuation Plan – establish and practice
procedures for an emergency evacuation, e.g., fire, chemical/biological
incidents, bomb threat; include escape procedures and routes, critical
plant operations, employee accounting following an evacuation, rescue
and medical duties and ways to report emergencies.
Self-Inspection
Checklists
These checklists are by
no means all-inclusive. You should add to them or delete items that do not
apply to your business; however, carefully consider each item and then
make your decision. You should refer to OSHA standards for specific
guidance that may apply to your work situation. (Note: These checklists are typical for general industry
but not for construction or maritime industries.)
EMPLOYER POSTING
| □ |
Is the required OSHA Job Safety and Health
Protection Poster displayed in a prominent location where all
employees are likely to see it? |
| □ |
Are emergency telephone numbers posted where
they can be readily found in case of emergency? |
| □ |
Where employees may be exposed to toxic
substances or harmful physical agents, has appropriate information
concerning employee access to medical and exposure records and
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) been posted or otherwise made
readily available to affected employees? |
| □ |
Where employees may be exposed to toxic
substances or harmful physical agents, has appropriate information
concerning employee access to medical and exposure records and
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) been posted or otherwise made
readily available to affected employees? |
| □ |
Are signs concerning exit routes, room
capacities, floor loading, biohazards, exposures to x-ray,
microwave, or other harmful radiation or substances posted where
appropriate? |
| □ |
Is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and
Illnesses (OSHA Form 300A) posted during the months of February,
March and April? |
RECORDKEEPING
| □ |
Are occupational injuries or illnesses,
except minor injuries requiring only first aid, recorded as required
on the OSHA 300 log? |
| □ |
Are employee medical records and records of
employee exposure to hazardous substances or harmful physical agents
up-to-date and in compliance with current OSHA
standards? |
| □ |
Are employee training records kept and
accessible for review by employees, as required by OSHA
standards? |
| □ |
Have arrangements been made to retain
records for the time period required for each specific type of
record? (Some records must be maintained for at least 40
years.) |
| □ |
Are operating permits and records up-to-date
for items such as elevators, air pressure tanks, liquefied petroleum
gas tanks, etc.? |
SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
| □ |
Do you have an active safety and health
program in operation that includes general safety and health program
elements as well as the management of hazards specific to your
work-site? |
| □ |
Is one person clearly responsible for the
safety and health program? |
| □ |
Do you have a safety committee or group made
up of management and labor representatives that meets regularly and
reports in writing on its
activities? |
OSHA HANDBOOK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
| □ |
Do you have a working procedure to handle
in-house employee complaints regarding safety and
health? |
| □ |
Are your employees advised of efforts and
accomplishments of the safety and health program made to ensure they
will have a workplace that is safe and healthful? |
| □ |
Have you considered incentives for employees
or workgroups who excel in reducing workplace
injury/illnesses? |
MEDICAL SERVICES AND FIRST AID
| □ |
Is there a hospital, clinic, or infirmary
for medical care near your workplace or is at least one employee on
each shift currently qualified to render first aid? |
| □ |
Have all employees who are expected to
respond to medical emergencies as part of their job responsibilities
received first aid training; had hepatitis B vaccination made
available to them; had appropriate training on procedures to protect
them from bloodborne pathogens, including universal precautions; and
have available and understand how to use appropriate PPE to protect
against exposure to bloodborne diseases?* |
| *Pursuant to an OSHA memorandum of
July 1, 1992, employees who render first aid only as a collateral
duty do not have to be offered pre-exposure hepatitis B vaccine only
if the employer includes and implements the following requirements
in his/her exposure control plan: (1) the employer must record all
first aid incidents involving the presence of blood or other
potentially infectious materials before the end of the work shift
during which the first aid incident occurred; (2) the employer must
comply with post-exposure evaluation, prophylaxis and follow-up
requirements of the Bloodborne Pathogens standard with respect to
“exposure incidents,” as defined by the standard; (3) the employer
must train designated first aid providers about the reporting
procedure; (4) the employer must offer to initiate the hepatitis B
vaccination series within 24 hours to all unvaccinated first aid
providers who have rendered assistance in any situation involving
the presence of blood or other potentially infectious
materials. |
| □ |
If employees have had an exposure incident
involving bloodborne pathogens, was an immediate post-exposure
medical evaluation and follow-up provided? |
| □ |
Are medical personnel readily available for
advice and consultation on matters of employees’
health? |
| □ |
Are emergency phone numbers
posted? |
| □ |
Are fully supplied first aid kits easily
accessible to each work area, periodically inspected and replenished
as needed? |
| □ |
Have first aid kits and supplies been
approved by a physician, indicating that they are adequate for a
particular area or operation? |
| □ |
Is there an eye-wash station or sink
available for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body in
areas where corrosive liquids or materials are
handled? |
FIRE PROTECTION
| □ |
Is your local fire department familiar with
your facility, its location and specific hazards? |
| □ |
If you have a fire alarm system, is it
certified as required and tested annually? |
| □ |
If you have interior standpipes and valves,
are they inspected regularly? |
| □ |
If you have interior standpipes and valves,
are they inspected regularly? |
| □ |
If you have outside private fire hydrants,
are they flushed at least once a year and on a routine preventive
maintenance schedule? |
| □ |
Are fire doors and shutters in good
operating condition? |
| □ |
Are fire doors and shutters unobstructed and
protected against obstructions, including their
counterweights? |
| □ |
Are fire door and shutter fusible links in
place? |
| □ |
Are automatic sprinkler system water control
valves, air and water pressure checked periodically as
required? |
| □ |
Is the maintenance of automatic sprinkler
systems assigned to responsible persons or to a sprinkler
contractor? |
| □ |
Are sprinkler heads protected by metal
guards if exposed to potential physical damage? |
| □ |
Is proper clearance maintained below
sprinkler heads? |
| □ |
Are portable fire extinguishers provided in
adequate number and type and mounted in readily accessible
locations? |
| □ |
Are fire extinguishers recharged regularly
with this noted on the inspection tag? |
| □ |
Are employees periodically instructed in the
use of fire extinguishers and fire protection
procedures? |
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND
CLOTHING
| □ |
Has the employer determined whether hazards
that require the use of PPE (e.g., head, eye, face, hand, or foot
protection) are present or are likely to be present? |
| □ |
If hazards or the likelihood of hazards are
found, are employers selecting appropriate and properly fitted PPE
suitable for protection from these hazards and ensuring that
affected employees use it? |
| □ |
Have both the employer and the employees
been trained on PPE procedures, i.e., what PPE is necessary for job
tasks, when workers need it, and how to properly wear and adjust
it? |
| □ |
Are protective goggles or face shields
provided and worn where there is any danger of flying particles or
corrosive materials? |
| □ |
Are approved safety glasses required to be
worn at all times in areas where there is a risk of eye injuries
such as punctures, abrasions, contusions, or burns? |
| □ |
Are employees who wear corrective lenses
(glasses or contacts) in workplaces with harmful exposures required
to wear only approved safety glasses, protective goggles, or use
other medically approved precautionary procedures? |
| □ |
Are protective gloves, aprons, shields, or
other means provided and required where employees could be cut or
where there is reasonably anticipated exposure to corrosive liquids,
chemicals, blood, or other potentially infectious materials? See the
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030(b), for the
definition of “other potentially infectious materials.” |
| □ |
Are hard hats required, provided and
worn where danger of falling objects exists? |
| □ |
Are hard hats periodically inspected for
damage to the shell and suspension system? |
| □ |
Is appropriate foot protection required
where there is the risk of foot injuries from hot, corrosive, or
poisonous substances, falling objects, crushing, or penetrating
actions? |
| □ |
Are approved respirators provided when
needed? (See 29 CFR 1910.134 for detailed information on respirators
or check OSHA’s website). |
| □ |
Is all PPE maintained in a sanitary
condition and ready for use? |
| □ |
Are food or beverages consumed only in areas
where there is no exposure to toxic material, blood, or other
potentially infectious materials? |
| □ |
Is protection against the effects of
occupational noise provided when sound levels exceed those of the
OSHA Noise standard? |
| □ |
Are adequate work procedures, PPE and other
equipment provided and used when cleaning up spilled hazardous
materials? |
| □ |
Are appropriate procedures in place to
dispose of or decontaminate PPE contaminated with, or reasonably
anticipated to be contaminated with, blood or other potentially
infectious materials? |
GENERAL WORK ENVIRONMENT
| □ |
Are all worksites clean, sanitary and
orderly? |
| □ |
Are work surfaces kept dry and appropriate
means taken to assure the surfaces are slip-resistant? |
| □ |
Are all spilled hazardous materials or
liquids, including blood and other potentially infectious materials,
cleaned up immediately and according to proper
procedures? |
| □ |
Is combustible scrap, debris and waste
stored safely and removed from the worksite promptly? |
| □ |
Is all regulated waste, as defined in the
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), discarded
according to Federal, state and local regulations? |
| □ |
Are accumulations of combustible dust
routinely removed from elevated surfaces including the overhead
structure of buildings, etc.? |
| □ |
Is combustible dust cleaned up with a vacuum
system to prevent suspension of dust particles in the
environment? |
| □ |
Is metallic or conductive dust prevented
from entering or accumulating on or around electrical enclosures or
equipment? |
| □ |
Are covered metal waste cans used for oily
or paint-soaked waste? |
| □ |
Are all oil and gas-fired devices equipped
with flame failure controls to prevent flow of fuel if pilots or
main burners are not working? |
| □ |
Are all oil and gas-fired devices equipped
with flame failure controls to prevent flow of fuel if pilots or
main burners are not working? |
| □ |
Are all oil and gas-fired devices equipped
with flame failure controls to prevent flow of fuel if pilots or
main burners are not working? |
| □ |
Are paint spray booths, dip tanks, etc.,
cleaned regularly? |
| □ |
Are the minimum number of toilets and
washing facilities provided and maintained in a clean and sanitary
fashion? |
| □ |
Are all work areas adequately
illuminated? |
| □ |
Are pits and floor openings covered or
otherwise guarded? |
| □ |
Have all confined spaces been evaluated for
compliance with 29 CFR 1910.146? (Permit required confined
spaces.) |
WALKWAYS
| □ |
Are aisles and passageways kept clear and
marked as appropriate? |
| □ |
Are wet surfaces covered with non-slip
materials? |
| □ |
Are holes in the floor, sidewalk, or other
walking surface repaired properly, covered, or otherwise made
safe? |
| □ |
Is there safe clearance for walking in
aisles where motorized or mechanical handling equipment is
operating? |
| □ |
Are materials or equipment stored in such a
way that sharp projections will not interfere with the
walkway? |
| □ |
Are spilled materials cleaned up
immediately? |
| □ |
Are changes of direction or elevations
readily identifiable? |
| □ |
Are aisles or walkways that pass near moving
or operating machinery, welding operations, or similar operations
arranged so employees will not be subjected to potential
hazards? |
| □ |
Is adequate headroom provided for the entire
length of any aisle or walkway? |
| □ |
Are standard guardrails provided wherever
aisle or walkway surfaces are elevated more than 30 inches (76.20
centimeters) above any adjacent floor or the ground? |
| □ |
Are bridges provided over conveyors and
similar hazards? |
FLOOR AND WALL OPENINGS
| □ |
Are floor openings guarded by a cover, a
guardrail, or equivalent on all sides (except at stairways or ladder
entrances)? |
| □ |
Are toeboards installed around the edges of
permanent floor openings where persons may pass below the
opening? |
| □ |
Are skylight screens able to withstand a
load of at least 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms)? |
| □ |
Is the glass in windows, doors, glass walls,
etc., subject to possible human impact, of sufficient thickness and
type for the condition of use? |
| □ |
Are grates or similar type covers over floor
openings such as floor drains designed to allow unimpeded foot
traffic or rolling equipment? |
| □ |
Are unused portions of service pits and pits
not in use either covered or protected by guardrails or
equivalent? |
| □ |
Are manhole covers, trench covers and
similar covers, and their supports designed to carry a truck rear
axle load of at least 20,000 pounds (9,072 kilograms) when located
in roadways and subject to vehicle traffic? |
| □ |
Are floor or wall openings in fire-resistant
construction provided with doors or covers compatible with the fire
rating of the structure and provided with a self-closing feature
when appropriate? |
STAIRS AND STAIRWAYS
| □ |
Do standard stair rails or handrails on all
stairways have at least four risers? |
| □ |
Are all stairways at least 22 inches (55.88
centimeters) wide? |
| □ |
Do stairs have landing platforms not less
than 30 inches (76.20 centimeters) in the direction of travel and
extend 22 inches (55.88 centimeters) in width at every 12 feet
(3.6576 meters) or less of vertical rise? |
| □ |
Do stairs angle no more than 50 and no less
than 30 degrees? |
| □ |
Are stairs of hollow-pan type treads and
landings filled to the top edge of the pan with solid
material? |
| □ |
Are step risers on stairs uniform from top
to bottom? |
| □ |
Are steps slip-resistant? |
| □ |
Are stairway handrails located between 30
inches (76.20 centimeters) and 34 inches (86.36 centimeters) above
the leading edge of stair treads? |
| □ |
Do stairway handrails have at least 3 inches
(7.62 centimeters) of clearance between the handrails and the wall
or surface they are mounted on? |
| □ |
Where doors or gates open directly on a
stairway, is a platform provided so the swing of the door does not
reduce the width of the platform to less than 21 inches (53.34
centimeters)? |
| □ |
Are stairway handrails capable of
withstanding a load of 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms), applied within 2
inches (5.08 centimeters) of the top edge in any downward or outward
direction? |
| □ |
Where stairs or stairways exit directly into
any area where vehicles may be operated, are adequate barriers and
warnings provided to prevent employees from stepping into the path
of traffic? |
| □ |
Do stairway landings have a dimension
measured in the direction of travel at least equal to the width of
the stairway? |
| □ |
Is the vertical distance between stairway
landings limited to 12 feet (3.6576 meters) or
less? |
ELEVATED SURFACES
| □ |
Are signs posted, when appropriate, showing
the elevated surface load capacity? |
| □ |
Are surfaces that are elevated more than 30
inches (76.20 centimeters) provided with standard
guardrails? |
| □ |
Are surfaces that are elevated more than 30
inches (76.20 centimeters) provided with standard
guardrails? |
| □ |
Are all elevated surfaces beneath which
people or machinery could be exposed to falling objects provided
with standard 4-inch (10.16centimeter) toeboards? |
| □ |
Is a permanent means of access and egress
provided to elevated storage and work surfaces? |
| □ |
Is required headroom provided where
necessary? |
| □ |
Is material on elevated surfaces piled,
stacked, or racked in a manner to prevent it from tipping, falling,
collapsing, rolling, or spreading? |
| □ |
Are dock boards or bridge plates used when
transferring materials between docks and trucks or
railcars? |
EXITING OR EGRESS - EVACUATION
| □ |
Are all exits marked with an exit sign and
illuminated by a reliable light source? |
| □ |
Are the directions to exits, when not
immediately apparent, marked with visible signs? |
| □ |
Are doors, passageways or stairways that are
neither exits nor access to exits, but could be mistaken for exits,
appropriately marked “NOT AN EXIT,” “TO BASEMENT,” “STOREROOM,”
etc.? |
| □ |
Are exit signs labeled with the word “EXIT”
in lettering at least 5 inches (12.70 centimeters) high and the
stroke of the lettering at least l/2inch (1.2700 centimeters)
wide? |
| □ |
Are exit doors side-hinged? |
| □ |
Are all exits kept free of
obstructions? |
| □ |
Are at least two means of egress provided
from elevated platforms, pits, or rooms where the absence of a
second exit would increase the risk of injury from hot, poisonous,
corrosive, suffocating, flammable, or explosive
substances? |
| □ |
Are there sufficient exits to permit prompt
escape in case of emergency? |
| □ |
Are special precautions taken to protect
employees during construction and repair operations? |
| □ |
Is the number of exits from each floor of a
building and the number of exits from the building itself
appropriate for the building occupancy load? |
| □ |
Are exit stairways that are required to be
separated from other parts of a building enclosed by at least 2-hour
fire-resistive construction in buildings more than four stories in
height, and not less than 1-hour fire-resistive construction
elsewhere? |
| □ |
Where ramps are used as part of required
exiting from a building, is the ramp slope limited to 1 foot (0.3048
meter) vertical and 12 feet (3.6576 meters) horizontal? |
| □ |
Where exiting will be through frameless
glass doors, glass exit doors, storm doors, etc., are the doors
fully tempered and meet the safety requirements for human
impact? |
EXIT DOORS
| □ |
Are doors that are required to serve as
exits designed and constructed so that the path of exit travel is
obvious and direct? |
| □ |
Are windows that could be mistaken for exit
doors made inaccessible by means of barriers or
railings? |
| □ |
Are exit doors able to be opened from the
direction of exit travel without the use of a key or any special
knowledge or effort when the building is occupied? |
| □ |
Is a revolving, sliding, or overhead door
prohibited from serving as a required exit door? |
| □ |
Where panic hardware is installed on a
required exit door, will it allow the door to open by applying a
force of 15 pounds (6.80 kilograms) or less in the direction of the
exit traffic? |
| □ |
Are doors on cold storage rooms provided
with an inside release mechanism that will release the latch and
open the door even if the door is padlocked or otherwise locked on
the outside? |
| □ |
Where exit doors open directly onto any
street, alley, or other area where vehicles may be operated, are
adequate barriers and warnings provided to prevent employees from
stepping into the path of traffic? |
| □ |
Are doors that swing in both directions and
are located between rooms where there is frequent traffic provided
with viewing panels in each door? |
PORTABLE LADDERS
| □ |
Are all ladders maintained in good
condition, joints between steps and side rails tight, all hardware
and fittings securely attached, and moveable parts operating freely
without binding or undue play? |
| □ |
Are non-slip safety feet provided on each
metal or rung ladder, and are ladder rungs and steps free of grease
and oil? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from placing a
ladder in front of doors opening toward the ladder unless the door
is blocked open, locked, or guarded? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from placing
ladders on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases to obtain
additional height? |
| □ |
Are employees required to face the ladder
when ascending or descending? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from using ladders
that are broken, have missing steps, rungs, or cleats, broken side
rails, or other faulty equipment? |
| □ |
Are employees instructed not to use the top
step of ordinary stepladders as a step? |
| □ |
When portable rung ladders are used to gain
access to elevated platforms, roofs, etc., does the ladder always
extend at least 3 feet (0.9144 meters) above the elevated
surface? |
| □ |
Are employees required to secure the base of
a portable rung or cleat type ladder to prevent slipping, or
otherwise lash or hold it in place? |
| □ |
Are portable metal ladders legibly marked
with signs reading “CAUTION - Do Not Use Around Electrical
Equipment” or equivalent wording? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from using ladders
as guys, braces, skids, gin poles, or for other than their intended
purposes? |
| □ |
Are employees instructed to only adjust
extension ladders while standing at a base (not while standing on
the ladder or from a position above the ladder)? |
| □ |
Are metal ladders inspected for
damage? |
| □ |
Are the rungs of ladders uniformly spaced at
12 inches (30.48 centimeters) center to
center? |
HAND TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
| □ |
Are all tools and equipment (both company
and employee-owned) used at the workplace in good
condition? |
| □ |
Are hand tools, such as chisels, punches,
etc., which develop mushroomed heads during use, reconditioned or
replaced as necessary? |
| □ |
Are broken or fractured handles on hammers,
axes and similar equipment replaced promptly? |
| □ |
Are worn or bent wrenches
replaced? |
| □ |
Are appropriate handles used on files and
similar tools? |
| □ |
Are employees aware of hazards caused by
faulty or improperly used hand tools? |
| □ |
Are appropriate safety glasses, face
shields, etc., used while using hand tools or equipment that might
produce flying materials or be subject to breakage? |
| □ |
Are jacks checked periodically to ensure
they are in good operating condition? |
| □ |
Are tool handles wedged tightly into the
heads of all tools? |
| □ |
Are tool cutting edges kept sharp so the
tool will move smoothly without binding or skipping? |
| □ |
Are tools stored in a dry, secure location
where they cannot be tampered with? |
| □ |
Is eye and face protection used when driving
hardened or tempered studs or
nails? |
PORTABLE (POWER OPERATED) TOOLS AND
EQUIPMENT
| □ |
Are grinders, saws and similar equipment
provided with appropriate safety guards? |
| □ |
Are power tools used with proper shields,
guards, or attachments, as recommended by the
manufacturer? |
| □ |
Are portable circular saws equipped with
guards above and below the base shoe? |
| □ |
Are circular saw guards checked to ensure
that they are not wedged up, leaving the lower portion of the blade
unguarded? |
| □ |
Are rotating or moving parts of equipment
guarded to prevent physical contact? |
| □ |
Are all cord-connected, electrically
operated tools and equipment effectively grounded or of the approved
double insulated type? |
| □ |
Are effective guards in place over belts,
pulleys, chains and sprockets on equipment such as concrete mixers,
air compressors, etc.? |
| □ |
Are portable fans provided with full guards
or screens having openings 1/2 inch (1.2700 centimeters) or
less? |
| □ |
Is hoisting equipment available and used for
lifting heavy objects, and are hoist ratings and characteristics
appropriate for the task? |
| □ |
Are ground-fault circuit interrupters
provided on all temporary electrical 15 and 20 ampere circuits used
during periods of construction? |
| □ |
Are pneumatic and hydraulic hoses on
power-operated tools checked regularly for deterioration or
damage? |
ABRASIVE WHEEL EQUIPMENT GRINDERS
| □ |
Is the work rest used and kept adjusted to
within 1/8 inch (0.3175 centimeter) of the wheel? |
| □ |
Is the adjustable tongue on the top side of
the grinder used and kept adjusted to within 1/4 inch (0.6350
centimeters) of the wheel? |
| □ |
Do side guards cover the spindle, nut and
flange and 75 percent of the wheel diameter? |
| □ |
Are bench and pedestal grinders permanently
mounted? |
| □ |
Are goggles or face shields always worn when
grinding? |
| □ |
Is the maximum revolutions per minute (rpm)
rating of each abrasive wheel compatible with the rpm rating of the
grinder motor? |
| □ |
Are fixed or permanently mounted grinders
connected to their electrical supply system with metallic conduit or
other permanent wiring method? |
| □ |
Does each grinder have an individual on and
off control switch? |
| □ |
Is each electrically operated grinder
effectively grounded? |
| □ |
Are new abrasive wheels visually inspected
and ring tested before they are mounted? |
| □ |
Are dust collectors and powered exhausts
provided on grinders used in operations that produce large amounts
of dust? |
| □ |
Are splash guards mounted on grinders that
use coolant to prevent the coolant from reaching
employees? |
| □ |
Is cleanliness maintained around
grinders? |
POWER-ACTUATED TOOLS
| □ |
Are employees who operate power-actuated
tools trained in their use and required to carry a valid operator’s
card? |
| □ |
Is each power-actuated tool stored in its
own locked container when not being used? |
| □ |
Is a sign at least 7 inches (17.78
centimeters) by 10 inches (25.40 centimeters) with bold face type
reading “POWER-ACTUATED TOOL IN USE” conspicuously posted when the
tool is being used? |
| □ |
Are power-actuated tools left unloaded until
they are ready to be used? |
| □ |
Are power-actuated tools inspected for
obstructions or defects each day before use? |
| □ |
Do power-actuated tool operators have and
use appropriate PPE such as hard hats, safety goggles, safety shoes
and ear protectors? |
MACHINE GUARDING
| □ |
Is there a training program to instruct
employees on safe methods of machine operation? |
| □ |
Is there adequate supervision to ensure that
employees are following safe machine operating
procedures? |
| □ |
Is there a regular program of safety
inspection of machinery and equipment? |
| □ |
Is all machinery and equipment kept clean
and properly maintained? |
| □ |
Is sufficient clearance provided around and
between machines to allow for safe operations, set up and servicing,
material handling and waste removal? |
| □ |
Is equipment and machinery securely
placed and anchored to prevent tipping or other movement that
could result in personal injury? |
| □ |
Is there a power shut-off switch within
reach of the operator’s position at each machine? |
| □ |
Can electric power to each machine be locked
out for maintenance, repair, or security? |
| □ |
Are the noncurrent-carrying metal parts of
electrically operated machines bonded and grounded? |
| □ |
Are foot-operated switches guarded or
arranged to prevent accidental actuation by personnel or falling
objects? |
| □ |
Are manually operated valves and switches
controlling the operation of equipment and machines clearly
identified and readily accessible? |
| □ |
Are all emergency stop buttons colored
red? |
| □ |
Are all pulleys and belts within 7 feet
(2.1336 meters) of the floor or working level properly
guarded? |
| □ |
Are all moving chains and gears properly
guarded? |
| □ |
Are splash guards mounted on machines that
use coolant to prevent the coolant from reaching
employees? |
| □ |
Are methods provided to protect the operator
and other employees in the machine area from hazards created at the
point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips
and sparks? |
| □ |
Are machine guards secure and arranged so
they do not cause a hazard while in use? |
| □ |
If special hand tools are used for placing
and removing material, do they protect the operator’s
hands? |
| □ |
Are revolving drums, barrels and containers
guarded by an enclosure that is interlocked with the drive mechanism
so that revolution cannot occur unless the guard enclosure is in
place? |
| □ |
Do arbors and mandrels have firm and secure
bearings, and are they free from play? |
| □ |
Are provisions made to prevent machines from
automatically starting when power is restored after a power failure
or shutdown? |
| □ |
Are machines constructed so as to be free
from excessive vibration when the largest size tool is mounted and
run at full speed? |
| □ |
If machinery is cleaned with compressed air,
is air pressure controlled and PPE or other safeguards utilized to
protect operators and other workers from eye and body
injury? |
| □ |
Are fan blades protected with a guard having
openings no larger than l/2 inch (1.2700 centimeters) when operating
within 7 feet (2.1336 meters) of the floor? |
| □ |
Are saws used for ripping equipped with
anti-kickback devices and spreaders? |
| □ |
Are radial arm saws so arranged that the
cutting head will gently return to the back of the table when
released? |
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES
| □ |
Is all machinery or equipment capable of
movement required to be de-energized or disengaged and blocked or
locked out during cleaning, servicing, adjusting, or setting up
operations? |
| □ |
If the power disconnect for equipment does
not also disconnect the electrical control circuit, are the
appropriate electrical enclosures identified and is a means provided
to ensure that the control circuit can also be disconnected and
locked out? |
| □ |
Is the locking out of control circuits
instead of locking out main power disconnects
prohibited? |
| □ |
Are all equipment control valve handles
provided with a means for locking out? |
| □ |
Does the lockout procedure require that
stored energy (mechanical, hydraulic, air, etc.) be released or
blocked before equipment is locked out for repairs? |
| □ |
Are appropriate employees provided with
individually keyed personal safety locks? |
| □ |
Are employees required to keep personal
control of their key(s) while they have safety locks in
use? |
| □ |
Is it required that only the employee
exposed to the hazard can place or remove the safety
lock? |
| □ |
Is it required that employees check the
safety of the lockout by attempting a startup after making sure no
one is exposed? |
| □ |
Are employees instructed to always push the
control circuit stop button prior to re-energizing the main power
switch? |
| □ |
Is there a means provided to identify any or
all employees who are working on locked-out equipment by their locks
or accompanying tags? |
| □ |
Are a sufficient number of accident
prevention signs or tags and safety padlocks provided for any
reasonably foreseeable repair emergency? |
| □ |
When machine operations, configuration, or
size require an operator to leave the control station and part of
the machine could move if accidentally activated, is the part
required to be separately locked out or blocked? |
| □ |
If equipment or lines cannot be shut down,
locked out and tagged, is a safe job procedure established and
rigidly followed? |
WELDING, CUTTING AND BRAZING
| □ |
Are only authorized and trained personnel
permitted to use welding, cutting, or brazing
equipment? |
| □ |
Does each operator have a copy of and follow
the appropriate operating instructions? |
| □ |
Are compressed gas cylinders regularly
examined for obvious signs of defects, deep rusting, or
leakage? |
| □ |
Is care used in handling and storage of
cylinders, safety valves, relief valves, etc., to prevent
damage? |
| □ |
Are precautions taken to prevent the mixture
of air or oxygen with flammable gases, except at a burner or in a
standard torch? |
| □ |
Are only approved apparatuses (torches,
regulators, pressure reducing valves, acetylene generators,
manifolds) used? |
| □ |
Are cylinders kept away from sources of heat
and elevators, stairs, or gangways? |
| □ |
Is it prohibited to use cylinders as rollers
or supports? |
| □ |
Are empty cylinders appropriately marked and
their valves closed? |
| □ |
Are signs posted reading “DANGER, NO
SMOKING, MATCHES, OR OPEN LIGHTS,” or the equivalent? |
| □ |
Are cylinders, cylinder valves, couplings,
regulators, hoses and apparatuses kept free of oily or greasy
substances? |
| □ |
Is care taken not to drop or strike
cylinders? |
| □ |
Are regulators removed and valve-protection
caps put in place before moving cylinders, unless they are secured
on special trucks? |
| □ |
Do cylinders without fixed wheels have keys,
handles, or non-adjustable wrenches on stem valves when in
service? |
| □ |
Are liquefied gases stored and shipped
valve-end up with valve covers in place? |
| □ |
Are employees trained never to crack a fuel
gas cylinder valve near sources of ignition? |
| □ |
Before a regulator is removed, is the valve
closed and gas released? |
| □ |
Is red used to identify the acetylene (and
other fuel-gas) hose, green for the oxygen hose and black for inert
gas and air hoses? |
| □ |
Are pressure-reducing regulators used only
for the gas and pressures for which they are intended? |
| □ |
Is open circuit (no-load) voltage of arc
welding and cutting machines as low as possible and not in excess of
the recommended limits? |
| □ |
Under wet conditions, are automatic controls
for reducing no-load voltage used? |
| □ |
Is grounding of the machine frame and safety
ground connections of portable machines checked
periodically? |
| □ |
Are electrodes removed from the holders when
not in use? |
| □ |
Is it required that electric power to the
welder be shut off when no one is in attendance? |
| □ |
Is suitable fire extinguishing equipment
available for immediate use? |
| □ |
Is the welder forbidden to coil or loop
welding electrode cable around his body? |
| □ |
Are wet machines thoroughly dried and tested
before use? |
| □ |
Are work and electrode lead cables
frequently inspected for wear and damage, and replaced when
needed? |
| □ |
Are cable connectors adequately
insulated? |
| □ |
When the object to be welded cannot be moved
and fire hazards cannot be removed, are shields used to confine
heat, sparks and slag? |
| □ |
Are fire watchers assigned when welding or
cutting is performed in locations where a serious fire might
develop? |
| □ |
Are combustible floors kept wet, covered
with damp sand, or protected by fire-resistant shields? |
| □ |
Are personnel protected from possible
electrical shock when floors are wet? |
| □ |
Are precautions taken to protect
combustibles on the other side of metal walls when welding is
underway? |
| □ |
Are used drums, barrels, tanks and other
containers thoroughly cleaned of substances that could explode,
ignite, or produce toxic vapors before hot work begins? |
| □ |
Do eye protection, helmets, hand shields and
goggles meet appropriate standards? |
| □ |
Are employees exposed to the hazards created
by welding, cutting, or brazing operations protected with PPE and
clothing? |
| □ |
Is a check made for adequate ventilation in
and where welding or cutting is performed? |
| □ |
When working in confined places, are
environmental monitoring tests done and means provided for quick
removal of welders in case of an
emergency? |
COMPRESSORS AND COMPRESSED AIR
| □ |
Are compressors equipped with pressure
relief valves and pressure gauges? |
| □ |
Are compressor air intakes installed and
equipped so as to ensure that only clean, uncontaminated air enters
the compressor? |
| □ |
Are air filters installed on the compressor
intake? |
| □ |
Are compressors operated and lubricated in
accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations? |
| □ |
Are safety devices on compressed air systems
checked frequently? |
| □ |
Before a compressor’s pressure system is
repaired, is the pressure bled off and the system locked
out? |
| □ |
Are signs posted to warn of the automatic
starting feature of the compressors? |
| □ |
Is the belt drive system totally enclosed to
provide protection for the front, back, top and sides? |
| □ |
Are employees strictly prohibited from
directing compressed air towards a person? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from using highly
compressed air for cleaning purposes? |
| □ |
When compressed air is used to clean
clothing, are employees trained to reduce the pressure to less than
10 pounds per square inch (psi)? |
| □ |
When using compressed air for cleaning, do
employees wear protective chip guarding and PPE? |
| □ |
Are safety chains or other suitable locking
devices used at couplings of high-pressure hose lines where a
connection failure would create a hazard? |
| □ |
Before compressed air is used to empty
containers of liquid, is the safe working pressure of the container
checked? |
| □ |
When compressed air is used with abrasive
blast cleaning equipment, is the operating valve a type that must be
held open manually? |
| □ |
When compressed air is used to inflate auto
tires, are a clip-on chuck and an inline regulator preset to 40 psi
required? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from using
compressed air to clean up or move combustible dust if such action
could cause the dust to be suspended in the air and cause a fire or
explosion hazard? |
COMPRESSORS/AIR RECEIVERS
| □ |
Is every receiver equipped with a pressure
gauge and one or more automatic, spring-loaded safety
valves? |
| □ |
Is the total relieving capacity of the
safety valve able to prevent pressure in the receiver from exceeding
the maximum allowable working pressure of the receiver by more than
10 percent? |
| □ |
Is every air receiver provided with a drain
pipe and valve at the lowest point for the removal of accumulated
oil and water? |
| □ |
Are compressed air receivers periodically
drained of moisture and oil? |
| □ |
Are all safety valves tested at regular
intervals to determine whether they are in good operating
condition? |
| □ |
Is there a current operating
permit? |
| □ |
Is the inlet of air receivers and piping
systems kept free of accumulated oil and carbonaceous
materials? |
COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS
| □ |
Are cylinders with a water weight capacity
over 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) equipped with a means to connect a
valve protector device, or with a collar or recess to protect the
valve? |
| □ |
Are cylinders legibly marked to clearly
identify the type of gas? |
| □ |
Are compressed gas cylinders stored in areas
protected from external heat sources such as flame impingement,
intense radiant heat, electric arcs, or high-temperature
lines? |
| □ |
Are cylinders located or stored in areas
where they will not be damaged by passing or falling objects or
subject to tampering by unauthorized persons? |
| □ |
Are cylinders stored or transported in a
manner to prevent them from creating a hazard by tipping, falling,
or rolling? |
| □ |
Are cylinders containing liquefied fuel gas
stored or transported in a position so that the safety relief device
is always in direct contact with the vapor space in the
cylinder? |
| □ |
Are valve protectors always placed on
cylinders when the cylinders are not in use or connected for
use? |
| □ |
Are all valves closed off before a cylinder
is moved, when the cylinder is empty and at the completion of each
job? |
| □ |
Are low-pressure fuel gas cylinders checked
periodically for corrosion, general distortion, cracks, or any other
defect that might indicate a weakness or render them unfit for
service? |
| □ |
Does the periodic check of low-pressure fuel
gas cylinders include a close inspection of the cylinders’
bottoms? |
HOIST AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT
| □ |
Is each overhead electric hoist equipped
with a limit device to stop the hook at its highest and lowest point
of safe travel? |
| □ |
Will each hoist automatically stop and hold
any load up to 125 percent of its rated load if its actuating force
is removed? |
| □ |
Is the rated load of each hoist legibly
marked and visible to the operator? |
| □ |
Are stops provided at the safe limits of
travel for trolley hoists? |
| □ |
Are the controls of hoists plainly marked to
indicate the direction of travel or motion? |
| □ |
Is each cage-controlled hoist equipped with
an effective warning device? |
| □ |
Are close-fitting guards or other suitable
devices installed on each hoist to ensure that hoist ropes will be
maintained in the sheave grooves? |
| □ |
Are all hoist chains or ropes long enough to
handle the full range of movement of the application while
maintaining two full wraps around the drum at all
times? |
| □ |
Are guards provided for nip points or
contact points between hoist ropes and sheaves permanently located
within 7 feet (2.1336 meters) of the floor, ground, or working
platform? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from using chains
or rope slings that are kinked or twisted and prohibited from using
the hoist rope or chain wrapped around the load as a substitute for
a sling? |
| □ |
Is the operator instructed to avoid carrying
loads above people? |
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS - FORKLIFTS
| □ |
Are employees properly trained in the use of
the type of industrial truck they operate? |
| □ |
Are only trained personnel allowed to
operate industrial trucks? |
| □ |
Is substantial overhead protective equipment
provided on high lift rider equipment? |
| □ |
Are the required lift truck operating rules
posted and enforced? |
| □ |
Is directional lighting provided on each
industrial truck that operates in an area with less than 2 foot
candles per square foot of general lighting? |
| □ |
Does each industrial truck have a warning
horn, whistle, gong, or other device that can be clearly heard above
normal noise in the areas where it is operated? |
| □ |
Are the brakes on each industrial truck
capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete and safe stop when
fully loaded? |
| □ |
Does the parking brake of the industrial
truck prevent the vehicle from moving when unattended? |
| □ |
Are industrial trucks that operate where
flammable gases, vapors, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers may
be present approved for such locations? |
| □ |
Are motorized hand and hand/rider trucks
designed so that the brakes are applied and power to the drive motor
shuts off when the operator releases his or her grip on the device
that controls the truck’s travel? |
| □ |
Are industrial trucks with internal
combustion engines that are operated in buildings or enclosed areas
carefully checked to ensure that such operations do not cause
harmful concentrations of dangerous gases or fumes? |
| □ |
Are safe distances maintained from the edges
of elevated ramps and platforms? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from standing or
passing under elevated portions of trucks, whether loaded or
empty? |
| □ |
Are unauthorized employees prohibited from
riding on trucks? |
| □ |
Are operators prohibited from driving up to
anyone standing in front of a fixed object? |
| □ |
Are arms and legs kept inside the running
lines of the truck? |
| □ |
Are loads handled only within the rated
capacity of the truck? |
| □ |
Are trucks in need of repair removed from
service immediately? |
SPRAYING OPERATIONS
| □ |
Is adequate ventilation provided before
spraying operations are started? |
| □ |
Is mechanical ventilation provided when
spraying operations are performed in enclosed areas? |
| □ |
When mechanical ventilation is provided
during spraying operations, is it so arranged that it will not
circulate the contaminated air? |
| □ |
Is the spray area free of hot surfaces and
at least 20 feet (6.096 meters) from flames, sparks, operating
electrical motors and other ignition sources? |
| □ |
Are portable lamps used to illuminate spray
areas suitable for use in a hazardous location? |
| □ |
Is approved respiratory equipment provided
and used when appropriate during spraying operations? |
| □ |
Do solvents used for cleaning have a flash
point to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (deg. F) or more? |
| □ |
Are fire control sprinkler heads kept
clean? |
| □ |
Are “NO SMOKING” signs posted in spray
areas, paint rooms, paint booths and paint storage
areas? |
| □ |
Is the spray area kept clean of combustible
residue? |
| □ |
Are spray booths constructed of metal,
masonry, or other substantial noncombustible material? |
| □ |
Are spray booth floors and baffles
noncombustible and easily cleaned? |
| □ |
Is infrared drying apparatus kept out of the
spray area during spraying operations and is the spray booth
completely ventilated before using the drying
apparatus? |
| □ |
Is the electric drying apparatus properly
grounded? |
| □ |
Are lighting fixtures for spray booths
located outside the booth with the interior lighted through sealed
clear panels? |
| □ |
Are the electric motors for exhaust fans
placed outside booths or ducts? |
| □ |
Are belts and pulleys inside the booth fully
enclosed? |
| □ |
Do ducts have access doors to allow
cleaning? |
| □ |
Do all drying spaces have adequate
ventilation? |
ENTERING CONFINED SPACES
| □ |
Are confined spaces thoroughly emptied of
any corrosive or hazardous substances, such as acids or caustics,
before entry? |
| □ |
Are all lines to a confined space that
contain inert, toxic, flammable, or corrosive materials valved off
and blanked or disconnected and separated before entry? |
| □ |
Are all impellers, agitators, or other
moving parts and equipment inside confined spaces locked out if they
present a hazard? |
| □ |
Is either natural or mechanical ventilation
provided prior to confined space entry? |
| □ |
Are appropriate atmospheric tests performed
to check for oxygen deficiency, toxic substances and explosive
concentrations in the confined space before entry? |
| □ |
Is adequate illumination provided for the
work to be performed in the confined space? |
| □ |
Is the atmosphere inside the confined space
frequently tested or continuously monitored during
work? |
| □ |
Is there a trained and equipped standby
employee positioned outside the confined space, whose sole
responsibility is to watch the work in progress, sound an alarm if
necessary and render assistance? |
| □ |
Is the standby employee appropriately
trained and equipped to handle an emergency? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from entering the
confined space without lifelines and respiratory equipment if there
is any question as to the cause of an emergency? |
| □ |
Is approved respiratory equipment required
if the atmosphere inside the confined space cannot be made
acceptable? |
| □ |
Is all portable electrical equipment used
inside confined spaces either grounded and insulated or equipped
with ground fault protection? |
| □ |
Are compressed gas bottles forbidden inside
the confined space? |
| □ |
Before gas welding or burning is started in
a confined space, are hoses checked for leaks, torches lighted only
outside the confined area and the confined area tested for an
explosive atmosphere each time before a lighted torch is taken into
the confined space? |
| □ |
If employees will be using oxygen-consuming
equipment such as salamanders, torches, furnaces, etc., in a
confined space, is sufficient air provided to assure combustion
without reducing the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere below
19.5 percent by volume? |
| □ |
Whenever combustion-type equipment is used
in a confined space, are provisions made to ensure the exhaust gases
are vented outside of the enclosure? |
| □ |
Is each confined space checked for decaying
vegetation or animal matter which may produce methane? |
| □ |
Is the confined space checked for possible
industrial waste which could contain toxic properties? |
| □ |
If the confined space is below ground and
near areas where motor vehicles will be operating, is it possible
for vehicle exhaust or carbon monoxide to enter the
space? |
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS
| □ |
Are all work areas properly
illuminated? |
| □ |
Are employees instructed in proper first aid
and other emergency procedures? |
| □ |
Are hazardous substances, blood and other
potentially infectious materials, which may cause harm by
inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption or contact,
identified? |
| □ |
Are employees aware of the hazards involved
with the various chemicals they may be exposed to in their work
environment, such as ammonia, chlorine, epoxies, caustics,
etc.? |
| □ |
Is employee exposure to chemicals in the
workplace kept within acceptable levels? |
| □ |
Can a less harmful method or product be
used? |
| □ |
Is the work area ventilation system
appropriate for the work performed? |
| □ |
Are spray painting operations performed in
spray rooms or booths equipped with an appropriate exhaust
system? |
| □ |
Is employee exposure to welding fumes
controlled by ventilation, use of respirators, exposure time limits,
or other means? |
| □ |
Are welders and other nearby workers
provided with flash shields during welding operations? |
| □ |
If forklifts and other vehicles are used in
buildings or other enclosed areas, are the carbon monoxide levels
kept below maximum acceptable concentration? |
| □ |
Has there been a determination that noise
levels in the facilities are within acceptable levels? |
| □ |
Are steps being taken to use engineering
controls to reduce excessive noise levels? |
| □ |
Are proper precautions being taken when
handling asbestos and other fibrous materials? |
| □ |
Are caution labels and signs used to warn of
hazardous substances (e.g., asbestos) and biohazards (e.g.,
bloodborne pathogens)? |
| □ |
Are wet methods used, when practicable, to
prevent the emission of airborne asbestos fibers, silica dust and
similar hazardous materials? |
| □ |
Are engineering controls examined and
maintained or replaced on a scheduled basis? |
| □ |
Is vacuuming with appropriate equipment used
whenever possible rather than blowing or sweeping dust? |
| □ |
Are grinders, saws and other machines that
produce respirable dusts vented to an industrial collector or
central exhaust system? |
| □ |
Are all local exhaust ventilation systems
designed to provide sufficient air flow and volume for the
application, and are ducts not plugged and belts not
slipping? |
| □ |
Is PPE provided, used and maintained
wherever required? |
| □ |
Are there written standard operating
procedures for the selection and use of respirators where
needed? |
| □ |
Are restrooms and washrooms kept clean and
sanitary? |
| □ |
Is all water provided for drinking, washing
and cooking potable? |
| □ |
Are all outlets for water that is not
suitable for drinking clearly identified? |
| □ |
Are employees’ physical capacities assessed
before they are assigned to jobs requiring heavy work? |
| □ |
Are employees instructed in the proper
manner for lifting heavy objects? |
| □ |
Where heat is a problem, have all fixed work
areas been provided with spot cooling or air
conditioning? |
| □ |
Are employees screened before assignment to
areas of high heat to determine if their health might make them more
susceptible to having an adverse reaction? |
| □ |
Are employees working on streets and
roadways who are exposed to the hazards of traffic required to wear
bright colored (traffic orange) warning vests? |
| □ |
Are exhaust stacks and air intakes located
so that nearby contaminated air will not be recirculated within a
building or other enclosed area? |
| □ |
Is equipment producing ultraviolet radiation
properly shielded? |
| □ |
Are universal precautions observed where
occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
materials can occur and in all instances where differentiation of
types of body fluids or potentially infectious materials is
difficult or impossible? |
FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS
| □ |
Are combustible scrap, debris and waste
materials (oily rags, etc.) stored in covered metal receptacles and
promptly removed from the worksite? |
| □ |
Is proper storage practiced to minimize the
risk of fire, including spontaneous combustion? |
| □ |
Are approved containers and tanks used to
store and handle flammable and combustible liquids? |
| □ |
Are all connections on drums and combustible
liquid piping, vapor and liquid tight? |
| □ |
Are all flammable liquids kept in closed
containers when not in use (e.g., parts cleaning tanks, pans,
etc.)? |
| □ |
Are bulk drums of flammable liquids grounded
and bonded to containers during dispensing? |
| □ |
Do storage rooms for flammable and
combustible liquids have explosion-proof lights and mechanical or
gravity ventilation? |
| □ |
Is liquefied petroleum gas stored, handled
and used in accordance with safe practices and
standards? |
| □ |
Are “NO SMOKING” signs posted on liquefied
petroleum gas tanks and in areas where flammable or combustible
materials are used or stored? |
| □ |
Are liquefied petroleum storage tanks
guarded to prevent damage from vehicles? |
| □ |
Are all solvent wastes and flammable liquids
kept in fire-resistant, covered containers until they are removed
from the worksite? |
| □ |
Is vacuuming used whenever possible rather
than blowing or sweeping combustible dust? |
| □ |
Are firm separators placed between
containers of combustibles or flammables that are stacked one upon
another to ensure their support and stability? |
| □ |
Are fuel gas cylinders and oxygen cylinders
separated by distance and fire-resistant barriers while in
storage? |
| □ |
Are fire extinguishers selected and provided
for the types of materials in the areas where they are to be
used? |
| □ |
Class A - Ordinary combustible material
fires. |
| □ |
Class B - Flammable liquid, gas or grease
fires. |
| □ |
Class C - Energized-electrical equipment
fires. |
| □ |
Are appropriate fire extinguishers mounted
within 75 feet (22.86 meters) of outside areas containing flammable
liquids and within 10 feet (3.048 meters) of any inside storage area
for such materials? |
| □ |
Are extinguishers free from obstructions or
blockage? |
| □ |
Are all extinguishers serviced, maintained
and tagged at intervals not to exceed one year? |
| □ |
Are all extinguishers fully charged and in
their designated places? |
| □ |
Where sprinkler systems are permanently
installed, are the nozzle heads so directed or arranged that water
will not be sprayed into operating electrical switchboards and
equipment? |
| □ |
Are safety cans used for dispensing
flammable or combustible liquids at the point of use? |
| □ |
Are all spills of flammable or combustible
liquids cleaned up promptly? |
| □ |
Are storage tanks adequately vented to
prevent the development of excessive vacuum or pressure as a result
of filling, emptying, or atmosphere temperature
changes? |
| □ |
Are storage tanks equipped with emergency
venting that will relieve excessive internal pressure caused by fire
exposure? |
| □ |
Are rules enforced in areas involving
storage and use of hazardous
materials? |
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
| □ |
Are employees aware of the potential hazards
and trained in safe handling practices for situations involving
various chemicals stored or used in the workplace such as acids,
bases, caustics, epoxies, phenols, etc.? |
| □ |
Is employee exposure to chemicals kept
within acceptable levels? |
| □ |
Are eye-wash fountains and safety showers
provided in areas where corrosive chemicals are
handled? |
| □ |
Are all containers, such as vats, storage
tanks, etc., labeled as to their contents, e.g.,
“CAUSTICS”? |
| □ |
Are all employees required to use personal
protective clothing and equipment when handling chemicals (gloves,
eye protection, respirators, etc.)? |
| □ |
Are flammable or toxic chemicals kept in
closed containers when not in use? |
| □ |
Are chemical piping systems clearly marked
as to their content? |
| □ |
Where corrosive liquids are frequently
handled in open containers or drawn from storage vessels or
pipelines, are adequate means readily available for neutralizing or
disposing of spills or overflows and performed properly and
safely? |
| □ |
Are standard operating procedures
established and are they being followed when cleaning up chemical
spills? |
| □ |
Are respirators stored in a convenient,
clean and sanitary location, and are they adequate for
emergencies? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from eating in
areas where hazardous chemicals are present? |
| □ |
Is PPE used and maintained whenever
necessary? |
| □ |
Are there written standard operating
procedures for the selection and use of respirators where
needed? |
| □ |
If you have a respirator protection program,
are your employees instructed on the correct usage and limitations
of the respirators? |
| □ |
Are the respirators National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved for this particular
application? |
| □ |
Are they regularly inspected, cleaned,
sanitized and maintained? |
| □ |
If hazardous substances are used in your
processes, do you have a medical or biological monitoring system in
operation? |
| □ |
Are you familiar with the threshold limit
values or permissible exposure limits of airborne contaminants and
physical agents used in your workplace? |
| □ |
Have appropriate control procedures been
instituted for hazardous materials, including safe handling
practices and the use of respirators and ventilation
systems? |
| □ |
Whenever possible, are hazardous substances
handled in properly designed and exhausted booths or similar
locations? |
| □ |
Do you use general dilution or local exhaust
ventilation systems to control dusts, vapors, gases, fumes, smoke,
solvents, or mists that may be generated in your
workplace? |
| □ |
Is operational ventilation equipment
provided for removal of contaminants from production grinding,
buffing, spray painting, and/or vapor degreasing? |
| □ |
Do employees complain about dizziness,
headaches, nausea, irritation, or other factors of discomfort when
they use solvents or other chemicals? |
| □ |
Is there a dermatitis problem? Do employees
complain about dryness, irritation, or sensitization of the
skin? |
| □ |
Have you considered having an industrial
hygienist or environmental health specialist evaluate your
operation? |
| □ |
If internal combustion engines are used, is
carbon monoxide kept within acceptable levels? |
| □ |
Is vacuuming used rather than blowing or
sweeping dust whenever possible for cleanup? |
| □ |
Are materials that give off toxic,
asphyxiant, suffocating, or anesthetic fumes stored in remote or
isolated locations when not in use? |
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES COMMUNICATION
| □ |
Is there a list of hazardous substances used
in your workplace and an MSDS readily available for each hazardous
substance used? |
| □ |
Is there a current written exposure control
plan for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other
potentially infectious materials, where applicable? |
| □ |
Is there a written hazard communication
program dealing with MSDSs, labeling and employee
training? |
| □ |
Is each container for a hazardous substance
(i.e., vats, bottles, storage tanks, etc.) labeled with product
identity and a hazard warning (communication of the specific health
hazards and physical hazards)? |
| □ |
Is there an employee training program for
hazardous substances that includes:
- an explanation of what an MSDS is and how to use and obtain
one;
- MSDS contents for each hazardous substance or class of
substances;
- explanation of “A Right to Know”;
- identification of where an employee can see the written hazard
communication program;
- location of physical and health hazards in particular work
areas and the specific protective measures to be used; and
- details of the hazard communication program, including how to
use the labeling system and MSDSs.
|
| □ |
Does the employee training program on the
bloodborne pathogens standard contain the following
elements:
- an accessible copy of the standard and an explanation of its
contents;
- a general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of
bloodborne diseases;
- an explanation of the modes of transmission of Bloodborne
Pathogens;
- an explanation of the employer’s exposure control plan and the
means by which employees can obtain a copy of the written plan;
- an explanation of the appropriate methods for recognizing
tasks and the other activities that may involve exposure to blood
and other potentially infectious materials;
- an explanation of the use and limitations of methods that will
prevent or reduce exposure, including appropriate engineering
controls, work practices and PPE;
- information on the types, proper use, location, removal,
handling, decontamination and disposal of PPE;
- an explanation of the basis for selection of PPE;
- information on the hepatitis B vaccine;
- information on the appropriate actions to take and persons to
contact in an emergency involving blood or other potentially
infectious materials;
- an explanation of the procedure to follow if an exposure
incident occurs, including the methods of reporting the incident
and the medical follow-up that will be made available;
- information on post-exposure evaluations and follow-up; and
- an explanation of signs, labels and color coding.
|
| □ |
Are employees trained in:
- how to recognize tasks that might result in occupational
exposure;
- how to use work practice, engineering controls and PPE, and
their limitations;
- how to obtain information on the types, selection, proper use,
location, removal, handling, decontamination and disposal of PPE;
and
- who to contact and what to do in an emergency.
|
ELECTRICAL
| □ |
Do you require compliance with OSHA
standards for all contract electrical work? |
| □ |
Are all employees required to report any
obvious hazard to life or property in connection with electrical
equipment or lines as soon as possible? |
| □ |
Are employees instructed to make preliminary
inspections and/or appropriate tests to determine conditions before
starting work on electrical equipment or lines? |
| □ |
When electrical equipment or lines are to be
serviced, maintained, or adjusted, are necessary switches opened,
locked out or tagged, whenever possible? |
| □ |
Are portable electrical tools and equipment
grounded or of the double insulated type? |
| □ |
Are electrical appliances such as vacuum
cleaners, polishers, vending machines, etc., grounded? |
| □ |
Do extension cords have a grounding
conductor? |
| □ |
Are multiple plug adaptors
prohibited? |
| □ |
Are ground-fault circuit interrupters
installed on each temporary 15 or 20 ampere, 120 volt alternating
current (AC) circuit at locations where construction, demolition,
modifications, alterations, or excavations are being
performed? |
| □ |
Are all temporary circuits protected by
suitable disconnecting switches or plug connectors at the junction
with permanent wiring? |
| □ |
Do you have electrical installations in
hazardous dust or vapor areas? If so, do they meet the National
Electrical Code (NEC) for hazardous locations? |
| □ |
Are exposed wiring and cords with frayed or
deteriorated insulation repaired or replaced promptly? |
| □ |
Are flexible cords and cables free of
splices or taps? |
| □ |
Are clamps or other securing means provided
on flexible cords or cables at plugs, receptacles, tools, equipment,
etc., and is the cord jacket securely held in place? |
| □ |
Are all cord, cable and raceway connections
intact and secure? |
| □ |
In wet or damp locations, are electrical
tools and equipment appropriate for the use or location or otherwise
protected? |
| □ |
Is the location of electrical power lines
and cables (overhead, underground, under floor, other side of walls,
etc.) determined before digging, drilling, or similar work is
begun? |
| □ |
Are metal measuring tapes, ropes, hand-lines
or similar devices with metallic thread woven into the fabric
prohibited where they could come in contact with energized parts of
equipment or circuit conductors? |
| □ |
Is the use of metal ladders prohibited where
the ladder or the person using the ladder could come in contact with
energized parts of equipment, fixtures, or circuit
conductors? |
| □ |
Are all disconnecting switches and circuit
breakers labeled to indicate their use or equipment
served? |
| □ |
Are disconnecting means always opened before
fuses are replaced? |
| □ |
Do all interior wiring systems include
provisions for grounding metal parts of electrical raceways,
equipment and enclosures? |
| □ |
Are all electrical raceways and enclosures
securely fastened in place? |
| □ |
Are all energized parts of electrical
circuits and equipment guarded against accidental contact by
approved cabinets or enclosures? |
| □ |
Is sufficient access and working space
provided and maintained around all electrical equipment to permit
ready and safe operations and maintenance? |
| □ |
Are all unused openings (including conduit
knockouts) in electrical enclosures and fittings closed with
appropriate covers, plugs, or plates? |
| □ |
Are electrical enclosures such as switches,
receptacles, junction boxes, etc., provided with tight-fitting
covers or plates? |
| □ |
Are disconnecting switches for electrical
motors in excess of two horsepower able to open the circuit when the
motor is stalled without exploding? (Switches must be horsepower
rated equal to or in excess of the motor rating.) |
| □ |
Is low voltage protection provided in the
control device of motors driving machines or equipment that could
cause injury from inadvertent starting? |
| □ |
Is each motor disconnecting switch or
circuit breaker located within sight of the motor control
device? |
| □ |
Is each motor located within sight of its
controller or is the controller disconnecting means able to be
locked open or is a separate disconnecting means installed in the
circuit within sight of the motor? |
| □ |
Is the controller for each motor that
exceeds two horsepower rated equal to or above the rating of the
motor it serves? |
| □ |
Are employees who regularly work on or
around energized electrical equipment or lines instructed in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from working alone
on energized lines or equipment over 600
volts? |
NOISE
| □ |
Are there areas in the workplace where
continuous noise levels exceed 85 decibels? |
| □ |
Is there an ongoing preventive health
program to educate employees in safe levels of noise, exposures,
effects of noise on their health and the use of personal
protection? |
| □ |
Have work areas where noise levels make
voice communication between employees difficult been identified and
posted? |
| □ |
Are noise levels measured with a sound level
meter or an octave band analyzer and are records being
kept? |
| □ |
Have engineering controls been used to
reduce excessive noise levels? Where engineering controls are
determined to be infeasible, are administrative controls (i.e.,
worker rotation) being used to minimize individual employee exposure
to noise? |
| □ |
Is approved hearing protective equipment
(noise attenuating devices) available to every employee working in
noisy areas? |
| □ |
Have you tried isolating noisy machinery
from the rest of your operation? |
| □ |
If you use ear protectors, are employees
properly fitted and instructed in their use? |
| □ |
Are employees in high noise areas given
periodic audiometric testing to ensure that you have an effective
hearing protection system? |
FUELING
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from fueling an
internal combustion engine with a flammable liquid while the engine
is running? |
| □ |
Are fueling operations performed to minimize
spillage? |
| □ |
When spillage occurs during fueling
operations, is the spilled fuel washed away completely, evaporated,
or are other measures taken to control vapors before restarting the
engine? |
| □ |
Are fuel tank caps replaced and secured
before starting the engine? |
| □ |
In fueling operations, is there always metal
contact between the container and the fuel tank? |
| □ |
Are fueling hoses designed to handle the
specific type of fuel? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from handling or
transferring gasoline in open containers? |
| □ |
Are open lights, open flames, sparking, or
arcing equipment prohibited near fueling or transfer of fuel
operations? |
| □ |
Is smoking prohibited in the vicinity of
fueling operations? |
| □ |
Are fueling operations prohibited in
buildings or other enclosed areas that are not specifically
ventilated for this purpose? |
| □ |
Where fueling or transfer of fuel is done
through a gravity flow system, are the nozzles
self-closing? |
IDENTIFICATION OF PIPING SYSTEMS
| □ |
When nonpotable water is piped through a
facility, are outlets or taps posted to alert employees that the
water is unsafe and not to be used for drinking, washing, or other
personal use? |
| □ |
When hazardous substances are transported
through above-ground piping, is each pipeline identified at points
where confusion could introduce hazards to employees? |
| □ |
When pipelines are identified by color
painted bands or tapes, are the bands or tapes located at reasonable
intervals and at each outlet, valve, or connection, and are all
visible parts of the line so identified? |
| □ |
When pipelines are identified by color, is
the color code posted at all locations where confusion could
introduce hazards to employees? |
| □ |
When the contents of pipelines are
identified by name or name abbreviation, is the information readily
visible on the pipe near each valve or outlet? |
| □ |
When pipelines carrying hazardous substances
are identified by tags, are the tags constructed of durable
materials, the message printed clearly and permanently, and are tags
installed at each valve or outlet? |
| □ |
When pipelines are heated by electricity,
steam, or other external source, are suitable warning signs or tags
placed at unions, valves, or other serviceable parts of the
system? |
MATERIALS HANDLING
| □ |
Is there safe clearance for equipment
through aisles and doorways? |
| □ |
Are aisleways permanently marked and kept
clear to allow unhindered passage? |
| □ |
Are motorized vehicles and mechanized
equipment inspected daily or prior to use? |
| □ |
Are vehicles shut off and brakes set prior
to loading or unloading? |
| □ |
Are containers of liquid combustibles or
flammables, when stacked while being moved, always protected by
dunnage (packing material) sufficient to provide
stability? |
| □ |
Are dock boards (bridge plates) used when
loading or unloading operations are taking place between vehicles
and docks? |
| □ |
Are trucks and trailers secured from
movement during loading and unloading operations? |
| □ |
Are dock plates and loading ramps
constructed and maintained with sufficient strength to support
imposed loading? |
| □ |
Are hand trucks maintained in safe operating
condition? |
| □ |
Are chutes equipped with sideboards of
sufficient height to prevent the materials being handled from
falling off? |
| □ |
Are chutes and gravity roller sections
firmly placed or secured to prevent displacement? |
| □ |
Are provisions made to brake the movement of
the handled materials at the delivery end of rollers or
chutes? |
| □ |
Are pallets usually inspected before being
loaded or moved? |
| □ |
Are safety latches and other devices being
used to prevent slippage of materials off of hoisting
hooks? |
| □ |
Are securing chains, ropes, chockers, or
slings adequate for the job? |
| □ |
Are provisions made to ensure that no one is
below when hoisting material or equipment? |
| □ |
Are MSDSs available to employees handling
hazardous substances? |
TRANSPORTING EMPLOYEES AND
MATERIALS
| □ |
Do employees who operate vehicles on public
thoroughfares have valid operator’s licenses? |
| □ |
When seven or more employees are regularly
transported in a van, bus, or truck, is the operator’s license
appropriate for the class of vehicle being driven and are there
enough seats? |
| □ |
Are vehicles used to transport employees
equipped with lamps, brakes, horns, mirrors, windshields and turn
signals, and are they in good repair? |
| □ |
Are transport vehicles provided with
handrails, steps, stirrups, or similar devices, placed and arranged
to allow employees to safely mount or dismount? |
| □ |
Are employee transport vehicles equipped at
all times with at least two reflective-type flares? |
| □ |
Is a fully charged fire extinguisher, in
good condition, with at least a 4 B:C rating maintained in each
employee transport vehicle? |
| □ |
When cutting tools or tools with sharp edges
are carried in passenger compartments of employee transport
vehicles, are they placed in closed boxes or containers that are
secured in place? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from riding on top
of any load that could shift, topple, or otherwise become
unstable? |
CONTROL OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES BY
VENTILATION
| □ |
Is the volume and velocity of air in each
exhaust system sufficient to gather the dusts, fumes, mists, vapors,
or gases to be controlled, and to convey them to a suitable point of
disposal? |
| □ |
Are exhaust inlets, ducts and plenums
designed, constructed and supported to prevent collapse or failure
of any part of the system? |
| □ |
Are clean-out ports or doors provided at
intervals not to exceed 12 feet (3.6576 meters) in all horizontal
runs of exhaust ducts? |
| □ |
Where two or more different operations are
being controlled through the same exhaust system, could the
combination of substances involved create a fire, explosion, or
chemical reaction hazard in the duct? |
| □ |
Is adequate makeup air provided to areas
where exhaust systems are operating? |
| □ |
Is the source point for makeup air located
so that only clean, fresh air, free of contaminants will enter the
work environment? |
| □ |
Where two or more ventilation systems serve
a work area, is their operation such that one will not offset the
functions of the other? |
SANITIZING EQUIPMENT AND
CLOTHING
| □ |
Is required personal protective clothing or
equipment able to be cleaned and disinfected easily? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from interchanging
personal protective clothing or equipment, unless it has been
properly cleaned? |
| □ |
Are machines and equipment that process,
handle, or apply materials that could injure employees cleaned
and/or decontaminated before being overhauled or placed in
storage? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from smoking or
eating in any area where contaminants are present that could be
injurious if ingested? |
| □ |
When employees are required to change from
street clothing into protective clothing, is a clean change room
with a separate storage facility for street and protective clothing
provided? |
| □ |
Are employees required to shower and wash
their hair as soon as possible after a known contact with a
carcinogen has occurred? |
| □ |
When equipment, materials, or other items
are taken into or removed from a carcinogen-regulated area, is it
done in a manner that will not contaminate non-regulated areas or
the external environment? |
TIRE INFLATION
| □ |
Where tires are mounted and/or inflated on
drop center wheels or on wheels with split rims and/or retainer
rings, is a safe practice procedure posted and
enforced? |
| □ |
Does each tire inflation hose have a clip-on
chuck with at least 2.54 inches (6.45 centimeters) of hose between
the chuck and an in-line hand valve and gauge? |
| □ |
Does the tire inflation control valve
automatically shut off the air flow when the valve is
released? |
| □ |
Is a tire restraining device such as a cage,
rack, or other effective means used while inflating tires mounted on
split rims or rims using retainer rings? |
| □ |
Are employees prohibited from standing
directly over or in front of a tire while it is being
inflated? |
ASSISTANCE IN SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES
OSHA Assistance
OSHA’S OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
OSHA created the Office of Small
Business Assistance to help small business employers understand their
safety and health obligations, access compliance information, provide
guidance on regulatory standards, and to educate them about cost-effective
means for ensuring the safety and health of worksites.
OSHA’s
Office of Small Business Assistance can be contacted by telephone at (202)
693-2220 or by writing to the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Room N-3700, Washington, DC 20210.
ON-SITE
CONSULTATION
Using the free and
confidential on-site consultation service largely funded by the Federal
OSHA, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites,
improve their occupational safety and health management systems, and even
qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections.
The
service is delivered at your workplace by state governments using
well-trained professional staff. Most consultations take place on-site,
though limited services away from the worksite are
available.
Primarily targeted for smaller businesses, this safety
and health Consultation Program is completely separate from OSHA’s
enforcement efforts. It is also confidential. No inspections are triggered
by using the Consultation Program and no citations are issued or penalties
proposed.
Your name, your firm’s name and any information you
provide about your workplace, plus any unsafe or unhealthful working
conditions that the consultant uncovers, will not routinely be reported to
the OSHA enforcement staff.
Your only obligation will be to commit
to correcting serious job safety and health hazards discovered -- a
commitment that you are expected to make prior to the actual consultation
visit. If hazards are discovered, the consultant will work with you to
ensure they are corrected in a reasonable timeframe agreed upon by all
parties.
Getting Started. Since
consultation is a voluntary activity, you must request it. Your telephone
call or letter sets the consulting machinery in motion. The consultant
will discuss your specific needs and set up a visit date based on the
priority assigned to your request, your work schedule and the time needed
for the consultant to prepare adequately to serve you. OSHA encourages a
complete review of your firm’s safety and health situation; however, if
you wish, you may limit the visit to one or more specific
problems.
Opening Conference. When the
consultant arrives at your worksite for the scheduled visit, he or she
will first meet with you in an opening conference to briefly review the
consultant’s role and the obligations you incur as an
employer.
Walk-through. Together, you and
the consultant will examine conditions in your workplace. OSHA strongly
encourages maximum employee participation in the walk-through. Better
informed and alert employees can help you identify and correct potential
injury and illness hazards in your workplace. Talking with employees
during the walkthrough helps the consultant identify and judge the nature
and extent of specific hazards.
The consultant will study your
entire workplace, or only those specific operations you designate, and
discuss applicable OSHA standards. The consultant also will point out
other safety or health risks which might not be cited under OSHA
standards, but which nevertheless may pose safety or health risks to your
employees. He or she may suggest and even provide measures such as
self-inspection and safety and health training that you and your employees
can apply to prevent future hazardous situations.
A comprehensive
consultation also includes: (1) appraisal of all mechanical and
environmental hazards and physical work practices; (2) appraisal of the
present job safety and health program or help in establishing one; (3) a
conference with management on findings; (4) a written report of
recommendations and agreements; and (5) training and assistance with
implementing recommendations.
Closing
Conference. The consultant will then review detailed findings with
you in a closing conference. You will learn not only what you need to
improve but what you are doing right, as well. At that time you can
discuss problems, possible solutions and abatement periods to eliminate or
control any serious hazards identified during the walkthrough.
In
rare instances, the consultant may find an “imminent danger” situation
during the walkthrough. In that case, you must take immediate action to
protect employees. In certain other situations–those that would be judged
a “serious violation” under OSHA criteria–you and the consultant must
develop and agree to a reasonable plan and schedule to eliminate or
control that hazard. The consultant will offer general approaches and
options to you. He or she may also suggest other sources for technical
help.
Abatement and Follow-through.
Following the closing conference, the consultant will send you a detailed
written report explaining the findings and confirming any abatement
periods agreed upon. The consultant may also contact you from time to time
to check your progress. You, of course, may always contact him or her for
assistance.
Ultimately, OSHA does require hazard abatement so that
each consultation visit achieves its objective–effective employee
protection. If you fail to eliminate or control identified serious hazards
(or an imminent danger) according to the plan and within the limits agreed
upon or an agreed-upon extension, the situation must be referred from
consultation to an OSHA enforcement office for appropriate action. This
type of referral is extremely rare.
Benefits. Knowledge of your workplace hazards and ways
to eliminate them can only improve your own operations–and the management
of your firm. You will get professional advice and assistance on the
correction of workplace hazards and benefit from on-site training and
assistance provided. The consultant can help you establish or strengthen
an employee safety and health program, making safety and health activities
routine rather than crisis-oriented responses.
In many states,
employers may participate in OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement
Recognition Program (SHARP). This program is designed to provide
incentives and support to smaller, high-hazard employers to develop,
implement and continuously improve effective safety and health programs at
their worksite(s). SHARP provides recognition of employers who have
demonstrated exemplary achievements in workplace safety and health,
beginning with a comprehensive safety and health consultation visit,
correction of all workplace safety and health hazards, adoption and
implementation of effective safety and health management systems, and
agreement to request further consultative visits if major changes in
working conditions or processes occur that may introduce new hazards.
Employers who meet these specific SHARP requirements may be removed from
OSHA’s programmed inspection list for one year.
The on-site
consultants will:
- help you recognize hazards in your workplace,
- suggest general approaches or options for solving a safety or health
problem,
- identify kinds of help available if you need further assistance,
- provide you with a written report summarizing findings,
- assist you in developing or maintaining an effective safety and
health program,
- provide training and education for you and your employees,
- recommend you for a one-year exclusion from OSHA programmed
inspections, once program criteria are met.
The on-site consultants will not:
- issue citations or propose penalties for violations of OSHA
standards,
- report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff,
- guarantee that your workplace will “pass” an OSHA inspection.
For a list of consultation projects in
each state, see the OSHA
website.
OTHER
COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS
Information
about OSHA’s different cooperative programs is available from any OSHA
Regional Office, OSHA Area Office, or by contacting OSHA’s Directorate of
Cooperative and State Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue,
NW, Room N-3700, Washington, DC 20210, phone (202)
693-2200.
VOLUNTARY
PROTECTION PROGRAMS (VPP)
OSHA’s
VPP provide an opportunity for labor, management and government to work
together cooperatively to further the goal of providing effective safety
and health protection in the workplace. The VPP grant recognition to
worksites that provide
or are committed to providing effective
protection for their employees through implementation of systematically
managed safety and health programs. The Star Program is for worksites that
have at least one year’s experience with an effectively implemented safety
and health program. The Merit Program is for worksites working toward an
effectively implemented program. The Demonstration Program is for
worksites with programs at Star quality but with some aspect of their
program that requires further study by OSHA. All participants work in
partnership with OSHA and provide models for OSHA and for their
industries.
OSHA
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (OSPP)
OSPP is designed to enable groups of employers, employees
and employee representatives to partner with OSHA and enter into an
extended, voluntary, cooperative relationship in order to encourage,
assist and recognize efforts to eliminate serious hazards and achieve a
high level of worker safety and health.
OSHA ALLIANCE
PROGRAM
Alliances are goal-oriented
written agreements between OSHA and organizations to work together to
prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. Organizations include employers,
employees, labor unions, trade or professional groups, educational
institutions and government agencies. Alliances focus on one or more of
the following goals: training and education, outreach and communications,
and promoting the national dialogue on occupational safety and
health.
States with
Approved Plans
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 encourages
states to develop and operate their own job safety and health programs.
OSHA approves and monitors state plans and provides up to 50 percent of an
approved plan’s operating costs.
Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands currently operate approved state
plans.
These state plans operate under authority of state law and
are required to be, in structure and performance, “at least as effective
as” the Federal OSHA Program. Although many states have adopted standards
and procedures identical to Federal standards, states may have different
or additional requirements parallel to those described in the Federal
program.
To determine which set of standards and regulations apply
to you, you need to know whether you are covered by a state plan or
subject to Federal OSHA. Please visit http://www.osha.gov/fso/osp/index.html,
call the OSHA Area Office nearest you,
or (800) 321-OSHA to obtain
this information.
If you are subject to state enforcement, the OSHA
Area Office will refer you to your state office which can provide all
relevant information, such as whether the state is using the Federal
standards, information on the poster and recordkeeping requirements, and
special services available to small businesses. The state office also can
provide you with further assistance, including directing you to the free,
on-site consultation services described above.
See the list of
OSHA-approved state plans at OSHA’s website.
OSHA Publications
A single free copy of the following
materials can be obtained from the OSHA Area or Regional Office, or
contact the OSHA Publications Office, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington, DC 20210, or call (202)
693-1888, or fax (202) 693-2498.
Access to Medical and Exposure Records – OSHA
3110
All About
OSHA – OSHA 2056 (Spanish version 3173)
Asbestos Standard for General
Industry – OSHA 3095
Consultation Services for the Employer – OSHA
3047
Control of Hazardous
Energy (Lockout/Tagout) – OSHA 3120
Emergency Exit Routes Quick
Card – OSHA 3183
Employee Workplace Rights – OSHA 3021 (Spanish
version 3049)
Employer
Rights and Responsibilities Following an OSHA Inspection –
OSHA 3000 (Spanish version 3195)
Hand and Power Tools – OSHA 3080
How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and
Evacuations – OSHA 3088
It’s the Law Poster – OSHA 3165 (Spanish
version 3167)
Job Hazard
Analysis – OSHA 3071
Model Plans & Programs for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens
and Hazard Communications Standard – OSHA 3186
Occupational Safety and Health
Act – OSHA 2001
OSHA Inspections – OSHA 2098
Personal Protective Equipment
– OSHA 3151
Servicing
Single-Piece and Multi-Piece Rim Wheels – OSHA
3086
The following publications are available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), Superintendent of Documents, Washington,
DC 20402, phone toll-free (866) 512-1800, fax (202) 5122250. Include GPO
Order Number and make checks payable to Superintendent of Documents. All
prices are subject to change by GPO.
Hazard Communication: A Compliance Kit – OSHA
3111
Order No. 029-016-00200-6. Cost: $21.00
Construction Industry Digest –
OSHA 2202
Order No. 029-016-00212-0. Cost: $8.00
Materials Handling and Storing
– OSHA 2236
Order No. 029-016-00215-4. Cost: $3.75
Internet—There is an enormous amount of compliance
assistance information on OSHA’s
website that can be useful to the small business owner. OSHA
standards, interpretations,
directives and additional information are
also available at OSHA’s website.
CD-ROM—A wide variety of OSHA materials, including
standards, interpretations, directives, and more, can be purchased on
CD-ROM from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
Documents, phone toll-free (866) 512-1800.
Emergencies—For life-threatening situations, call
(800) 321-OSHA. Your call will be directed to the nearest OSHA Area or
state office for help.
For further information on any OSHA program,
contact your nearest OSHA Area or Regional Office or call (800)
321-OSHA.
Other
Sources of Assistance
VOLUNTARY PROTECTION
PROGRAMS PARTICIPANTS’ ASSOCIATION (VPPPA)
The VPPPA is a private organization made up of VPP
participant companies. The VPPPA has members in most states where the
Federal OSHA program operates and in many states where state plans are in
force. The VPPPA is willing to provide information, outreach, and
mentoring to help work-sites improve their safety and health programs.
Chapters of the national association have been formed in most OSHA
regions. Members of these chapters also are willing to provide the kind of
assistance provided by the national organization. To contact your regional
chapter of the VPPPA, call or write the OSHA Regional Office listed in the
back of this publication for the address and telephone number of the
chapter in your region. To contact the VPPPA national organization, please
call (703) 761-1146 or write to the following address:
Voluntary
Protection Programs Participants’ Association
7600 East Leesburg Pike,
Suite 440
Falls Church, VA 22043
(703) 761-1146
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
The U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) administers the Small Business Development Center
Program to provide management and technical assistance to current and
prospective small business owners. There is a Small Business Development
Center (SBDC) in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam,
Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with more than 1,000 service centers
across the country. SBDC assistance is tailored to the local community and
the needs of individual clients and designed to deliver up-to-date
counseling, training, and technical assistance. Services could include
helping small businesses with financial, marketing, production,
organization, engineering, and technical problems.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH)
NIOSH is a
research agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (OSHA
is a regulatory agency in the U.S. Department of Labor). NIOSH conducts
research and makes recommendations to prevent work-related illness and
injury. NIOSH has produced a useful guide, Safety and
Health Resource Guide for Small Businesses, with telephone numbers,
e-mail and Internet addresses, and mailing information to enable small
businesses to contact government agencies, private organizations,
consultants, and others who can help with occupational safety and health
issues. The NIOSH toll-free phone number is (800) 356-4674, or visit the
NIOSH
website.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CARRIERS AND OTHER INSURANCE
COMPANIES
Many workers’ compensation
carriers, as well as many liability and fire insurance companies, conduct
periodic inspections and visits to evaluate safety and health hazards.
Managers of small and medium-sized businesses need to know what services
are available from these sources. Contact your carrier and see what it has
to offer.
TRADE
ASSOCIATIONS AND EMPLOYER GROUPS
Because of the increase in job safety and health awareness
resulting from OSHA activities, many trade associations and employer
groups have put a new emphasis on safety and health matters to better
serve their members. If you are a member of such a group, find out how it
is assisting its members. If you are not a member, find out if these
groups are circulating their materials to nonmembers, as many
do.
TRADE UNIONS AND
EMPLOYEE GROUPS
If your employees
are organized, set up some communications, as you do in normal labor
relations, to get coordinated action on hazards in your business. Safety
and health is one area where advance planning will produce action on
common goals. Many trade unions have safety and health expertise that they
are willing to share.
THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL AND LOCAL
CHAPTERS
The National Safety Council
(NSC) has a broad range of information services available. If you have a
local chapter of the NSC in your area, you can call or visit to see how
you can use materials pertaining to your business. If there is no chapter
nearby, you can write to:
National Safety Council
1121 Spring
Lake Drive
Itasca, IL 60143-3201
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
The following professional associations are an additional
resource that may be able to provide assistance to you:
American
Society of Safety Engineers
1800 East Oakton Street
Des Plaines,
IL 60018-2187
American Industrial Hygiene Association
2700
Prosperity Avenue
Suite 250
Fairfax, VA 22031-4319
American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists
1330 Kemper Meadow Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45240
SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONSULTATION
Talk to your local doctors or
clinics for advice on workplace medical matters on a consulting basis.
Contact your local Red Cross chapter for assistance in first aid training.
If you cannot identify a local chapter, call (800) 667-2968 or write
to:
American National Red Cross
National Headquarters
Safety Programs
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
Many local or university libraries
contain information on specific safety and health subjects pertaining to
your business. These materials are usually in reference rooms or technical
subject areas. Ask your librarian what is available. The library may be
able to obtain materials for you through inter-library loan, purchase,
etc.
Two basic publications of the National Safety Council will
give you many sources of technical information. The Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operations
is a basic reference book for all safety and health work. The second book,
Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene, contains
excellent information on toxic materials and recommended health and
hygiene practices. Both of these references list other sources at the end
of each chapter that may help you in solving specific
problems.
FINANCING
WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENT
The SBA is
authorized to make loans to assist small businesses with meeting OSHA
standards. Because SBA’s definition of a “small” business varies from
industry to industry, contact your local SBA field office to determine
whether you qualify.
A helpful hint: if you decide to apply for an
SBA loan, experience indicates that most delays in processing SBA/OSHA
loans are because applications (1) do not adequately describe each
workplace condition to be corrected and identify one or more OSHA
standards applicable to the condition to be corrected, or (2) do not
provide a reasonable estimate of the cost to correct each
condition.
In most cases, safety hazards can be corrected without
financial assistance. Health hazards may be more costly to correct. The
age and condition of the building and equipment are major factors to be
considered.
Interest rate information on SBA loans may be obtained
from any SBA office. They fluctuate but are generally lower than you can
obtain elsewhere. You may wish to consult your own bank. It pays to shop
around for loans.
Don’t forget to check with your accountant at
income tax time, since safety and health improvements can often be
expensed or depreciated.
ADDITIONAL WEB PAGES OF INTEREST TO SMALL
BUSINESSES
(Internet websites change
frequently; these listings may not be current.)
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.firstgov.gov
A
website for all agencies of the Federal government.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.sba.gov
The
U.S. Small Business Administration’s homepage.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.businesslaw.gov
Legal
and regulatory information for small businesses by state.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.regulations.gov
A
site to enable small business owners to find all Federal regulations that
are open for comment, to read them and to submit their views.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.assistancecenters.net/
For
help with understanding environmental regulations that relate to the
operation of your business.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html
This
Internal Revenue Service website offers industry- and profession-specific
tax information and guidelines.
Appendix A: Overall Action Plan
Worksheet
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| Major Action Steps to be
Taken |
Priority (Assign each Step a
Number) |
Projected Completion
Date |
Actual Completion
Date |
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Action Steps
| Description of Action to be Taken:
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| Specific Steps
Required |
Persons Assigned |
Projected Completion
Date |
Problems/Delays
Encountered |
Actual Completion
Date |
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Appendix B: Model Policy Statements
The following statements provide
examples that can be used or modified by employers to help prevent
employee injury and illness.
“The Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970 clearly states our common goal of safe and healthful working
conditions. The safety and health of our employees continues to be the
first consideration in the operation of this business.”
“Safety and
health in our business must be a part of every operation. Without question
it is every employee’s responsibility at all levels.”
“It is the
intent of this company to comply with all laws. To do this we must
constantly be aware of conditions in all work areas that can produce
injuries. No employee is required to work at a job he or she knows is not
safe or healthful. Your cooperation in detecting hazards and, in turn,
controlling them is a condition of your employment. Inform your supervisor
immediately of any situation beyond your ability or authority to
correct.”
“The personal safety and health of each employee of this
company is of primary importance. The prevention of occupationally-induced
injuries and illnesses is of such consequence that it will be given
precedence over operating productivity whenever necessary. To the greatest
degree possible, management will provide all mechanical and physical
facilities required for personal safety and health in keeping with the
highest standards.”
“We will maintain a safety and health program
conforming to the best practices of organizations of this type. To be
successful, such a program must embody the proper attitudes toward injury
and illness prevention on the part of supervisors and employees. It also
requires cooperation in all safety and health matters, not only between
supervisor and employee, but also between each employee and his or her
co-workers. Only through such a cooperative effort can a safety program in
the best interest of all be established and preserved.”
“Our
objective is a safety and health program that will reduce the number of
injuries and illnesses to an absolute minimum, not merely in keeping with,
but surpassing, the best experience of operations similar to ours. Our
goal is zero accidents and injuries.”
“Our safety and health
program will include:
- Providing mechanical and physical safeguards to the maximum extent
possible.
- A program of safety and health inspections to identify and eliminate
unsafe working conditions or practices, to control health hazards, and
to comply fully with the safety and health standards for every job.
- Training all employees in good safety and health practices.
- Providing necessary personal protective equipment and instructions
for its use and care.
- Developing and enforcing safety and health rules and requiring that
employees cooperate with these rules as a condition of employment.
- Investigating, promptly and thoroughly, every accident to find out
what caused it and to correct the problem so that it won’t happen again.
- Setting up a system of recognition and awards for outstanding safety
service or performance.”
“We recognize that
the responsibilities for safety and health are shared:
- The employer accepts responsibility for leadership of the safety and
health program, for its effectiveness and improvement, and for providing
safe conditions.
- Supervisors are responsible for developing the proper attitudes
toward safety and health in themselves and in those they supervise, and
for ensuring that all operations are performed with the utmost regard
for the safety and health of all personnel involved, including
themselves.
- Employees are responsible for compliance with all rules and
regulations and for continuously practicing safety while performing
their duties.”
Appendix C:
Codes of Safe Practices
This is a
suggested code. It is general in nature and includes many types of small
business activities. It is intended only as a model that you can customize
to describe your own work environment.
General Policy
1. All
employees of this firm shall follow these safe practice rules, render
every possible aid to safe operations, and report all unsafe conditions or
practices to the supervisor/employer.
2. Supervisors shall insist
that employees observe and obey every rule, regulation, and order
necessary to the safe conduct of the work and take such action necessary
to obtain compliance.
3. All employees shall be given frequent
accident prevention instructions. Instructions, practice drills, and
articles concerning workplace safety and health shall be given at least
once every _____ working days.
4. Anyone known to be under the
influence of alcohol and/or drugs shall not be allowed on the job while in
that condition. Persons with symptoms of alcohol and/or drug abuse are
encouraged to discuss personal or work-related problems with the
supervisor/employer.
5. No one shall knowingly be permitted or
required to work while his or her ability or alertness is impaired by
fatigue, illness, or other causes that might expose the individual or
others to injury.
6. Employees should be alert to see that all
guards and other protective devices are in proper places and adjusted, and
they shall report deficiencies. Approved protective equipment shall be
worn in specified work areas.
7. Horseplay, scuffling, and other
acts that tend to endanger the safety or well-being of employees are
prohibited.
8. Work shall be well planned and supervised to prevent
injuries when working with equipment and handling heavy materials. When
lifting heavy objects, employees should bend their knees and use the large
muscles of the legs instead of the smaller muscles of the back. Back
injuries are the most frequent and often the most persistent and painful
type of workplace injury.
9. Workers shall not handle or tamper
with any electrical equipment, machinery, or air or water lines in a
manner not within the scope of their duties, unless they have received
instructions from their supervisor/employer.
10. All injuries shall
be reported promptly to the supervisor/employer so that arrangements can
be made for medical and/or first aid treatment. First aid materials are
located in ____________; emergency, fire, ambulance, rescue squad, and
doctors’ telephone numbers are located ___________; and fire extinguishers
are located at ___________.
Suggested Safety Rules
- Do not throw material, tools, or other objects from heights (whether
structures or buildings) until proper precautions are taken to protect
others from the falling object hazard.
- Wash thoroughly after handling injurious or poisonous substances.
- Gasoline shall not be used for cleaning purposes.
- When using a ladder, always face the steps and use both hands while
climbing.
Use of Tools and
Equipment
- Keep faces of hammers in good condition to avoid flying nails and
bruised fingers.
- Files shall be equipped with handles; never use a file as a punch or
pry.
- Do not use a screwdriver as a chisel.
- Do not lift or lower portable electric tools by the power cords; use
a rope.
- Do not leave the cords of tools where cars or trucks will run over
them.
Machinery and Vehicles
- Do not attempt to operate machinery or equipment without special
permission unless it is part of your regular duties.
- Loose or frayed clothing, dangling ties, finger rings, etc., must
not be worn around moving machinery or other places where they can get
caught.
- Machinery shall not be repaired or adjusted while in operation.
Appendix D: OSHA Job Safety
and Health Standards, Regulations and Requirements
OSHA has four separate sets of standards: General Industry
(29 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1910), Construction (29 CFR 1926),
Maritime Employment (29 CFR 1915-1919), and Agriculture (29 CFR 1928).
OSHA has regulations on posting and other administrative matters in 29 CFR
1903 and on recording and reporting of injuries and illnesses in 29 CFR
1904.
The OSH Act also has a general duty clause, section 5(a)(1),
29 U.S.C. 654(b)(1), which provides that:
(a) Each employer
––
(1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and
a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are
causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his
employees.
A recognized hazard is a danger recognized by the
employer’s industry or industry in general, by the employer, or by common
sense. The general duty clause does not apply if there is an OSHA standard
dealing with the hazard, unless the employer knows that the standard does
not adequately address the hazard.
General Industry, Maritime, and
Construction OSHA standards are available at OSHA’s website.
After you have
obtained a copy of the current standards, identify those that apply to
your business by a process of elimination. Read the introduction to the
subpart heading, and then analyze the possible hazards in terms of your workplace, your equipment,
your materials and of your
employees. For example, if you are engaged in retail trade or
service and you do not have compressed gases, flammables, or explosives on
your premises, you can eliminate Hazardous Materials (Subpart H) as not
applying to your business.
If you have any questions in
determining whether a standard is applicable to your workplace, you may
contact the nearest OSHA Area Office for assistance. Staff there should be
able to answer any questions you may have about standards and provide
general guidelines on methods of implementation in your workplace. Small
businesses are encouraged to participate in the development of
standards.
Appendix E:
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
(SBREFA)
In 1996, Congress passed
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, or SBREFA, in
response to concerns expressed by the small business community that
Federal regulations were too numerous, too complex and too expensive to
implement. SBREFA was designed to give small businesses assistance in
understanding and complying with regulations and more of a voice in the
development of new regulations. Under SBREFA, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) and other Federal agencies must:
- Produce Small Entity Compliance Guides for some rules;
- Be responsive to small business inquiries about compliance with the
agency’s regulations;
- Submit final rules to Congress for review;
- Have a penalty reduction policy for small businesses; and
- Involve small businesses in the development of some proposed rules
through Small Business Advocacy Review Panels.
Commenting on Enforcement Actions
Under a law passed by Congress in 1996, the Small Business
Administration (SBA) has established an SBA Ombudsman and SBA Regional
Fairness Boards to investigate small business complaints about Federal
agency enforcement actions. If you are a small business and believe that
you have been treated unfairly by OSHA, you may file an electronic
comment/complaint with the SBA
Ombudsman.
Or you may contact the SBA's Office of the National
Ombudsman by:
- Toll Free Phone: (888) REG-FAIR (734-3247)
- Fax: (202) 481-5719
- E-mail: ombudsman@sba.gov
- Mail: Office of the National Ombudsman
U.S. Small Business
Administration
409 3rd Street, S.W., MC2120
Washington, DC
20416-0005
To view the SBREFA Act in its
entirety, please visit the following web link: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/sbrefa.html
For more information on SBREFA the following web links may prove
helpful:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.sba.gov/ombudsman/
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.sba.gov/ombudsman/dsp_overview.html
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.sba.gov/ombudsman/dsp_faq.html
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.sba.gov/advo/
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/is_oshapanel.html
NOTE:
Filing a complaint with the SBA Ombudsman does not affect any obligation
that you may have to comply with an OSHA citation or other enforcement
action. Nor does it mean that you need not take other available legal
steps to protect your interests.
OSHA Regional Offices
Region I
(CT,* ME, MA, NH, RI,
VT*)
JFK Federal Building, Room E340
Boston, MA 02203
(617)
565–9860
Region II
(NJ,* NY,* PR,*
VI*)
201 Varick Street, Room 670
New York, NY 10014
(212)
337–2378
Region III
(DE, DC, MD,* PA,
VA,* WV)
The Curtis Center
170 S. Independence Mall West
Suite
740 West
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309
(215) 861–4900
Region IV
(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,* SC,*
TN*)
SNAF
61 Forsyth Street SW, Room 6T50
Atlanta, GA
30303
(404) 562–2300
Region V
(IL,
IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)
230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3244
Chicago,
IL 60604
(312) 353–2220
Region
VI
(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)
525 Griffin Street, Room
602
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 767–4731 or 4736 x224
Region VII
(IA,* KS, MO, NE)
City Center
Square
1100 Main Street, Suite 800
Kansas City, MO 64105
(816)
426–5861
Region VIII
(CO, MT, ND, SD,
UT,* WY*)
1999 Broadway, Suite 1690
PO Box 46550
Denver, CO
80201-6550
(303) 844–1600
Region
IX
(American Samoa, AZ,* CA,* HI,* NV,* Northern
Mariana
Islands)
71 Stevenson Street, Room 420
San Francisco, CA
94105
(415) 975–4310
Region X
(AK,*
ID, OR,* WA*)
1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715
Seattle, WA
98101-3212
(206) 553–5930
*These states and territories operate
their own OSHA-approved job safety and health programs (Connecticut, New
Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico plans cover public employees only).
States with approved programs must have a standard that is identical to,
or at least as effective as, the Federal standard.
Note: To get contact information for OSHA Area Offices,
OSHA-approved State Plans, and OSHA Consultation Projects, please visit us
online at OSHA’s
website or call us at (800) 321-OSHA (6742).
Contact Information
The most complete and current information and email
addresses for OSHA Regional and Area Offices and the state Consultation
Projects can be found on OSHA’s website or by
contacting:
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
Directorate of Cooperative and State
Programs
Office of Small Business Assistance
200 Constitution Ave.,
NW
Washington, DC 20210
(800) 321-OSHA,
OSHA’s Non-Retaliation
Policy
The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) has a long-established policy that
information inquiries received by the agency regarding safety and health
regulations or other safety-related subjects shall not trigger an inspection. This policy is outlined in
OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-103 (CPL 2.103), Field Inspection Reference
Manual, Section 5 - Chapter I, B.4.b. The exact wording is:
Employer Contacts. Contacts for
information initiated by employers or their representatives shall not
trigger an inspection, nor shall such employer inquiries protect them
against regular inspections conducted pursuant to guidelines established
by the agency. Further, if an employer or its representatives indicates
that an imminent danger exists or that a fatality or catastrophe has
occurred, the Area Director shall act in accordance with established
inspection priority procedures.
While exceptions to this
policy exist, such as the presence of an imminent danger or the occurrence
of a fatality, OSHA policy is to provide assistance to help employers
prevent and reduce workplace fatalities, illnesses and
injuries.
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