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"Safety Training and Workplace Safety Programs."

October 16, 2009 by Mike Strawbridge

Complying with OSHA guidelines can be a confusing maze to navigate.

Trying to keep your workers safe on the job can be an even bigger challenge.

Practical - real world workplace safety solutions are often hard to come by.

At Westvaco we designed many simple machine guards and safety interlocks that became models for other facilities.

By establishing interesting and relevant workplace safety training programs, we were able to educate our employees in not only the safe way to do things but also the most efficient or effective manner as well.

Total Safety management plans:

By interfacing safety in to all management systems, safety becomes a way of life rather than a burden.   Safety procedures do not have to reduce productivity but instead can be used to improve production and quality when workers are no longer afraid of the machines.    It is our opinion that the safety manual should not be a separate book pulled only mostly to punish but rather safety procedures should be incorporated into all work instructions.  Tell the workers how to to the job safely and correctly rather than give them a list of "Shalt Nots"

Using TCIR - Total Case Incident Rate - as a measure of safety performance, we took the Westvaco Folding Carton plant from a rate of 24 down to less than 5 in a three year implementation period.

Workplace Safety Training articles:

Top 10 Workplace safety tips

Top ten home workshop safety tips

Workplace Safety and The Secret

Nail Gun safety tips

Eye protection and safety glasses

How to create a safe and productive workplace

Safety: Operator Training Programs

PSM: Process Safety Management Training

The importance of clear instructions

Safety Storage Cabinets

Child Safety Gates

What You Need to Know About Smoke Detectors and Smoke Alarms.

How to improve your safety metrics without making your workplace safer.

How to implement effective evacuation plans and handle fire drill training.

Ten Tips for a new Safety Director
The job of safety director can and should be one of the most rewarding jobs in industry. After all, you get paid to make sure people have a happy and safe day at work - or at least that they leave with the same number of fingers and toes that they come in with. Here are some important tips that will help guide you to having a successful experience as a safety director:

OSHA Training Documents (pdf)

Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines

Controlling Electrical Hazards

Lockout / Tagout - Control of Hazardous Energy

 

Mike Strawbridge October 16, 2009

Always chock the wheels before welding on the gas tank!