Survey Says Office Workers Unsure of Company Safety Plans

A recent survey commissioned by Staples.com of small business managers and office workers on office health and safety showed gaps in office workers’ awareness of companies’ safety plans and preparedness, a situation that could lead to increased accidents and injuries.

The survey found that managers were far better informed about workplace safety preparedness than office workers, who were uncertain about what they should do in case of an emergency.

For example:

• While nearly 70% of managers say their company has an emergency communication plan, nearly half of office workers are either unsure if a plan exists or say their company doesn’t have a plan.
• 50% of office workers said they participate in safety drills only once every few years or never.
• Only 19% of office workers think their company is prepared for a major medical emergency.

The Staples Safety Survey was conducted through a third party research company. A total of 208 office managers and 204 office workers responded to the survey from small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

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Emergency Supplies

According to the survey, managers were almost 50% more likely than nonmanagers to be able to locate their company’s safety-related supplies such as defibrillators, eyewash, dust masks, and caution and wet floor signs.

Small businesses prepare for emergencies and prevent accidents by acquiring an assortment of high-quality and dependable safety supplies such as gloves and eye/ear/face protection, fire extinguishers, first aid supplies, and even defibrillators, said a Staples representative.

Additional Findings

Additional safety findings from the survey include:

• When it comes to fire, more than 70% of both managers and office workers felt their company was somewhat or very prepared.
• When it comes to flooding, only 50% of employees felt their company was adequately prepared. This is a particularly concerning statistic because, according to the National Weather Service Forecast Office, flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other severe weather-related event, costing an average of $4.6 billion a year.
• While 56% of managers said they were either very prepared or somewhat prepared in case of a hazardous material exposure, only 23% of office workers said they would know what to do in that circumstance.

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Training for Consistent Compliance

If you’ve been looking for quality emergency action training or training for a wide range of other safety concerns, look no farther. Safety Training Presentations gets you off to a good start with 25 core PowerPoint^® safety presentations, each one responsive to either an OSHA training requirement or to common causes of workplace accidents. All are customizable, so you can add your specific hazards or safety policies.

Each lesson also includes completion certificates, sign-in sheets, evaluation forms, and training records. In short, it contains everything you need to motivate, reinforce, retain, and transfer new knowledge—and document that you did so.

In addition to emergency action, Safety Training Presentation topics covered include:

• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Back Safety
• Ergonomics
• Fire Prevention
• PPE
• Welding/Cutting/Brazing
• Portable Power Tool Safety
• Scaffolds
• Lockout/Tagout
• Forklift Operator Safety
• Confined Space Safety
• Fall Protection
• Respiratory Protection
• and more!

Of course, training needs change as OSHA introduces new requirements or as new work practices and technologies bring new hazards. To cover this, you receive a new CD every 90 days you’re in the program, each containing five additional or updated topics.

Just as important for those on a budget (and who isn’t these days?), the cost of these presentations works out to under $20 each.

We’ve arranged for Advisor subscribers to get a no-cost, no-obligation look at Safety Training Presentations for 30 days. Feel free to try a few lessons with your own trainees. Please let us know, and we’ll be glad to set it up.