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‘Performance Safety’: Is It a Better Approach?

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

OSHA Compliance: Does it INTERFERE With Safety?

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

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

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

Are Your Forklift Trainers Up to the Job?

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

Discrimination: The Other Big Compliance Risk … and Training Need

Our readership includes thousands of smaller organizations, in which one or a few individuals are responsible for all forms of legal compliance and for training others to operate within the law. Some of that involves safety, but there are other risks, too. Our Safety Training Tips columnist discusses one of them today: discrimination. Discriminatory employment […]

Bloodborne Pathogens: What OSHA Says You Must Do

OSHA has specific requirements for protecting workers from bloodborne pathogen exposures … and it’s not only for healthcare workers. Here’s a summary, and a highly recommended tool, to meet the agency’s training requirement. Yesterday’s Advisor began a discussion of risks faced by the nation’s 13.5 million healthcare workers and highlighted some strategies employers are using […]

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

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

Designing a Safety Metrics Program: Steps to Take

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

Safety Metrics: Count on Them

To receive management support, safety programs must be objectively evaluated in quantifiable terms. Here are effective ways to do it. It’s often been said that business runs on numbers. Profit. Loss. Return on investment. It’s the language senior management speaks and understands. And it’s the reason many safety managers who talk exclusively in terms of […]

Train Employees to Stay Safe on Icy, Dicey Winter Roads

Winter can be the most dangerous time of year to drive. Courtesy of the Iowa DOT, here are some tips to keep safe until spring. Ah, winter! It’s a time of beautiful snowscapes, skating and sledding. Unfortunately, much of that skating and sledding is done by drivers on icy roads, to nasty effect. Taking note, […]