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No one wants it to happen, but an emergency, natural or manmade, can strike at anytime, 24/7. What’s more, it need not be a major, nationally-televised incident, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or act of political terror. An event as common as a local building fire can present just as large a challenge to you. These resources will help you create a plan for handling such crises, whatever their scope, and to carry it out in a way that best protects your employees and your company.
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On an average day, there are more than 200 workplace fires in this country. Annually, those fires kill hundreds of workers, injure many thousands more, and cost American businesses billions of dollars in damage and lost productivity. Unfortunately, there are dozens of ways workplace fires can start. You have to be on top of potential […]
Yesterday, we talked about OSHA requirements and expert recommendations concerning the planning, policies, and people involved in workplace emergencies. Today, we tell you about what one company is doing to make sure it is always ready for any kind of emergency. The Lubrizol Corporation is a specialty chemical company that makes lubricant additives for engine […]
Preparing for emergencies to reduce the potential for employee injury or death is a large and complex task. To carry out your responsibilities effectively, you have to consider all the plans, policies, and people involved in emergency response. Bad things happen to good companies and to their employees. Since September 11, 2001, U.S. businesses large […]
To be confident that your employees are ready for any emergency, you have to PREPARE—Plan, Review, Evaluate, Practice, Anticipate, Retrain, and Emphasize. According to Safety Audit Checklists, emergency planning must be: Systematic. Haphazard or half-hearted efforts that get low priority and little attention won’t do the job. You need a well-structured, well-organized, thorough plan that […]
Talk to your people about emergency preparedness. Make sure that they know all about your emergency plans and that all their questions are answered. Guarantee they’ll be ready to act. One of the best ways to ensure safety in a workplace emergency and a quick recovery after, says ready.gov, is to communicate regularly with employees […]
Electrical accidents cause countless injuries and claim the lives of hundreds of Americans each year. Injuries could be minimized and many lives saved if proper rescue techniques were used. When an electrical accident occurs, the victim may be incapable of moving or releasing the electrical conductor because of the effect of something called “muscle clamping.” […]
Almost 3 million workers in the United States are at risk every day from uncontrolled energy when servicing equipment. There are roughly 3,600 disabling injuries and 4,000 nondisabling electrical contact injuries every year. Electrical hazards include electrocution, electric shock, burns, and falls. Electric shock occurs in one of three ways. Individuals, while in contact with […]
Yesterday, we focused on hurricanes, a type of workplace emergency for which employers in many states must be prepared. But hurricanes don’t affect everyone and they aren’t the only potential workplace disaster you need to anticipate. Whether a workplace emergency is natural or man-made, OSHA makes you responsible for ensuring employee safety in the workplace. […]
Hurricane season is here. These monster storms can strike with tremendous, destructive force. And when they do, winds, water, and flying debris can threaten your business and your employees. Preparation is the key to survival and recovery. Preparation for hurricane season should begin long before the first hurricane warning is announced, says the American Society […]
Your level of preparation for emergencies will determine how well your employees and your facility survive these incidents. It will also establish how OSHA views your compliance with emergency action requirements. Just about anywhere you look in the OSHA standards, you’ll find some reference to workplace emergencies. Subparts E, H, K, L, and Z of […]