Speaking of Safety
Whether you’re an individual or an organization responsible for a lockout program, you are well-aware of the immense responsibility you have to keep employees safe and your organization compliant – from writing lockout policies and procedures to training and sustaining your lockout program. Oftentimes, organizations want to jump right into training, which is essential to every lockout program.
Creating safe facilities is crucial for the warehousing and manufacturing industries. Organizations lucky enough to build their facilities from the ground up can design safe, efficient, and user-friendly work environments that avoid many of the most commonly found hazards. However, companies operating out of prebuilt facilities do not have the same luxury, but it does not mean they cannot make significant upgrades to safety.
From the time a person sets foot on your property to the time they leave, their safety is your responsibility. But safety programs not only protect your employees and visitors; they also protect your bottom line. The National Safety Council estimated that work-related deaths and injuries cost the nation, employers, and individuals $151 billion in 2016. That includes workers’ compensation claims, OSHA fines, lawsuits, equipment damage, and the cost of lost productivity, and hiring and training replacement workers.
Warehouses need safety too.  When was the last time you were witness to a “near-miss forklift accident” at a busy intersection in your warehouse or distribution center?  Chances are the memory is not that distant if you are one of those forklift drivers. The sad truth is that there are safety directors that have had to experience these events under their watch and what’s worse is, that they’re sometimes limited by budget restraints to properly resolve these problems.
Let’s discuss overcoming 5 common facility safety mistakes. These tips and reminders will help you create a safer work environment for you and your employees.
Watch the ‘Overcoming 5 Common Facility Safety Mistakes’ video!
The most critical feature in determining the number of onsite showers and eyewash stations needed is proximity. ANSI recommends that any worker should be able to reach the nearest eyewash or shower station within 10 seconds of contact with the hazardous material, regardless of their physical and mental state at the time. Â This is often assessed as a maximum distance of 55 feet. Â