General Safety

Mr. Retherford's Lecture Notes

1. Discuss the importance of safety.

A. Safety is important because working safe helps workers to leave work in the safe condition that they were in when they arrived.

B. When you take a job you have a safety obligation to your employer, safety is part of your job.

C. Your employer is obligated, by law, to provide a safe workplace

D. The ultimate responsibility for your safety rests with you. The root cause of almost all accidents is bad judgment, or lack of paying attention by the person that was injured.Show #9 Donkey

2. Discuss Safety Culture Show #2 Safety Culture

A. A company that has a good safety culture is a company in which every employee from top to bottom sees the value of a safe work environment.

B. Companies with good safety cultures usually have:

1. Fewer at risk behaviors

2. Lower accident rates

3. Less turnover

4. Lower absenteeism

5. Higher Productivity

6. Lower EMR – Experience Modification Rate

3. Discuss EMR

1. EMR is used to calculate a company’s Workers Compensation Insurance rates. Workers Compensation is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits for employees who are injured in the course of employment.

2. Companies with average safety records have an EMR of 1.6, The better the safety record the lower the EMR, the worse the safety record, the higher the EMR.Show Image #3.

3. Since EMR is used to calculate Insurance Rates, companies that promote safety enjoy cost savings through lower insurance premiums.

4. EMR’s are also used to evaluate a companies overall expertise.

4. Accidents are defined as an unplanned event that may or may not result in personal injury or property loss. They are classified as follows:

A. Near miss – an unplanned event in which no one was hurt and no property was damaged. They should be taken as a warning and not overlooked or taken lightly.

B. Property damage - an unplanned event in which only property was damaged

C. Minor Injuries - an accident in which someone received minor cuts, bruises or strains. Workers can return to normal duties the following day

D. Serious or Disabling injuries - an unplanned event in which workers received injuries that resulted in temporary or permanent disability. These result in lost time, restricted duty or accidents causing partial or permanent disability.

E. Fatalities. An unplanned event that results in the death of an employee.

Show Image #4 & Discuss

2. Accident Costs

A. Direct Costs

1. Medical Costs

2. Workers Compensation - is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits for employees who are injured in the course of employment.

3. Insurance Premiums

B. Indirect Costs – indirect costs usually cost 2 to 7 times more than direct costs

1. Training replacement workers

2. Accident Investigation costs

3. Corrective Measures

4. Repairing damaged equipment and property

5. Production Delays

6. Some contract awards are based on a companies safety record

Show Image #5

3. Accident Causes

A. Failure to Communicate – Lack of communication can lead to accidents. Example: A person who was just hired and not told where fire extinguishers are located.

B. Poor Work Habits

1. Procrastination – putting off equipment maintenance can cause accidents Show #6

2. Distraction – letting yourself be distracted can cause accidents

3. Horseplay – Horseplay can cause serious injury therefore there are strict policies about employee behavior Show Image # 7 & #8.

4. Alcohol & Drug Abuse – Using drugs or alcohol at work or before work is just plain stupid. Injured workers are immediately given a drug test and, if tested positive, are not eligible for Workers Compensation Benefits.

4. Lack of Skill – using tools or performing tasks that you have not been trained for can easily cause accidents. Ex. Not being trained on how to operate machinery and equipment.

5. Intentional Acts – Sometimes an angry or disgruntled employee may threaten to intentionally cause accidents. If you are ever working with someone that threatens to get even or pay someone back, tell your supervisor. Intentional acts are punishable by law.

6. Unsafe Acts – When a worker performs a task without following accepted safe work procedures. Examples are:

A. Failing to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is the equipment that is necessary to keep a person from being injure. Examples include Safety Glasses, Hardhats and gloves. Show Picture #11

B. Lifting improperly

C. Making Safety Devices Inoperable

7. Unsafe Conditions – Physical state that is different from the acceptable, normal, or correct condition found on the jobsite. Examples are: Congested Workplace, Excessive Noise, Poor Lighting, Poor Ventilation, defective tools or equipment

8. Management System Failure – Caused by failure of management to correct or prevent acts or conditions that cause accidents. Examples are:

A. Put safety policies and procedures in writing

B. Provide Safety Training

C. Enforce Safety Policies

9. House Keeping – Keeping your work area clean and free of debris is critical in the prevention of accidents. A clean jobsite is a safe and productive jobsite. Show #10 & Discuss