Holistic Safety: Prevent or Comply?
Over the past couple of weeks I have received numerous phone calls asking for regulatory guidance on a wide range of safety issues. I typically get these calls, but the volume has increased because of some recent high profile accidents (crane incidents, explosions, etc.).
Many of the questions surround the issue of whether or not there is a specific safety/ OSHA, city, or state regulation, which applies to a particular task or operation.
After some thought, it comes to mind that most of the questions are centered on complying with a certain law or requirement versus preventing an accident. This may prove to be a major flaw in their thought pattern and may increase the risk for an accident!
Most people think that complying with all OSHA regulations will result in no accidents. This mind-set keeps them from seeing the bigger picture, the Accident Prevention Picture. Keep in mind that OSHA regulations are a minimal level of compliance - I call it the bare minimum that an organization is required to adhere to. Health and safety hazards such as violent acts committed against workers and exposure to some dangerous chemicals for example are not even addressed in OSHA regulations or have not been updated in many years. Does this mean you can ignore these hazards? No! You must find ways to address these hazards to avoid liability and there is another reason….because its the right thing to do!
What types of questions should we be asking? Take a look at the ones below:
1. What are the accident hazards affecting my organization?
2. What is the risk of these accidents occurring (High Medium or Low) and how can we prioritize them to reduce the risk of them occurring?
3. Ask the WHAT IF question. What if someone puts their hand into that unguarded moving blade? What will happen?
After these questions are answered consider taking the following steps:
a) Speak to or survey workers to find out what hazards they believe exist in their areas- you may be very surprised by what they tell you!
b) Review your past accident history and look for trends (i.e. those incidents that occur most frequently).
c) Speak to your insurer and ask them for a list of major risks/ hazards that affect your industry. Then begin to prioritize them starting with those occurring most frequently. These are what I refer to as the ”the slow leak incidents” (small insignificant events such as eye injuries that eventually turn into large costly issues).
d) Take action by involving employees and management in the corrective actions. This helps to create a better culture of safety.
e) Follow up to ensure the fixes are in place and working.
Asking the right questions can help you to change your perspective on accident prevention and help to save lives as well as save you money!
Milton Jacobs, Certified Safety Professional(CSP)
Holistic Safety Professional
