BLR’s Human Resources
Training Presentations
Workplace Safety 101
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Goals
 Why safety is so important
 What the law requires
 Your role in promoting workplace safety
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Why Safety Is
Such an Important Issue
 Over 6 million workers are injured on the
job every year
 Injuries and illnesses cost employers over
$100 billion a year
 Employers are required by law to provide a
safe workplace
 Safety and health is a top priority
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
What Is OSHA?
 OSHA is an agency of the federal
government
 It is responsible for promoting workplace
safety nationwide
 OSHA was created by the Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970
 It has the authority to oversee compliance
with safety and health laws
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
What OSHA Does
 Develops and enforces job safety and health
standards
 Encourages employers and employees to reduce
workplace hazards
 Provides research in occupational safety and health
 Establishes the rights and responsibilities of
employers and employees
 Approves state occupational safety and health
programs
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
OSHA Regulations
 OSHA regulates
most aspects of
workplace safety
and health
 These regulations
must be followed
 OSHA wants to help employers comply
with the regulations
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Policies and Safety Rules
 Purpose
 Communication
 Enforcement
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Employee Involvement
 Enlist employees as partners in safety
 Model safe behavior
 Encourage positive safety attitudes
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Safety Committees
 Purpose
 Responsibilities
 Benefits
 Legal Problems
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Prevention Is the Key
 Unsafe conditions
 Unsafe acts
 Positive feedback
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Housekeeping
 Slips, trips, and falls
 Safe storage
 Fire hazards
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Hazard Identification
 Safety inspections
 Job hazard analysis
 Hazard reporting
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 Available
 Appropriate
 In good condition
 Used at all times
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Safety Training
 New employees
 New job assignments
 Whenever new hazards are introduced
 Refresher training
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Behavior-Based Safety
 Identify behaviors that cause injuries
 Define safe behavior
 Observe employees at work
 Reinforce safe behavior
 Give positive feedback to correct at-risk
behavior
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Emergency Preparedness
 Reporting emergencies
 Emergency procedures
 Evacuation routes
 Drills
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Hazardous Substances
 Hazard
communication
 Labels and Material
Safety Data Sheets
(MSDSs)
 Safe practices
and procedures
 Required PPE
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Ergonomics
 What is ergonomics?
 Cumulative trauma
disorders
 Back injuries
 Engineering controls
 Work practice controls
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Accident Investigation
 Determine the cause
 Identify underlying causes
 Write a report
 Act on your findings
 Treat near misses like accidents
 Encourage employees to report accidents
and near misses
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Goals
 Why safety is so important
 What the law requires
 Your role in promoting workplace safety
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Summary
 Employee safety and health is a priority
 Compliance with OSHA regulations is a legal
requirement
 Company policies and rules must be followed
 Employees should be actively involved in the
safety process
 You play a key role in promoting workplace
safety and health
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz
1. Safety and health are important issues primarily for
these four reasons:
_______________________________________.
2. Two main benefits of safety committees are
_______________________________________.
3. The purpose of behavior-based safety is to catch
employees committing unsafe acts so that you can
discipline them for their risky behavior. True or False
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz (cont.)
4. Most accidents can be attributed to these two
causes: ______________________________.
5. Conducting routine safety inspections and
performing a job hazard analysis are two good
ways to identify hazards.
True or False
6. To effectively protect against hazards, PPE must
be: __________________________________.
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz (cont.)
7. Safety training is required only for new
employees.
True or False
8. Alternate emergency evacuation routes are
required because
______________________________________.
9. The three basic information requirements of the
Hazard Communication Standard are:
______________________________________.
10. Near misses should be investigated and followed
up just as if they were accidents.
True or False
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz Answers
1. Safety and health are important because they are
a company priority, because of the human and economic
costs, and because employee protection is required by law.
2. Benefits of safety committees are that they help
employees avoid painful and costly accidents and health
problems; they help companies comply with safety laws,
save money, and reduce lost work days.
3. False. The purpose of behavior-based safety is to observe
safety behavior and give employees positive feedback
about their actions, correcting at-risk behavior, and
reinforcing safe behavior.
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz Answers (cont.)
4. Most accidents are the result of unsafe conditions
or unsafe acts.
5. True. These are the two basic ways to identify
hazards so that they can be eliminated or at least
minimized.
6. PPE must be available, appropriate, in good
condition, and used whenever required.
7. False. Safety training is required for all employees
on an ongoing basis.
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz Answers (cont.)
8. Alternate evacuation routes are necessary
because primary routes may be inaccessible during
an emergency.
9. Employees must be told the names of the hazardous
substances they work with, the hazards created by
these substances, and the measures required to
protect against the hazards.
10. True. Safety experts say that 75 percent of
accidents are preceded by one or more near misses.
4/00/31511251 © 2000 Business & Legal Reports, Inc.