You will find employee safety at the heart and core of Bergman Brothers. Keep your workers safe while avoiding these very commonly violated OSHA regulations this year.
Common Industry Mistakes and Vulnerabilities
Every year, OSHA provides a list of the 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations of the fiscal year. The list is based on almost 32,000 workplace inspections performed by federal OSHA staff. At the top of the list for workplace hazards are falls and injuries due to machinery starting unexpectedly. What is most frustrating is that these citations rarely change. More than 4,500 workers are killed on the job every year in the U.S., and about 3 million are injured. The list of the top OSHA citations can shed some light on how to best protect your employees and the safety of your facility.
Top OSHA citations include:
- Fall protection
- Hazard communication
- Scaffolds
- Respiratory protection
- Lockout/Tagout
- Powered industrial trucks
- Ladders
- Machine guarding
- Electrical wiring and general requirements
Build a Strong Safety Culture
Health and safety are the cornerstones of positive work culture. Safety is and should be recognized as everyone’s responsibility, and a culture that embraces that is one that will attract high-quality talent. A transparent and effective health and safety program is a critical starting point, but company culture is also a big influence. Effective corporate safety culture is one that is the product of both individual and group values, attitudes, and competencies. Establishing a company-wide commitment to a safety program helps ingrain the importance of a safe working environment is key.
To build the kind of culture that recruits for itself, encourage your entire team to take responsibility for safety in the workplace. It’s not just about them, but their coworkers as well. Safety is a lifestyle, a culture, and a responsibility. Every one of your employees should know what to do in case of an emergency. It is they who are most likely to experience and respond in such situations. They should know what to do during and after an incident occurs, how to report the accident, and how the organization will respond. Honest and reliable responses help to foster trust and a lesson-learned mentality. Empower your team to create the environment they want to work in.
Invest in Ongoing Training
While the cost of regular safety training can seem daunting, it is unavoidable that the cost of repeated accidents will do far more harm. Lost revenue due to increased insurance rates, increased workers comp claims, high turnover, and a poor reputation will leave your company unprepared to do the job your customers count on you to do.
To avoid this, invest in high-quality safety training for your team depending on the needs of your workplace and their individual jobs. Solicit and suggest options to improve safety and seek to constantly improve the corporate safety program. Show an appreciation and investment in your workers through safety training and they will reward you with higher effectiveness on the job. And above all else, make sure you are partnered with a staffing firm that understands your commitment to safety and who can support your goal of providing the training your team needs to be safe and effective on the job.
If you’re looking for a staffing partner who takes safety as seriously as you do, connect with the team at Bergman Brothers today!
