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Q) What
would be the cost for producing just written materials?
A) The cost varies,
depending on the complexity of the program, but as a
rule the documents (handbook and/or safety manual) can
be produced for as little as $200.00 to as much as $500.00.
Q) My
insurance company does that for me, why should I pay
you, also?
A)
Yes many insurance companies employ competent safety
professionals. However, they do not usually conduct the training or,
in most cases, they DO NOT produce the written materials
that will comply with the law. If you will remember the
last survey done by your insurance company, you will
notice their report was a list of discrepancies and
recommendations. Most of the time you are left on your
own to implement their recommendations. If you do not
or can not, you may be faced with termination of your
coverage or loss of whatever discounts you may be
receiving.
Q) We don't have a "formal,
documented" safety program. We have some safety rules -
we hold safety meetings. We only have about 30
employees. Do we need a documented safety program?
A) A fully documented safety program can help
you keep control of your company assets and provide the
employees with qualified information. Simply conducting
some safety meetings does not qualify as OSHA qualified
training. An OSHA inspector will ask your employees
questions and want to see your safety documentation,
based on those the inspector will determine whether or
not you have an effective training program.
Q) Why is
safety and health important for a business owner like
me?
A) As an employer, you have
a duty to protect your workers from injury and illness
on the job. Protecting workers also makes good business
sense. Accidents and injuries are more expensive than
many realize. Costs mount up quickly. But substantial
savings in workers' compensation and fewer lost workdays are
possible when injuries and illnesses decline. The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can
help you.
Q) How can
I reduce employee injuries and illnesses?
A) Compliance with Cal/OSHA
rules is essential. Compliance along with an effective
Injury and Illness
Prevention Program (IIPP) can help reduce your costs, injuries,
and illnesses. An organized, carefully crafted plan that
systematically focuses on workplace hazards,
communication and employee training is critical. Buy-in
from every manager and employee is essential. Everyone
has to work at safety and health.
Q) What is
an Illness Prevention
Program (IIPP) and is
this a Cal/OSHA regulation?
A) In California every employer has a legal
obligation to provide and maintain a safe and healthful
workplace for employees, according to the California
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973. As of 1991,
a written, effective Injury and Illness Prevention (IIP),
Program is required for every California employer.
Injury and Illness Prevention Program must be a written
plan that includes procedures and is put into practice.
These elements are required:
Management commitment/assignment of
responsibilities;
Safety
communications system with employees;
System
for assuring employee compliance with safe work
practices;
Scheduled
inspections/evaluation system;
Accident
investigation;
Procedures for correcting unsafe/ unhealthy
conditions;
Safety
and health training and instruction; and
Recordkeeping and
documentation.
Q) How do
I develop an Illness
Prevention Program (IIPP)
?
A) An Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) should be
tailored to fit your company, to blend with its unique
operations and culture, and it should help your company
maintain a system that continually addresses workplace
hazards. Decide who in your company will be given
responsibility and authority to manage this program. In
many cases, it’s the owner. Sometimes the plant manager
or a ranking member of the management team is the one to
develop and set up the program. It could even be an
engineer, personnel specialist, or other staff member.
The person assigned must be identified by name in
your program. Your program’s success hinges on the
individual you choose, and he/she cannot succeed without
your full cooperation and support. Remember, though,
that even when you appoint someone as your safety
manager and delegate authority to manage the program,
the ultimate responsibility for safety and health in
your workplace still rests with you.
When considering responsibility, do not forget to
include all of your employees. Give each employee
training and responsibility to follow your safety and
health procedures, and to recognize and report hazards in
his/her immediate work area.
All employees must be informed of their
responsibility under Labor Code Section 6407.1, which
requires every employee to comply with occupational
safety and health standards applicable to their own
actions and conduct.
Q) After I
identify hazards at my worksite, how can I prevent or
control them?
A) The next part of a good safety
and health program is your continual review of your work
environment and work practices to control or prevent
workplace hazards.
This can be done when you:
Regularly and thoroughly maintain
equipment
Ensure that hazard correction procedures
are in place
Ensure that employees know how to use and
maintain personal
protective equipment
Ensure that all employees understand and
follow safe work procedures
Make sure that, where necessary, you have
a medical program tailored
to your facility to help
prevent workplace hazards and exposures.
Q)
What is a health and safety policy?
A) A health and safety policy means
the health and safety arrangements: the effective
planning, organization, control, monitoring, and review
of the preventative and protective
measures
Q) Do I need to display safety signs and posters in the
workplace?
A) Wherever there is a risk that has not been avoided or
controlled by other means (i.e. by engineering controls and
safe systems of work) employers are required to provide
specific safety signs. Where a safety sign would not
help to reduce that risk, or where the risk is not
significant, there is no need to provide a sign.
Specific Safety Posters are required in the workplace
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