THE RISK ASSESSMENT - Safety Rules

By: Paul Dyess – Region 40 Field Rep

Most Companies react to safety rather than being proactive. It has been stated that for every 300 accidents without injury, there are 29 with minor injuries, and one resulting in a signi icant injury. As employees go about their daily routine acting unsafely, the lack of injuries reinforces their unsafe behavior. In other words, every time we don't injure our eyes because we are not wearing safety glasses, we become more convinced that safety glasses are not necessary.

Another reason employees ignore safety standards is because they are rewarded for doing so. If or when an employee ignores a safety rule, they get an immediate reward of saving time, which can then be used to inish the task faster and potentially get off work earlier. Employees also ignore safety standards or rules when ignoring them is sanctioned. When an owner, foreman, or manager turns a blind eye or encourages employees to take shortcuts, the employee learns that they can get away with ignoring safety.

There are also many human aspects at play, not the least of which is the attitude that "it won't happen to me." Then, some are simply disinterested or don't care––often because they've never had an accident or simply because they don't like being told what to do.

Complacency becomes a signi icant hazard when employees begin cutting corners and taking shortcuts to meet production schedules. No matter how small they seem, skipping steps of a process can cause a hazardous situation. There is no reason to lose an employee due to an unsafe act. Zero injuries do not indicate the presence of safety: every task, the right way, every time. why updated and enforced safety policies and procedures are a company's best protection against injury-related expenses. Forestry Mutual requires its policyholders to have a written formal and active safety program established, adopted, implemented and enforced throughout the operation.

The program is to include but not limited to the following items:

1. Appointment of a Safety Coordinator.

2. Developed and disseminated Safety Policy Statement.

3. Company-speci ic Safety Rules, disseminated and signed.

3. Documented and signed safety meetings with employees and contractors.

4. Development and enforcement of a drug and alcohol policy.

5. Develop a written Lock-out/Tag-out program with machine-speci ic procedures.

To assist our policyholders with their program, sample Safety Policies and Safety Rules are available for Policy Holders to use as a guideline. They are intended to serve only as an example and should be tailored to meet your company's speci ic needs. Your Loss Control Field Representative will provide you with these sample policies and rules.

Should you desire, need, or be required to implement a more comprehensive program; do not hesitate to notify your Loss Control Field Representative to obtain additional information, guidelines, and services. ~FMIC