Be Aware Safety Tips
DIY: Meeting OSHA’s Employee Safety Training Mandates in the COVID-19 Era By Laura Helmrich-Rhodes, CSP, Ed.D.
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t the risk of putting myself and other training specialists out of business, it’s important during this COVID-19 era that every employer know what safety training topics need to be covered, even when a safety trainer/consultant is not the best option. Due to travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines, bringing large groups of employees together for education purposes is a challenge! Hazards still exist in the work setting, and as a result, informing employees on how to recognize and control those hazards still needs to be accomplished and documented. All employees must be trained (and/or retrained) on some subjects. We will review those topics and some creative DIY options.
OSHA Required Safety Topics Every employer must provide a place of employment free of recognized hazards, and every employee is required to comply with safety and health standards (OSHA Act). Every employee has to be informed about all hazards associated with their work tasks and how to control those hazards. Training is one portion of the overall safety and health program and cannot be neglected, even in these uncertain times. Specifically, OSHA states that employees must be provided with: • Knowledge and skills needed to do their work safely and avoid creating hazards that could place themselves or others at risk. • Awareness and understanding of workplace hazards and how to identify, report and control them. • Specialized training, when their work involves unique hazards. Keep in mind that federal OSHA is just one agency that may obligate your company to employee training. Other government agencies and state-based OSHA and/or safety/health regulations should also be reviewed for content specifications. Illustration one (page 14) lists the basic required training topics mandated by OSHA for every employer. Many readers will need to sift through the list to determine if those topics apply to their specific operations. For example, some readers may not have any “Permit Required Confined Spaces” in their building, or overhead cranes, but every reader here is likely to have both machine guarding exposures and forklift operations. The same is true of illustration two: List of Toxic and Hazardous Substances (page 15). Most employers will find at least one topic there that requires employee training. For
Many general industry employers are not aware that they may need to include construction safety topics, such as fall protection, in their employee training if their employees are engaged in the definition of “construction.” According to OSHA, construction is high hazard work that comprises a wide range of “activities involving construction, alteration, and/or repair.” example, blood borne pathogens is a realistic exposure in most machine shop type operations, and almost all U.S. employers are required to address “Hazard Communication,” which includes Safety Data Sheets (SDS), labeling, training, and current chemical inventories. However, only a few Springs magazine readers may be exposed to lead or chromium VI. The key is to review the lists and determine which are site specific to your organization. Many general industry employers are not aware that they may need to include construction safety topics, such as fall protection, in their employee training if their employees are engaged in the definition of “construction.” According to OSHA, construction is high hazard work that comprises a wide range of “activities involving construction, alteration, and/or repair.” Laura Helmrich-Rhodes, CSP, Ed.D., is an independent regulations compliance consultant to the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI). A former member of PA/OSHA Consultation, she is an associate professor in the Safety Sciences Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she teaches graduate and undergraduate classes on topics such as OSHA standards, safety communications, workers’ compensation and human relations. Rhodes is available for safety advice and information. Contact SMI at 630-495-8588 or laurahrhodes@gmail.com.
SPRINGS / Fall 2020 / 13
