THE SAFETY NET CO N SU LT
FEBRUARY 2024
•
DESIGN
•
ENGINEER
IT’S ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST. •
CONSTRUCT
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 02
Texting And Driving Statistics 2024 01.03.2024 | Forbes Advisor
Texting and driving is one of the riskiest behaviors drivers can engage in behind the wheel. When you send or read a text, you may only take your eyes off of the road for a few seconds. But according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), five distracted seconds at a speed of 55 mph is the same as driving an entire length of a football field with your eyes shut. If you’re wondering how this dangerous behavior can affect you and others on the road, or how it can impact the cost of your car insurance, here’s what you should know about texting and driving statistics.
SAFETY FIRST. Austin employees have worked 6,063,464 hours without a Lost Time Accident through 01/2024.
KEY TEXTING AND DRIVING STATISTICS When you’re texting and driving, you’re distracted in three ways: visually, manually and cognitively. You’re taking your eyes off of the road to look at your
• 9% of distracted driving injury crashes, or about 29,999 accidents in total. • 9% of all police-reported distraction-affected crashes, or about 50,098 accidents in total.
phone screen, you’re taking at least one hand off of the wheel to type and you’re also taking your mind off of driving, which can have disastrous results.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF TEXTING AND DRIVING? There are numerous dangers of driving and texting, but perhaps the most important to highlight is that drivers who do this put themselves and others at great risk of car accidents, injuries or even death while on the road. According to information provided by the NHTSA, distracted driving has become a leading cause of vehicle crashes in the U.S. Much of the distraction on the roads is attributed to texting while driving. Nearly all of the drivers (96%) recently surveyed by AAA believe texting or emailing while driving is a serious or very serious threat to their safety. But while the majority of drivers
HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE FROM TEXTING AND DRIVING?
acknowledged the safety issues of texting and driving, 39%
The number of people who are killed because of texting
of drivers admitted that in the month prior they had read a
and driving each year is staggering. Let’s take a look at
text or email while driving—another 29% admitted to typing
more texting and driving statistics from NHTSA.
one while driving.
• In 2020, 396 people in total were killed as a direct
Studies also show that using your phone to send a text while
result of accidents caused by texting and driving. That
driving can have the same effect on your reaction time as
amounts to more than one death per day.
drinking four beers in an hour and then driving. What that means is that it can be just as dangerous to text and drive as it is to drive while intoxicated.
• In 2019, 430 people were killed in fatal crashes caused by texting and driving. • In 2019, there were also 566 people not in cars
Your recovery time on the road can also be affected. When
(pedestrians, bicyclists and others) killed in crashes
you take your eyes off the road to use your phone, it can
involving a distracted driver, including those who
take up to 27 seconds for your eyes to recover and reorient
were texting.
to the road and for the mental distraction to end, says AAA. The phenomenon, called the hangover effect, can occur any time you text and drive—even if you wait until a traffic light or stop sign to do it.
HOW MANY ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY TEXTING AND DRIVING? Statistics show that a significant percentage of accidents
Overall, the number of fatal car accidents from texting and driving were down in 2020 compared to 2019—a trend that will hopefully continue in years to come.
TEXTING AND DRIVING DEATHS YEAR
DEATHS CAUSED BY TEXTING AND DRIVING
2020
396
2019
430
or texting while driving was a factor in:
2018
393
• 13% of the distracted driving accidents that resulted
2017
450
2016
496
occur when the driver is distracted, which includes texting and driving. According to 2020 NHTSA data, cell phone use
in fatalities.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
TEXTING AND DRIVING LAWS BY STATE STATE
TEXT MESSAGE BAN?
HAND-HELD BAN?
STATE
No, limited to novice
New
drivers
Hampshire
Yes
No
Arizona
Yes
Yes
Arkansas
Yes
California
Yes
Colorado
Yes
Connecticut
Yes
Yes
Delaware
Yes
Yes
Alabama
Yes
Alaska
TEXT MESSAGE BAN?
HAND-HELD BAN?
Yes
Yes
New Jersey
Yes
Yes
New Mexico
Yes
New York
Yes
North Carolina
Yes
North Dakota
Yes
Ohio
Yes
work zones
Oklahoma
Yes
Yes, in school and work zones Yes No, limited to drivers under 18
Yes, in school and
No, limited to novice drivers Yes No, limited to drivers under 18 No, limited to drivers under 18 No, limited to drivers under 18 No, limited to
Florida
Yes
Georgia
Yes
Yes
Oregon
Yes
Yes
Hawaii
Yes
Yes
Pennsylvania
Yes
No
Idaho
Yes
Yes
Rhode Island
Yes
Yes
Illinois
Yes
Yes
South Carolina
Yes
No
Indiana
Yes
Yes
South Dakota
Yes
Iowa
Yes
Tennessee
Yes
Kansas Kentucky
Yes Yes
No, limited to novice drivers No, limited to novice
novice drivers
Maryland
Yes
Yes
Massachusetts
Yes
Yes
Michigan
Yes
Minnesota
Yes
Mississippi
Yes
Nebraska
Yes
Nevada
Yes
property, bus passengers, and
Yes
No
Yes
drivers with minor
Yes
Montana
zones, public school Texas
and by novice drivers.
Maine
No, limited to
Yes
Yes, in school zones
Yes
drivers under 21
novice drivers
school crossing
No, limited to drivers
Louisiana
Missouri
No, limited to
Yes, limited to
drivers under 18
novice drivers
No, limited to drivers
Utah
Yes
Vermont
Yes
Yes
under 18
Virginia
Yes
Yes
No, limited to
Washington
Yes
Yes
novice drivers
Washington,
No
D.C.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No, limited to drivers
No No
West Virginia
under 18
No, limited to Wisconsin
Yes
work zones and novice drivers
No, limited to novice drivers
Wyoming
Yes
Source: Governors Highway Safety Association
Yes
No
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CONSEQUENCES OF TEXTING AND DRIVING Aside from the risk to themselves and others on the road,
HOW TEXTING AND DRIVING AFFECTS CAR INSURANCE RATES
there can be numerous repercussions that drivers face
Car insurance rates are calculated for each driver based on
for texting while driving. Most states have outlawed the
a number of risk factors, including your ZIP code, the make
practice for drivers behind the wheel, and the penalties for
and model of your vehicle, your driving history and your
breaking these laws typically start with fines to try and deter
claims history. Drivers with traffic ticket convictions—such as
the practice.
for texting and driving, reckless driving or speeding—tend
While the specific fines for texting and driving vary by
to pay more on average than drivers with clean records.
state, in general, you can expect to pay anywhere from
If you’re caught texting and driving, that ticket or fine
$20 to $500 or more if you’re caught texting and driving
on your record can result in higher car insurance rates.
in a state that outlaws it. In some states, the penalties are
And, depending on the circumstances in which you were
even higher:
caught, the rate increase could be substantial.
• In Alaska, texting and driving is a misdemeanor criminal
But it’s not just the texting and driving offenders who are
offense that could come with a year of jail time and a
facing higher rates for their car insurance. Drivers across the
$10,000 fine.
board are paying higher premiums because of widespread
• Oregon has instituted a fine that starts at $1,000 for drivers who are caught texting while driving—with a
texting and driving, even if they aren’t the ones taking risks behind the wheel.
maximum penalty of up to $2,500 and six months in jail
“Distracted driving is likely the largest area of insurance
for a third texting and driving offense.
losses over the past five years, and many companies have
If you cause an accident while texting and driving— especially one that results in bodily injury or death—the penalties can be stiffer. In these cases, you may face loss of your license or even criminal charges and jail time. When texting “you easily lose track of speed and your
begun to react to this,” says Ezra Peterson, senior director of sales at Way.com, a car-focused software platform. “Some estimates place the premium surcharge range around 6% to 8% for the total market, meaning every single insured person is paying that much more just due to this behavior.”
surroundings, so aside from potentially getting a ticket, you
GETTING DRIVERS TO STOP TEXTING
are endangering pedestrians and/or road workers, which
A number of insurance companies offer apps to monitor
could lead to them being injured or killed by distracted driving. This can result in criminal charges, not just increased rates,” says P.J. Miller, Partner and Independent Insurance Agent with Wallace & Turner Insurance. “Additionally, you could lose your license or even your job.” Commercial drivers may also face heftier penalties for texting while driving. In addition to state laws prohibiting texting and driving that apply to all drivers, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) prohibits texting by commercial motor vehicle drivers while operating in interstate commerce and imposes sanctions for those who do not comply.
distracted driving and reward good driving with discounts, which can incentivize drivers to put their phones down and pay attention to the road. One such example is the KnowYourDrive App from American Family. This app encourages drivers to become safer behind the wheel by offering up to a 20% discount on car insurance based on how safe they drive. Other insurers, including Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm and Safeco, offer similar apps and usage-based car insurance discounts. Taking advantage of these opportunities can organically lead to safer habits behind the wheel—and help curb texting and driving.
Four Steps to Stay Safe and Operational During the Winter 01.15.2024 | EHS Today In preparing for a major winter storm, the key areas to focus on are human safety, facility limitations, and transportation and utility restrictions. Major winter and ice storms, much like the polar vortex surge that impacted a majority of the U.S. in February 2021, can cause great economic impacts and business disruptions. However, many businesses don’t have plans in place to mitigate their impacts, but planning for severe winter weather should be a top priority for environmental health and safety decision makers. The impacts from cold weather events will vary greatly depending on where your business is located and how frequently you experience below-freezing temperatures. But whether you begin to see negative effects at 32°F or 10°F, extreme temperatures create operational difficulties, safety concerns and financial losses for businesses in the cold season. Winter weather can also present difficulties in forecasting, not only because episodes of cold temperatures can cover large areas, but also because precipitation, and the form it takes, is very sensitive. Precipitation can take the form of rain, sleet, freezing rain or snow, and the conditions in which these form can create dangerous ice. All of these are dependent on temperature, which itself can fluctuate depending on the level of cloud cover, speed or direction of wind and humidity in the atmosphere. This volatility in precipitation contributes to the uncertainty surrounding an upcoming cold front, making it hard to get advanced forecasts of the kind of precipitation to expect. Even though a major cold event can be identified seven to 10 days in advance, it’s not until one or two days before impact that the track, timing and strength of the cold front can be confirmed. Every year, in anticipation of an upcoming cold season, businesses should develop a Winter Weather Response Plan that outlines what areas of a business are at risk from individual weather elements. Here are four steps to prepare for, and safely mitigate, the operational impacts of severe winter events. ...continued on next page 5
1. OBTAIN AN APPROPRIATE TEMPERATURE FORECAST Your definition of “extreme temperatures” will vary depending on the vulnerabilities of your organization.
these work areas must be properly assessed before and immediately following any inclement weather. To combat dangerous environments, temporary walkways and salt can be used to form stable surfaces for outdoor workers.
Accurate weather intelligence is critical in knowing
How will cold weather impact your facilities? Preventing
what actions to take in response to severe cold events.
operational downtime requires the infrastructure of a business
Having timely access to this information is essential for
to remain functional in a freeze. Things to consider include:
preparedness. Temperature forecasts should advise on:
• Is there temperature-sensitive equipment, machinery,
• How cold it will get. • How long it will last. • How soon will the front arrive. • How certain is the forecast. • How widespread the event will be. • Other weather elements to expect, such as wind and precipitation (e.g., snow, ice, sleet).
technology, or processes that will fail or become dangerous to use below a certain temperature? • How long can the facility withstand certain temperatures? (For example, two hours at 20°F might not have the same impacts as 24 hours at 32°F.) • Are there structural weaknesses to buildings that may be impacted by heavy snow or strong winds? • Are there pipes that might freeze shut?
Once the weather event parameters are known, the
Based on the answers to these questions, certain preparatory
response team can start the actions of their response plan.
measures must be taken. This could include draining unused
2. KNOW YOUR BUSINESS AND ITS WEATHER SENSITIVITIES
or unnecessary water lines, or protecting critical equipment
In preparing for a potentially impactful winter weather event,
maintaining operations through an event and knowing when
the key areas most businesses will need to consider will
it’s time to shut down or dial back.
likely fall within three main categories: human safety, facility limitations, and transportation and utility restrictions. The level of impact and response within these areas varies from business to business, which is why it is imperative to know the specific vulnerabilities present within your organization. Employee safety is always number one. It's essential for a business to ensure safe working conditions for employees in all professional environments. In winter, this means providing a heated workspace. When monitoring the temperature, remember wind chill and elevated work sites can be colder than the thermometer might read. If staff are required to work outside, a heated break space should be provided where employees can warm up when needed. It also includes providing access to sufficient and adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). Cold stress can cause hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot, all of which can having long-term effects. Outdoor workers have the additional risk of slipping and falling in snow or ice, so
with additional insulation or warming the area. Knowing your vulnerabilities is the first step to preparing for them,
Consider supplier and utility limitations. Many businesses rely on utility providers, suppliers and contractors for daily functioning. Receiving and delivering goods and services can become risky if roads and regular routes are impacted by ice. Keep drivers informed of road conditions and have alternate routes ready for deliveries, if possible. It is also a good idea to monitor for power outages. Most utility companies offer online tracking maps for current power outages. If your business service provider is able to track the probability of a power outage based on the weather conditions, you may be able to pre-position generators for emergency power. Should road conditions make it too dangerous to travel, safety managers should have enough emergency supplies on-site to last through an event. They should also update journey management protocols to prepare company vehicles, as employees could temporarily get stuck away from the main facilities.
3. DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN BASED ON OPERATIONAL TEMPERATURE THRESHOLDS Once the vulnerabilities have been identified, a comprehensive response plan can be developed, ideally for all business risks. The most effective weather response plans consider the forecasted weather conditions, the probability of the worst-case scenarios (i.e., lowest possible temperatures or highest wind speeds), the stages and timing of the developing weather, and the amount of time needed to safely execute any mitigation efforts. Responding to winter weather threats requires additional flexibility—reflected by an adaptable response plan that includes:
The timing of a cold front is crucial to the timing of a freeze, and the arrival of cold weather will influence when the coldest temperatures will be reached. There is also the possibility of several freeze and thaw patterns occurring throughout the event, which may need to be factored into a business’s coping plan.
4. PRACTICE THE PLAN Until a procedure is set in motion, it is difficult to predict its shortfalls. Practicing a response plan will show employees what to expect in the event of severe winter weather. Each employee has the opportunity to go through the motions and fully understand their responsibilities in that situation so they can be prepared for the real event. Drills can highlight
AN ACTIVATOR
unforeseen problems with facilities and transportation
A threat alert temperature or precipitation alert that rolls
or gaps in procedures. This is the opportunity to improve
responses into action. The activator may need to consider
preparedness planning and ensure all members of a
the probability of the cold weather event. The chosen
business are informed and ready to act.
temperature alert will depend on the restrictions highlighted
Every year, there’s a good chance of volatile winter
in Step 2 (above).
weather patterns. Even in some more temperate areas of
A TIMELINE TOOL:
the country, businesses need to plan for intense cold snaps,
To identify response plan actions and when they should be implemented. This should include alerts for the forecasted arrival of the front, severity of the storm and probable impacts. The timeline should also review the duration of
snow accumulation and variable forms of precipitation. Using the steps above, safety managers can prepare for winter and mitigate operational downtime for their businesses, ensuring people and places remain safe.
possible impending scenarios and provide options to cope with each. Safety managers would likely respond to a two-hour freeze differently than a 10-hour freeze, as each impacts a business differently. The goal for this timeline tool is to count down to the event’s impact, ensuring each preparedness action is implemented at the right time.
SEEKING METEOROLOGICAL ADVICE: Meteorologists can monitor precise site locations and forecast the level of impact a business can expect from a weather threat. This forecast should tell you the expected type of precipitation and temperatures, which is critical information for your response. Guidance from a weather intelligence partner factors into the timeline tool, as that information should be obtained before managers and executives need to make decisions. These services can customize alerts for a business based on their specified temperature thresholds up to seven days in advance.
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These Industries Get The Most General Duty Clause Citations 01.15.2024 | JJ Keller Safety Management Suite OSHA uses the General Duty Clause (GDC) when an inspector identifies a hazard, but no specific regulation covers the issue. We don’t know exactly which hazards OSHA most commonly cites using the GDC, but OSHA does
they include: 1. Ergonomics 2. Heat Stress
publish the number of GDC citations by North American
3. Seatbelt use on forklifts
Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. The
4. Lack of routine maintenance
industries most frequently cited (and their NAICS codes) include: 1. Manufacturing (31, 32, and 33) 2. Transportation and warehousing (48 and 49) 3. Construction (23) 4. Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) 5. Wholesale Trade (42)
5. Lack of training Other GDC citations involve combustible dust, workplace violence, storing incompatible chemicals, and even using a cell phone while driving.
RECOGNIZED HAZARDS To issue a GDC citation, OSHA must identify a recognized hazard that was likely to cause death or serious harm, and that has a feasible means of correction. To show that a
From OSHA press releases, we also know which hazards
hazard was recognizable, OSHA may review injury records,
get cited regularly. Further, a number of OSHA’s emphasis
question employees, review equipment operator manuals,
programs focus on ergonomics, heat stress, and powered
or cite industry consensus standards.
industrial trucks. By reviewing the industries cited and
For example, workers might handle heavy items
comparing to the emphasis areas, we can extrapolate the most common GDC citations. In no particular order,
or perform physically demanding tasks in warm environments, and the employer’s 300 Log might include
cases of heat stress or repetitive motion injuries. Alternatively, employees might report previous heat stress or ergonomic issues to the OSHA inspector. This helps OSHA show that a hazard was recognized. As another example, not wearing a seatbelt while operating a forklift could result in serious injury or death. OSHA’s regulation on powered industrial trucks doesn’t mention seatbelts, but if the forklift operator manual says to use the seatbelt, OSHA can use the manual to show a recognized hazard. In fact, 1910.178 requires that operator training include “Any other operating instructions, warnings, or precautions listed in the operator’s manual.” Operating manuals for machines or equipment often recommend routine maintenance. If the employer’s failure to perform that maintenance could cause worker injury, OSHA could cite
OSHA and MSHA Civil Penalty Amounts Get Annual Bump 01.12.2024 | OSHA.com
a recognized hazard. Similarly, if damage to
Washington — OSHA’s maximum penalties for willful or
storage racks create a hazard, OSHA could cite
repeat violations will be increasing approximately 3.2%.
the General Duty Clause.
The 2024 increases – to $161,323 from $156,259 in
Finally, operating manuals usually include
2023 – are legally mandated by Jan. 15 each year
warnings and safety information. Some OSHA
under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment
regulations don’t specifically require training
Act Improvements Act of 2015. Because Jan. 15 is a
employees to use tools or equipment, but
federal holiday, this year’s changes will be effective
machine operators (much like forklift operators)
starting Jan. 16.
must be familiar with the instructions, warnings,
The minimum fine for a willful violation is $11,524 – up
and precautions for the equipment. If an
from $11,162. The maximum fine for serious, other-than-
employee cannot answer an OSHA inspector’s
serious, failure-to-correct and posting-requirement
questions about those safety precautions,
violations is increasing to $16,131 from $15,625.
OSHA might issue a GDC citation.
EVALUATING HAZARDS To identify and address hazards, employers
The Mine Safety and Health Administration is increasing its maximum fine for a flagrant violation to $323,960 from $313,790.
need to evaluate the workplace, examine injury records, and even interview employees about their knowledge and experience. For example, an employee who operated a machine for years might know just enough to complete their assigned tasks but won’t know (or follow) all the precautions and warnings. And some employees might ignore known rules, like always wearing a seat belt. Taking proactive steps to identify and correct hazards can not only help avoid OSHA citations, but will help protect workers from risks that could cause serious injuries.
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Restrooms and Sanitation Requirements 01.04.2024 | OSHA.gov OSHA requires employers to provide all workers with sanitary and immediately-available toilet facilities (restrooms). The sanitation standards (29 CFR 1910.141, 29 CFR 1926.51 and 29 CFR 1928.110) are intended to ensure that workers do not suffer adverse health effects that can result if toilets are not sanitary and/or are not available when needed.
HOW DO EMPLOYERS ENSURE RESTROOMS ARE ACCESSIBLE? Employers must provide at least the minimum number of toilet facilities, in toilet rooms separate for each sex (see the table in 29 CFR 1910.141(c)(1)(i)), and prompt access to the facilities when needed. Restroom access frequency needs may vary significantly from worker to worker, and may be affected by medications, fluid intake, air temperature and other factors. In response to questions about reasonable access to toilet facilities, OSHA published letters of interpretation that, together, describe how employers must ensure prompt access to toilet facilities (see references for letters of interpretation under Additional Resources below).
EMPLOYERS MUST: • Allow workers to leave their work locations to use a restroom when needed. • Provide an adequate number of restrooms for the size of the workforce to prevent long lines. • Avoid imposing unreasonable restrictions on restroom use. • Ensure restrictions, such as locking doors or requiring workers to sign out a key, do not cause extended delays Employers may need to be flexible in developing procedures to ensure that workers have access to toilet facilities as needed. Employers with mobile workers must provide readily available transportation that provides prompt access (i.e., less than 10 mins) to restrooms if they are not available at the work location. Toilets for farmworkers must be located no more than a quarter mile from the location where workers are working on similar findings. Also, when work stations require constant coverage (e.g., production lines and bus drivers), employers may implement a system for workers to request relief as long as there are sufficient relief-workers to assure the wait is not unreasonably long.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES • Portable Toilet and Sanitation Best Practices for Women in Construction. OSHA and the National Association of Women in Construction Alliance, (2015). For more information about the NAWIC alliance, please visit the alliance page. • Guidance to Employers: Best Practices - A Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers. OSHA Publication 3795, (2015). • Requirements for Washing Facilities in Construction Industry under 29 CFR 1926.51(f)(1) and in Agriculture Industry under 29 CFR 1928.110. OSHA Memorandum, (July 20, 2005). • 1926.51(c)(4): Sanitation and Mobile Crews. OSHA Memorandum, (June 7, 2002). • 29 CFR 1910.141(c)(1)(i), Toilet Facilities. OSHA Letter of Interpretation, (April 6, 1998). Clarification about this memorandum was provided in OSHA's letter dated April 23, 2003. Additional clarification on restricting worker's access to restrooms is provided in OSHA's letter dated February 2, 2006. • Other related OSHA Letters of Interpretations.
OSHA Proper Lifting Techniques: Safe Lifting Ergonomics 01.18.2024 | OSHA.gov
WHY ARE LIFTING ERGONOMICS IMPORTANT?
That includes providing equipment and safe lifting training
Back injuries account for one in five workplace injuries,
WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN SAFE LIFTING TRAINING?
and 75% of workplace-related back injuries occur during a lifting task. Every year, two million back injuries occur across the U.S.; roughly half of them – one million – are back injuries
to employees who are at risk.
Safe lifting training should include topics like: • Health risks related to improper lifting.
sustained in the workplace.
• General principles of ergonomics.
Back pain becomes chronic and disabling in roughly 5% of
• Good work practices, including safe lifting techniques
cases, and up to 44% of people who initially recover have a reoccurrence within a year. Then once you've had two episodes of back pain in a year, you're three times more likely to experience the third episode. Put all that together, back injuries are a significant source of disability. After all, 5% of a million is 50,000 chronic and
and the use of equipment. • How to recognize tasks that may lead to pain or injury. • Symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder and the importance of addressing them early. • Procedures for reporting work-related injuries.
disabling cases of back pain.
HOW TO LIFT HEAVY OBJECTS SAFELY
The consequences are expensive for employers – in
Before you can safely lift heavy things, there are four stages
workers' compensation claims, days away from work, and
to consider:
lost productivity.
ARE PROPER LIFTING TECHNIQUES OSHA-REQUIRED? Yes and no. OSHA has no specific standard related to ergonomic lifting, which means there are no safe lifting techniques OSHA recommends officially. However, ergonomic lifting and safe lifting techniques fall under OSHA's General Duty Clause, which requires employers to protect workers from serious and recognized workplace hazards. As a result, you must employ any "feasible and useful" method necessary to mitigate the danger.
• Preparation. • Lifting. • Carrying. • Setting Down.
BEFORE YOU LIFT HEAVY THINGS Preparation and planning are critical aspects of ergonomic lifting. First, you need to evaluate the lifting task for safety. Know how much you can safely lift and ensure the load doesn't exceed it. Assess whether the object is too large or awkward to lift and carry safely. Will you be able to get a good grip?
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You need to know where you're putting the object ahead of time. Ensure the path is unobstructed, the floor is dry, and the distance isn't too great for safety. If the load is too heavy or ungainly, will obstruct your vision, and needs to be carried too far or lifted overhead, you'll need to find a safe alternative. Is it a two-person job? Do you need a hand truck, dolly, pushcart, or another tool? Could gloves give you a better grip? Once you have a plan for lifting ergonomics, you should
Safe lifting involves: • Standing as close to the load as possible. • Planting your feet shoulder-width apart with one foot slightly ahead of the other. • Bending at the hips and knees only until you're deep in a squatting position. • Keeping your head up and straight with your shoulders back to keep your back straight.
stretch and warm up your muscles before lifting. Loosen
• Holding the load close to your body at waist height.
up your back with lower-back rotations. Stretch your
• Engaging your core muscles as you push against the
hamstrings and get the blood flowing – these measures will reduce your risk of injury.
PROPER LIFTING TECHNIQUES You've probably heard, "lift with your knees, not with your back." But what does it mean? It means you should never bend forward to lift a heavy object. Instead, you should squat, secure the load, and stand by straightening your legs while keeping your back straight or slightly arched.
ground and straighten your legs. Here are a few essential don'ts to keep in mind for good lifting ergonomics: • Never twist your torso while lifting. Stay "nose between your toes." • Never lift a heavy item above shoulder level. • Never carry a load that obstructs your vision. • Never hold your breath while lifting, moving, and setting the load down.
CARRYING HEAVY THINGS SAFELY As you carry the load to its destination, you want to
• Tighten your stomach muscles (engage your core) as you lower yourself
maintain good ergonomics. That means:
• Kneel on one knee if necessary
• Holding the load as close to your body as possible, level
Remember not to rush the lifting process and to carry a
with your belly button. • Keeping your shoulders in line with your hips as you move – don't twist your trunk. • Changing direction with your feet and leading with your hips. • Taking small steps and keeping a good grip with all your fingers.
SETTING DOWN HEAVY THINGS SAFELY Setting down a heavy object is just as dangerous as picking it up. You'll want to reverse the lifting process, following the same ergonomic lifting principles: • Keep the load close to your body and your back straight or slightly arched • Squat down, bending only at the knees and hips
heavy load. Also, keep in mind that the most dangerous lifting tasks are repetitive and for sustained periods. You need to monitor your exertion level and take breaks. Stop before you become too tired to lift safely.
GET ERGONOMIC TRAINING ONLINE You can start to address your need for safe lifting training with online courses from an OSHA-authorized training provider like us. We have 20 years of experience teaching these principles and making them stick. We have self-paced mobile-compatible courses on Ergonomics and materials handling safety for both Construction and General Industry. Enroll today! In New York City? Check out our SST courses on the topic instead.
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Core Elements Of A Safety Program: OSHA Breaks It Down 01.09.2024 | Weeklysafety.com The main goal of any safety and health program is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, their families, and employers. Sounds ideal in theory, but how can organizations actually make this happen? Traditional approaches to workplace safety often use a reactive approach when problems are only addressed after a worker is injured or becomes sick, a new standard or regulation is published, or an outside inspection finds a problem that must be fixed. When resources like time and money are stretched thin, this may seem like the only way to handle things, but in reality, finding and fixing hazards before they cause injury or illness is a far more effective approach that also ends up saving time, money, and heartache in the long run. OSHA has a lot of great advice when it comes to adopting a proactive approach to workplace safety and health. The idea is to begin with a basic program and simple goals and grow from there. If you focus on achieving goals, monitoring performance, and evaluating outcomes, your workplace can progress along the path to higher levels of safety and health achievement.
• Top management demonstrates its commitment to eliminating hazards and to continuously improving workplace safety and health, communicates that commitment to workers, and sets program expectations and responsibilities. • Managers at all levels make safety and health a core organizational value, establish safety and health goals and objectives, provide adequate resources and support for the program, and set a good example.
Establishing a safety and health program is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your workers. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost—to you as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity, turnover, and reputation. OSHA’s Recommended Practices present a step-by-step approach to implementing a safety & health program, built around seven core elements that make a successful program. Employers will find that implementing these recommended
WORKER PARTICIPATION
practices also brings other benefits. Safety and health
When it comes to worker participation, this means that the
programs help businesses:
employees are truly involved in establishing, operating,
• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses • Improve compliance with laws and regulations • Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums
evaluating, and improving the safety and health program. All workers should participate, including those employed by contractors, subcontractors, and temporary staffing agencies. • Workers are involved in all aspects of the safety and health program—including setting goals, identifying
• Engage workers
and reporting hazards, investigating incidents, and
• Enhance their social responsibility goals
tracking progress.
• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations While the action items under each core element are specific, they may not apply to every organization exactly as they are written here. The process should be tailored to the needs of the company.
MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP Effective management leadership, when it comes to workplace safety, means that the leaders of the
• All workers, including contractors and temporary workers, understand their roles and responsibilities under the program and what they need to do to effectively carry them out. • Workers are encouraged and have means to communicate openly with management and to report safety and health concerns or suggest improvements, without fear of retaliation. • Any potential barriers or obstacles to worker participation
organization behave in a positive way that promotes health
in the program (for example, language, lack of
and safety throughout the company.
information, or disincentives) are removed or addressed.
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ELIMINATE SUBSTITUTE ENGINEER ADMIN PPE
WORKPLACE HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT
TRAINING AND EDUCATION
A critical element of any effective safety and health
Training and education are important tools for informing
program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and
workers and managers about hazards and controls so they
assess hazards that have the potential to cause injuries,
can work more safely and be more productive. Another
illnesses, or incidents.
role of training and education, however, is to provide
• Procedures are put in place to continually identify
workers and managers with a greater understanding of
workplace hazards and evaluate risks. • Safety and health hazards from routine, nonroutine, and emergency situations are identified and assessed. • An initial assessment of existing hazards, exposures, and control measures is followed by periodic inspections and reassessments, to identify new hazards. • Any incidents are investigated with the goal of identifying the root causes. • Identified hazards are prioritized for control.
HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL Effective hazard controls (safeguards) protect workers from workplace hazards. Controls should minimize or eliminate safety and health risks with the ultimate goal of preventing injuries, illnesses, and incidents. • Employers and workers cooperate to identify and select
the safety and health program itself, so that they can contribute to its development and implementation. • All workers are trained to understand how the program works and how to carry out the responsibilities assigned to them under the program. • Employers, managers, and supervisors receive training on safety concepts and their responsibility for protecting workers’ rights and responding to workers’ reports and concerns. • All workers are trained to recognize workplace hazards and to understand the control measures that have been implemented.
MULTIEMPLOYER WORKSITES At multiemployer worksites, it is imperative that general contractors, contractors, subcontractors, and staffing agencies collaboratively engage in ensuring equal safety
methods for eliminating, preventing, or controlling
and health protection for all employees, communicating
workplace hazards.
on-site hazards, setting qualification standards, and
• Controls are selected according to a hierarchy that
coordinating work planning to preemptively address
uses engineering solutions first, followed by safe work
potential safety or health conflicts.
practices, administrative controls, and finally personal
• General contractors, contractors, and staffing agencies
protective equipment (PPE). • A plan is developed that ensures controls are implemented, interim protection is provided, progress is tracked, and the effectiveness of controls is verified.
commit to providing the same level of safety and health protection to all employees. • General contractors, contractors, subcontractors, and staffing agencies communicate the hazards present
at the worksite and the hazards that work of contract workers may create on site. • General contractors establish specifications and qualifications for contractors and staffing agencies. • Prior to beginning work, general contractors, contractors, and staffing agencies coordinate on work planning and scheduling to identify and resolve any conflicts that could impact safety or health.
For more information about these recommended practices, tools to help you implement them, and related topics, visit OSHA’s website dedicated to safety management. This page includes links to many tools and resources developed by OSHA and others that can help employers and workers implement these recommended practices. OSHA will continue to update and add to this resource list. If these recommended practices appear challenging, take a look at our 10 Steps for Safety article first. There you will
PROGRAM EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT Periodically, employers should assess their safety and health program to make sure it is working as intended and achieving the goals set by the organization. If there are any areas that need improvement, they should be fixed which
find some simple steps your organization can take to start building an effective safety program. Completing those 10 steps first will give you a solid base from which to take on some of the more structured actions presented in the recommended practices listed above.
then drives the continual improvement of the safety and health program. • Control measures are periodically evaluated for effectiveness. • Processes are established to monitor program performance, verify program implementation, and identify program shortcomings and opportunities for improvement. • Necessary actions are taken to improve the program and overall safety and health performance.
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