Staying Ahead of OSHA: 10 Things to Know Before You Go On Vacation

Now that summer is upon us,  we are all looking forward to some well-deserved time away from work. But while you catch up on your rest, OSHA is keeping a  watchful eye on your workplace.  Though many Americans look forward to summer and the barbecues and beach days that it brings, workplace safety officials use the summer months to carefully monitor workplace safety conditions across the country in an effort to stay ahead of an increased number of safety risks posed to workers in industries, like landscaping and construction, that typically see an increase in work as well as hazards (e.g. heat illness) during the summer. The proactive identification of hazards,for example, has been at the top of OSHA’s watch-list. Similarly, whistleblowing has become one of OSHA’s top priorities.Here is a list of 10 things to make sure you have in place before you take that vacation:1) Do you have an accurately completed OSHA 300A form?                2) Do you have a written health and safety plan?           3) Do you have a designated safety person?      4) Do you have a system to report unsafe work conditions?    5) Do you have adequate safety training for all employees?   6) Do you have an emergency action plan?    7) Do you have a drug and alcohol policy?         8) Do you have a hazard communication program that complies with GHS standards?    9) Do you conduct frequent safety inspections?                           10) Do you track corrective actions for workplace hazards?   And a bonus item for your checklist, for those who have workers exposed to heat hazards:11) Do you have a heat illness and injury prevention plan in place, with training for workers?While for many, summer may be the season of relaxation, it is important to remember that danger, like safety, does not take a vacation.  Through proper maintenance and inspection of the workplace, it is possible to prevent dangerous workplace accidents, as well as costly inspections and citations. Keep your summer safe, and contact United Alliance Services Corporation for information on workplace safety programs and help with OSHA related issues.  Image Courtesy of wiangya at FreeDigitalPhotos.net