Safe Workplace and Safety News
This is the safety news blog for the Safe Workplace web site. We cover workplace safety related news with a focus on how safety, or a lack of safety, impacts employers, employees and their families. We also cover topics such as safety training, safety tools, and legal issues related to safety. For regular safety news and information enter your email address in the box above the Subscribe button to the right (then click on the button).
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
CSDA / OSHA Alliance Releases Electrical Safety Best Practice
The Alliance between the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA) and OSHA has just released its fourth Best Practice entitled Electrical Safety (CSDA-OBP-1004). "Electrocution is a major focus for OSHA as it is one of the top four leading causes of construction fatalities, and therefore a natural area of focus for our Alliance," said Patrick O’Brien, CSDA Executive Director.
Electricity is widely recognized as a potential workplace hazard, exposing employees to electric shock, burns, fires and explosions. Working on or around electrical conductors and equipment can be particularly dangerous, because electrical energy often cannot be sensed until contact is made. The Electrical Safety Best Practice includes guidelines and preventive maintenance tips that should be applied to every workday. By following the advice given in this document, contractors can greatly reduce the chances of exposure to electrical hazards.
CSDA and OSHA have worked together on safety and health issues for the concrete sawing and drilling industry in an effort to educate contractors, prevent on-the-job accidents and injuries and provide vital materials to advance a safe work environment for sawing and drilling professionals. The Alliance has also released Best Practice documents on the subjects of Highway Work Zone Safety, Reducing Silica Exposure and Defensive Driving. Each of these previously released Best Practices are also available in Spanish.
Representatives from OSHA were at February's World of Concrete to present during the seminar program. OSHA’s Fran Dougherty presented on OSHA Fall Protection Standards while Danezza Quintero presented on the Most Frequent Safety Citations for Concrete Contractors. These speakers also staffed the CSDA booth during World of Concrete trade show to answer questions attendees had related to the health and safety of workers, especially those employed in the sawing and drilling industry.
Read and Download CSDA Alliance Best Practices
Highway Work Zone Safety - CSDA-OBP-1001
- Spanish version
Reducing Silica - CSDA-OBP-1002
- Spanish version
Defensive Driving - CSDA-OBP-1003
- Spanish version
Electrical Safety - CSDA-OBP-1004
Electricity is widely recognized as a potential workplace hazard, exposing employees to electric shock, burns, fires and explosions. Working on or around electrical conductors and equipment can be particularly dangerous, because electrical energy often cannot be sensed until contact is made. The Electrical Safety Best Practice includes guidelines and preventive maintenance tips that should be applied to every workday. By following the advice given in this document, contractors can greatly reduce the chances of exposure to electrical hazards.
CSDA and OSHA have worked together on safety and health issues for the concrete sawing and drilling industry in an effort to educate contractors, prevent on-the-job accidents and injuries and provide vital materials to advance a safe work environment for sawing and drilling professionals. The Alliance has also released Best Practice documents on the subjects of Highway Work Zone Safety, Reducing Silica Exposure and Defensive Driving. Each of these previously released Best Practices are also available in Spanish.
Representatives from OSHA were at February's World of Concrete to present during the seminar program. OSHA’s Fran Dougherty presented on OSHA Fall Protection Standards while Danezza Quintero presented on the Most Frequent Safety Citations for Concrete Contractors. These speakers also staffed the CSDA booth during World of Concrete trade show to answer questions attendees had related to the health and safety of workers, especially those employed in the sawing and drilling industry.
Read and Download CSDA Alliance Best Practices
Highway Work Zone Safety - CSDA-OBP-1001
- Spanish version
Reducing Silica - CSDA-OBP-1002
- Spanish version
Defensive Driving - CSDA-OBP-1003
- Spanish version
Electrical Safety - CSDA-OBP-1004
Labels: Electrical Hazards, electrical safety, Free Safety Guides
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Five Threats To Worker's Safety
The 2009 data on the top ten violations of OSHA standards, as well as the top ten OSHA fines in 2009 is available in a new report from Graphic Products. Use this link to get your free copy: Top Ten OSHA Serious Violations.
But... what was the underlying cause?
A new study released today by VitalSmarts found that five threats to workers’ safety are commonly left undiscussed and lead to avoidable injury or fatalities.
The study, named Silent Danger: The Five Crucial Conversations that Drive Workplace Safety, surveyed more than 1,600 frontline workers, managers, and safety directors across 30 safety-conscious organizations in 2009.
According to the data, 93 percent of employees say their company is currently at risk and nearly half are aware of an injury or death caused by one of five avoidable workplace dangers. However, despite being aware of these five threats, only one in four employees speaks up and tries to correct unsafe conditions.
"Silent Danger shows the tragic secret behind most workplace injuries is that someone is aware of the threat well in advance, but is either unwilling or unable to speak up," said Joseph Grenny, co-founder of VitalSmarts and leading researcher of the study. "The greatest dangers to workplace safety are the norms, habits, and assumptions embedded in our corporate cultures that stifle employees’ ability to speak up and confront unsafe practices."
Each of the five threats to workplace safety outlined in Silent Danger was identified as being costly, common, and undiscussable. The five threats are:
* Get It Done: Unsafe practices that are justified by tight deadlines.
* Undiscussable Incompetence: Unsafe practices that stem from skill deficits that can’t be discussed.
* Just This Once: Unsafe practices that are justified as exceptions to the rule.
* This Is Overboard: Unsafe practices that bypass precautions considered excessive.
* Are You a Team Player? Unsafe practices that are justified for the good of the team, company, or customer.
However, not all employees remained silent bystanders when confronted with these and similar threats. A small minority, ranging from 25 to 28 percent, say they are able to speak up effectively in these crucial moments and address unsafe conditions. More than 82 percent of this vocal minority says that when they speak up, their actions result in a safer work environment for everyone.
Grenny says additional training, safety audits, and other tools, while important, will never be enough to create a truly safe environment.
"The reason we are seeing safety improvements begin to stall is not because the systems and policies we have implemented don’t work, it's because people don’t speak up and hold one another accountable," says Grenny. "Accidents in the workplace will not be prevented until senior leaders eradicate cultures of silence."
Grenny outlines recommendations senior leaders can follow for teaching their employees to speak up in crucial moments. One year after implementing Grenny’s recommendations, Pride International, an offshore drilling contractor, decreased its total incident rate by 55 percent and reported zero accidents that required employees to miss time on the job.
The full Silent Danger research results and recommendations for leaders are available for download at www.vitalsmarts.com/safety.
About the Silent Danger Study
In early 2009, VitalSmarts began identifying ways to improve workplace safety incidents that led to 4 million injuries and 5,600 deaths per year. The Silent Danger study began with interviews and focus groups with 130 people from eight organizations. Trends unveiled in the interviews were verified through a survey administered to 1,500 employees from 22 organizations to test the impact communication breakdowns had on workplace safety. Full results available at www.vitalsmarts.com/safety.
But... what was the underlying cause?
A new study released today by VitalSmarts found that five threats to workers’ safety are commonly left undiscussed and lead to avoidable injury or fatalities.
The study, named Silent Danger: The Five Crucial Conversations that Drive Workplace Safety, surveyed more than 1,600 frontline workers, managers, and safety directors across 30 safety-conscious organizations in 2009.
According to the data, 93 percent of employees say their company is currently at risk and nearly half are aware of an injury or death caused by one of five avoidable workplace dangers. However, despite being aware of these five threats, only one in four employees speaks up and tries to correct unsafe conditions.
"Silent Danger shows the tragic secret behind most workplace injuries is that someone is aware of the threat well in advance, but is either unwilling or unable to speak up," said Joseph Grenny, co-founder of VitalSmarts and leading researcher of the study. "The greatest dangers to workplace safety are the norms, habits, and assumptions embedded in our corporate cultures that stifle employees’ ability to speak up and confront unsafe practices."
Each of the five threats to workplace safety outlined in Silent Danger was identified as being costly, common, and undiscussable. The five threats are:
* Get It Done: Unsafe practices that are justified by tight deadlines.
* Undiscussable Incompetence: Unsafe practices that stem from skill deficits that can’t be discussed.
* Just This Once: Unsafe practices that are justified as exceptions to the rule.
* This Is Overboard: Unsafe practices that bypass precautions considered excessive.
* Are You a Team Player? Unsafe practices that are justified for the good of the team, company, or customer.
However, not all employees remained silent bystanders when confronted with these and similar threats. A small minority, ranging from 25 to 28 percent, say they are able to speak up effectively in these crucial moments and address unsafe conditions. More than 82 percent of this vocal minority says that when they speak up, their actions result in a safer work environment for everyone.
Grenny says additional training, safety audits, and other tools, while important, will never be enough to create a truly safe environment.
"The reason we are seeing safety improvements begin to stall is not because the systems and policies we have implemented don’t work, it's because people don’t speak up and hold one another accountable," says Grenny. "Accidents in the workplace will not be prevented until senior leaders eradicate cultures of silence."
Grenny outlines recommendations senior leaders can follow for teaching their employees to speak up in crucial moments. One year after implementing Grenny’s recommendations, Pride International, an offshore drilling contractor, decreased its total incident rate by 55 percent and reported zero accidents that required employees to miss time on the job.
The full Silent Danger research results and recommendations for leaders are available for download at www.vitalsmarts.com/safety.
About the Silent Danger Study
In early 2009, VitalSmarts began identifying ways to improve workplace safety incidents that led to 4 million injuries and 5,600 deaths per year. The Silent Danger study began with interviews and focus groups with 130 people from eight organizations. Trends unveiled in the interviews were verified through a survey administered to 1,500 employees from 22 organizations to test the impact communication breakdowns had on workplace safety. Full results available at www.vitalsmarts.com/safety.
Labels: Free Safety Guides, workplace fatalities, workplace injuries, workplace safety
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Wednesday, December 02, 2009
OSHA Guidance Document On PPE For Safeguarding Emergency Medical Responders
OSHA has issued a guidance document, Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders During Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Releases, that addresses adequate training and personal protective equipment for emergency medical services responders who assist victims of hazardous substance release incidents.
This document, a companion to OSHA's Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers, advises that employers provide, at a minimum, awareness level training to EMS responders. Workers receiving awareness-level training are not permitted to rescue or treat contaminated patients, but are responsible for notifying authorities if they suspect hazardous substances at a scene. Operations-level training teaches EMS responders skills for entering hazardous areas and caring for contaminated individuals.
"Healthcare workers, including EMS personnel, play a critical role in a community's emergency response program," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "Emergency workers who protect the lives of victims at dangerous incidents should not risk becoming victims themselves because they lack proper training and protective clothing."
The guidance document helps employers to determine the type of training and PPE needed by anticipating the EMS responder's role in a worst-case scenario, identifying hazards associated with the responder's assigned duties, and developing an emergency response plan detailing safe accomplishment of those duties.
This document, a companion to OSHA's Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers, advises that employers provide, at a minimum, awareness level training to EMS responders. Workers receiving awareness-level training are not permitted to rescue or treat contaminated patients, but are responsible for notifying authorities if they suspect hazardous substances at a scene. Operations-level training teaches EMS responders skills for entering hazardous areas and caring for contaminated individuals.
"Healthcare workers, including EMS personnel, play a critical role in a community's emergency response program," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "Emergency workers who protect the lives of victims at dangerous incidents should not risk becoming victims themselves because they lack proper training and protective clothing."
The guidance document helps employers to determine the type of training and PPE needed by anticipating the EMS responder's role in a worst-case scenario, identifying hazards associated with the responder's assigned duties, and developing an emergency response plan detailing safe accomplishment of those duties.
Labels: Free Safety Guides, Industrial Health, OSHA
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Zombies Increase Workplace Hazards
A new online free interactive game from American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) features high quality graphics, sound, and everything you'd expect in a quality game... and it promotes a safe workplace.
Slippery floors, hot cooking equipment, heavy lifting, loud noises and working alone are some of the dangers teens face as they take that first job or seasonal employment. These dangers can lead to fatalities and serious injury if workers are not aware of them and how to protect themselves against being injured on the job. To help teens stay safe at work, ASSE has launched an interactive online computer game called “Don’t be a Zombie at Work” and to illustrate how occupational safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professionals are key to staying safe.
Located at http://www.dontbeazombieatwork.org, the new ASSE game is free and features the imaginary evil “BodgeDab” industries. Players find themselves helping their co-workers avoid becoming a “zombie” by finding tools and information from embedded SH&E professionals to stay safe on the job. The game involves a mysterious corporation that has just moved into a large city, led by reputed evil boss Damballa Bokor, and opening businesses all over town. At the same time, the people working at these establishments are becoming “unnatural” -- zombie like. And the “virus” is quickly spreading among all workers. The player’s job is to move through these establishments - a restaurant (Club BodgeDab), a warehouse and an office to save the workers by undoing the workplace hazards. This will save the zombiefied employees and create a safe work environment. If done successfully, the player moves to the final challenge - BodgeDab headquarters and a showdown with Damballa Bokor.
Throughout the game Elle, an ASSE member and SH&E professional, is working undercover to help stop BodgeDab industries and inform the player of the dangerous and underlying dangers of BodgeDab industries. Just a call away, Elle and a team of safety professionals provide the player with clues on how to prevent workplace hazards, save the zombies and stop the dreaded BodgeDab industries.
In addition to Elle and the safety professionals, the player has several tools that can be moved to a tool box/inventory to fix the hazardous situations in each level. Instructions are provided throughout the game as are quizzes.
The “Don’t be a Zombie at Work” game, developed by ASSE members, is another tool ASSE has created and made available to its members and the public in an effort to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities. The other free young worker tools include the “Be Safe At Work: Tips for Teens” book mark and the brochures titled “Important Workplace Safety Guide for Young Workers” and “Preventing Roadway Crashes” available by contacting ASSE at customerservice@asse.org , by calling 847-699-2929 or downloading them from www.asse.org/newsroom in the press kit.
In 2007 a total of 117 teens under the age of 18 died from work-related injuries and another 77,000 teen workers were hurt badly enough to end up in hospital emergency rooms. Nationally, about 230,000 teens suffer work-related injuries, with most of those injuries occurring in the retail or service industries, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Overall, close to 6,000 workers die from on-the-job injuries and 4.4 million more suffer from injuries and illnesses in the U.S. alone.
Related Past Posts:
Video Game Teaches Forklift Safety
Slippery floors, hot cooking equipment, heavy lifting, loud noises and working alone are some of the dangers teens face as they take that first job or seasonal employment. These dangers can lead to fatalities and serious injury if workers are not aware of them and how to protect themselves against being injured on the job. To help teens stay safe at work, ASSE has launched an interactive online computer game called “Don’t be a Zombie at Work” and to illustrate how occupational safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professionals are key to staying safe.
Located at http://www.dontbeazombieatwork.org, the new ASSE game is free and features the imaginary evil “BodgeDab” industries. Players find themselves helping their co-workers avoid becoming a “zombie” by finding tools and information from embedded SH&E professionals to stay safe on the job. The game involves a mysterious corporation that has just moved into a large city, led by reputed evil boss Damballa Bokor, and opening businesses all over town. At the same time, the people working at these establishments are becoming “unnatural” -- zombie like. And the “virus” is quickly spreading among all workers. The player’s job is to move through these establishments - a restaurant (Club BodgeDab), a warehouse and an office to save the workers by undoing the workplace hazards. This will save the zombiefied employees and create a safe work environment. If done successfully, the player moves to the final challenge - BodgeDab headquarters and a showdown with Damballa Bokor.
Throughout the game Elle, an ASSE member and SH&E professional, is working undercover to help stop BodgeDab industries and inform the player of the dangerous and underlying dangers of BodgeDab industries. Just a call away, Elle and a team of safety professionals provide the player with clues on how to prevent workplace hazards, save the zombies and stop the dreaded BodgeDab industries.
In addition to Elle and the safety professionals, the player has several tools that can be moved to a tool box/inventory to fix the hazardous situations in each level. Instructions are provided throughout the game as are quizzes.
The “Don’t be a Zombie at Work” game, developed by ASSE members, is another tool ASSE has created and made available to its members and the public in an effort to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities. The other free young worker tools include the “Be Safe At Work: Tips for Teens” book mark and the brochures titled “Important Workplace Safety Guide for Young Workers” and “Preventing Roadway Crashes” available by contacting ASSE at customerservice@asse.org , by calling 847-699-2929 or downloading them from www.asse.org/newsroom in the press kit.
In 2007 a total of 117 teens under the age of 18 died from work-related injuries and another 77,000 teen workers were hurt badly enough to end up in hospital emergency rooms. Nationally, about 230,000 teens suffer work-related injuries, with most of those injuries occurring in the retail or service industries, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Overall, close to 6,000 workers die from on-the-job injuries and 4.4 million more suffer from injuries and illnesses in the U.S. alone.
Related Past Posts:
Video Game Teaches Forklift Safety
Labels: ASSE, Free Safety Guides, Safety Training
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Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Free Safety Guides Available
Graphic Products offers a number of free safety guides related to labeling and sign making.
OSHA Safety Signs Best Practices - this guide describes the OSHA and ANSI requirements for safety signs, including required colors and the new ANSI pictograms.
OSHA Safety Sign Guide (Poster) - this 24" x 18" poster is very unique and eye-catching. It describes the various types of safety signs, including signal word requirements. It provides a quick, easy-to-read overview of safety signs. This is a limited edition poster.
Top Ten OSHA Violations in 2008 - the top ten types of violations are covered based on the most frequent violations. A second list shows the top ten types of violations based on the proposed fines. Descriptions and references to the appropriate OSHA regulations are provided.
Guide To Required PPE - a one page quick reference to required PPE based on the hazard category. It also provides a cross-reference showing the hazard categories each type of PPE.
Phosphorescent Marking White paper - this white paper discusses the NFPA 101 requirements for phosphorescent markings in stairwells and exit ways. Local and state requirements are also mentioned.
All of the above are available at no charge from Graphic Products. The links will take you to an online order form.
OSHA Safety Signs Best Practices - this guide describes the OSHA and ANSI requirements for safety signs, including required colors and the new ANSI pictograms.
OSHA Safety Sign Guide (Poster) - this 24" x 18" poster is very unique and eye-catching. It describes the various types of safety signs, including signal word requirements. It provides a quick, easy-to-read overview of safety signs. This is a limited edition poster.Top Ten OSHA Violations in 2008 - the top ten types of violations are covered based on the most frequent violations. A second list shows the top ten types of violations based on the proposed fines. Descriptions and references to the appropriate OSHA regulations are provided.
Guide To Required PPE - a one page quick reference to required PPE based on the hazard category. It also provides a cross-reference showing the hazard categories each type of PPE.
Phosphorescent Marking White paper - this white paper discusses the NFPA 101 requirements for phosphorescent markings in stairwells and exit ways. Local and state requirements are also mentioned.
All of the above are available at no charge from Graphic Products. The links will take you to an online order form.
Labels: Free Safety Guides, OSHA Signs, PPE, safety labeling
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Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Liberty Mutual Manual Materials Handling Calculations
Liberty Mutual has made available a free online system for calculating the percentage of the population that can perform a specified lifting, lowering, pushing or pulling task.
The "Liberty Mutual Manual Materials Handling Tables" can be used to perform ergonomic assessments of lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and carrying tasks with the primary goal of supporting ergonomic design interventions.
The online calculator is available here.
The "Liberty Mutual Manual Materials Handling Tables" can be used to perform ergonomic assessments of lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and carrying tasks with the primary goal of supporting ergonomic design interventions.
The online calculator is available here.
Labels: Free Safety Guides, Industrial Health, safety management
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Free Safety Videos
The Hawaii Occupational and Health Department (HIOSH) offers several safety training videos that are available free online. Employers in Hawaii also have the option of obtaining DVD copies of the videos. The videos are available at: http://www.hawaii.gov/labor/hiosh/videos.shtml
Currently three videos are available, Construction Safety, Fall Protection Safety, and Small Business Safety.
Construction Safety: This video gives a basic overview of construction safety standards including the eight important safety areas related to construction: Fall Arrest, Scaffolding, Heavy Machinery, Electricity, Excavations, Chemicals, Ladders and Personal Protection.
Fall Protection Safety: This video focuses on fall protection in the construction industry. It educates workers about fall protection and the potentially devastating consequences of not adhering to it.
Small Business Safety: This video explains the Five-Point Workplace Program, Starting a Company's Voluntary Activity, Conducting a Self-Inspection and Available Assistance and Resources. This safety video is targeted for small business owners, employers and employees.
Currently three videos are available, Construction Safety, Fall Protection Safety, and Small Business Safety.
Construction Safety: This video gives a basic overview of construction safety standards including the eight important safety areas related to construction: Fall Arrest, Scaffolding, Heavy Machinery, Electricity, Excavations, Chemicals, Ladders and Personal Protection.
Fall Protection Safety: This video focuses on fall protection in the construction industry. It educates workers about fall protection and the potentially devastating consequences of not adhering to it.
Small Business Safety: This video explains the Five-Point Workplace Program, Starting a Company's Voluntary Activity, Conducting a Self-Inspection and Available Assistance and Resources. This safety video is targeted for small business owners, employers and employees.
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Friday, April 06, 2007
Electrical Hazard Recognition
Many workers are unaware of the potential electrical hazards present in their work environment, which makes them more vulnerable to the danger of electrocution. OSHA provides a variety of references that help recognize hazards associated with electrical work. OSHA makes all of these available through a single resources page titled Electrical Hazard Recognition.
The available resources include:
The available resources include:
- Working Safely with Electricity, OSHA Fact Sheet
- Portable Generator Safety, OSHA Quick Card
- Using Portable Generators Safely, OSHA Fact Sheet
- Electrical Safety Hazards of Overloading Cable Trays, OSHA Fact Sheet
- Construction Pocket Guide
- Electrical safety web page that provides links to information about electrical safety and electrocutions.
- OSHA Assistance for the Maritime Industry
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills web page provides links to safety and health information.
- Electrical Safety: Safety and Health for Electrical Trades Student Manual
- Fire Fighters Exposed to Electrical Hazards During Wildland Fire Operations
- Electrocutions Fatality Investigation Reports
- Construction Industry Safety and Health Outreach Program
Labels: Free Safety Guides, osha information
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Thursday, March 22, 2007
2007 Edition of NFPA 1600 Available at No Cost
NFPA Press Release
2007 Edition of NFPA 1600 available at no cost
Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs
The 2007 edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs is available for download at no charge at NFPA’s Web site.
The standard establishes a common set of criteria that sets a foundation for disaster management, emergency management, and business continuity programs using a total program approach. Organizations and parties responsible for developing such programs will benefit from information on emergency management, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and business continuity.
"Whether they are initiated by nature or human caused, disasters and emergencies wreak havoc," said James M. Shannon, president and CEO of NFPA. "As organizations plan for unpredictable situations that may arise, NFPA 1600 has become the gold standard to help organizations develop an inclusive plan – a plan that will prove essential in achieving the most successful outcome possible when disaster strikes."
NFPA 1600’s latest edition incorporates changes to the 2004 edition and expands the conceptual framework of the earlier version. Aspects of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery which are focused on in earlier versions have been updated, and prevention has been added as a fifth and distinct concept.
In 1991, NFPA’s Standards Council established the Disaster Management Committee to develop a preparedness standard that identified key components of a comprehensive plan that could be used by a variety of organizations. The plan was intended to address preparations for, responses to, and recovery from disasters resulting from natural, human or technological events. This was the beginning of NFPA 1600.
Utilized by and developed for organizations in both the public and private sector, NFPA 1600 is one of NFPA’s most widely implemented standards. More than 115,000 copies have been downloaded from NFPA’s Web site since 2004.
2007 Edition of NFPA 1600 available at no cost
Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs
The 2007 edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs is available for download at no charge at NFPA’s Web site.
The standard establishes a common set of criteria that sets a foundation for disaster management, emergency management, and business continuity programs using a total program approach. Organizations and parties responsible for developing such programs will benefit from information on emergency management, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and business continuity.
"Whether they are initiated by nature or human caused, disasters and emergencies wreak havoc," said James M. Shannon, president and CEO of NFPA. "As organizations plan for unpredictable situations that may arise, NFPA 1600 has become the gold standard to help organizations develop an inclusive plan – a plan that will prove essential in achieving the most successful outcome possible when disaster strikes."
NFPA 1600’s latest edition incorporates changes to the 2004 edition and expands the conceptual framework of the earlier version. Aspects of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery which are focused on in earlier versions have been updated, and prevention has been added as a fifth and distinct concept.
In 1991, NFPA’s Standards Council established the Disaster Management Committee to develop a preparedness standard that identified key components of a comprehensive plan that could be used by a variety of organizations. The plan was intended to address preparations for, responses to, and recovery from disasters resulting from natural, human or technological events. This was the beginning of NFPA 1600.
Utilized by and developed for organizations in both the public and private sector, NFPA 1600 is one of NFPA’s most widely implemented standards. More than 115,000 copies have been downloaded from NFPA’s Web site since 2004.
The Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), a program available to state territorial and local government programs, bases its voluntary national accreditation process on NFPA 1600. Nine states, two counties and the District of Columbia have earned EMAP accreditation by ensuring that their disaster preparedness and response systems meet national standards in 15 areas, including: planning; resource management; training; exercises, evaluations and corrective actions; and communications and warning. EMAP accredited states include: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Printed copies can be ordered through the online catalog and will be available April 2007.
Labels: Free Safety Guides
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Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Free Introduction To Kaizen
We have a new free offer on our web site (www.safe-workplace.com). It is an introductory guide to Kaizen.
Kaizen is a system for making continuous improvement in all aspects of your business or organization, including safety, productivity, employee retention, and quality. By continuously making small improvements based on employee suggestions, changes are implemented quicker and are more readily accepted.
Kaizen is suitable for any type of organization, from an industrial manufacturing facility to a social service nonprofit. It provides a structured approach to finding ways to improve, and for implementing changes to make those improvements.
Kaizen is a system for making continuous improvement in all aspects of your business or organization, including safety, productivity, employee retention, and quality. By continuously making small improvements based on employee suggestions, changes are implemented quicker and are more readily accepted.
Kaizen is suitable for any type of organization, from an industrial manufacturing facility to a social service nonprofit. It provides a structured approach to finding ways to improve, and for implementing changes to make those improvements.
Labels: Free Safety Guides, Lean Manufacturing
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Thursday, October 26, 2006
Free Safety Workbook
A number of free safety related tools are offered on the Graphic Products web site. One is a free safety workbook that provides inspection check lists. Although it is focused on identifying labeling and sign related problems, it is a good overall guide to use when conducting a safety inspection of your facility.
In addition, they offer a free guide to the NFPA Diamond (used for RTK labeling) and a free guide to understanding arc flash labels.
In addition, they offer a free guide to the NFPA Diamond (used for RTK labeling) and a free guide to understanding arc flash labels.
Labels: Free Safety Guides
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