When it comes to ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, there are several important factors that team members need to consider when choosing a safe work environment. In this article, we will explore eight crucial aspects highlighted by Kevin Paul, Director of Safety at Mazzella Companies, that can significantly impact workplace safety. From the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to promoting a strong safety culture, understanding these factors is essential for every team member’s well-being and peace of mind.
1. The Company You Work Doesn’t Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
According to Kevin, a company should be providing any team members that need PPE for several reasons. Firstly, by providing PPE, the company is taking responsibility for ensuring a safe and healthy work environment. Secondly, companies have a better understanding of the specific hazards and risks present in the workplace. They can conduct thorough assessments, identify potential dangers, and provide specialized equipment.
Thirdly, providing PPE ensures consistency and compliance with relevant regulations and standards, with Kevin adding, “We defer to a lot of third-party industry experts to test the PPE we are giving to our teammates. By doing so, we are going to know that it’s going to hold up to impact and compression ratings.”
Additionally, allowing teammates to bring in their own PPE means that Mazzella Companies isn’t going to be aware if it meets their requirements. Kevin says, “We would never want you to bring in your own equipment because we can’t know what environment that the apparatuses or devices have been exposed to, how much wear and tear they’ve seen, or how long they’ve been in use.”
Related: What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Does Mazzella Companies Offer?
2. Work Culture Does Not Promote Stop Work Authority (SWA) or PPE Inspections
A company’s reputation and long-term sustainability frequently hinge on cultivating robust cultures that foster and prioritize a safe work environment – both in reaction to danger and in the prevention of it. Kevin says that companies that aren’t promoting the use of Stop Work Authority (SWA) are telling team members that they may not be following OSHA’s best practices. “It’s all about making sure you’re empowered as an individual in any work environment or climate, to use your SWA when something’s not right, doesn’t smell right, or feel right, and companies need to be behind that.”
Kevin says that beyond promoting a culture that encourages team members to use their SWA, they also should be in support of thorough PPE inspections. Whether those inspections are annual, or before each use, they should be encouraged, documented, and correlate with up-to-date requirements. “You need the company to be able to provide you with checklists, guidelines, operating instructions, and best practices to ensure safety. You can’t know that something passed inspection six months ago if it’s not documented and you can’t know it’s in working condition if you don’t put your eyes on it before using it – a lot of things can happen from one day to the next.”
3. The Workspaces Are Cluttered
Kevin emphasized the crucial importance of workplace organization. He firmly stated that if the business you are applying to is not orderly and well-organized, it should raise significant concerns and act as a warning sign. “You need to be able to define where people can walk and where they can work and have work areas that are organized and free of slip, trip, or fall hazards.”
Not only does an organized workspace reflect a safer workplace, but it also reflects a more efficient workplace which ultimately reduces job frustration. “You want to make sure that you have all of the tools you’re going to need to do your job safely in your vicinity and that you’re not going to be forced to search for a tool you need in the middle of a project.”
4. Breaks Are Not Communicated
With no regulations related to water, rest, and lunch breaks outlined by OSHA or the Department of Labor, it’s important that the workplace you choose to be a part of both respects the need for them and communicates them clearly to you.
Kevin says, “If you’re working at a company that is so focused on getting the job done that they’re neglecting break time, lunch times, or personal time, that’s a red flag – especially in the hot months. Adequate breaks to get rehydrated and cool down need to be communicated and encouraged. If a company is saying they’re a family company but you don’t feel valued or cared about, that should serve as a major warning.”
5. Lack of Workplace or Jobsite Security
Kevin says, “A company should have a visitor’s area and a team member entrance. Rules and expectations need to be laid out for anybody that is in the facility. Visitors should always be escorted by someone that knows the ins and outs of the facility. Job sites can be unpredictable, maybe an alarm goes off – that escort is going to be able to see that the visitor has a successful route for that exit.”
Aside from the benefits of having an escort during a potential evacuation, workplace hazards should also be top of mind when visitors are on a job site. “There could be potential hazards with forklift traffic, or the visitor may be missing required PPE which heightens the risk for injury.”
Not only does security in place help prevent visitors from ignorantly injuring themselves, but it also keeps workers and their teammates safer with less distractions. “Limiting distractions is a must. If an unplanned and unescorted visitor is roaming a facility, they are going to be more prone to accidents from the unplanned disruption. Having exact requirements spelled out helps keep everyone safer.”
6. Lack of Training on How to Use Equipment and PPE
Kevin says, “Training is crucial for any company. You need to know how you’re going to do what you do safely. When you see a company employ those step-by-step instructions, you know they’re serious about not only your safety and well-being, but also building repeatability into a process.” Kevin shared whether it’s work instructions, standard operating procedures, or equipment manuals, having those best practices laid out in steps is essential.
Included in the training companies should be offering, Kevin said that even training about how to wear and use PPE is crucial. Using a fall harness as an example, Kevin said, “While anyone can put a fall harness on, do you know if it’s the right size for you? If it’s not, it’s not going to do its job. Everyone needs to understand how to do it the right way. If you’re going to be required to wear a particular kind of protection, you need to be sure you know how to wear it for it be effective.”
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7. Working Alone is Acceptable
There are a variety of situations that could come up throughout a workday wherein working alone could cause serious injury. “You may have a particular medical condition that not everyone is aware of, and should something go wrong, maybe you need to call emergency response – having that buddy system in place ensures things are taken care of immediately.”
Not only is working alone dangerous when it comes to response time, but it also discourages workers from taking adequate rests and breaks from potential hazards such as height or heat. “Having a system in place with your team during hazardous conditions, being able to rotate the work while still getting the job done makes sure that everyone has a safe experience. That kind of communication is crucial for a safe work environment.”
8. No Proper Place to Store Personal Belongings
Beyond the safety of someone’s personal belongings, the safety of someone’s PPE becomes a priority in a manufacturing setting. “If a company doesn’t have a place for teammates to store their belongings, it says they’re not practicing the proper PPE requirements. PPE needs to be put away where it can be protected from dirt, sun, or improper storage that may misshape it, so it’s ready to go the next time it’s used.”
Conclusion
Ensuring workplace safety is not only crucial for the well-being and satisfaction of every team member but is also a fundamental priority. It is essential for team members to remain vigilant and attentive to red flags that may arise in their work environment. By recognizing these warning signs and taking proactive measures to steer clear of potential hazards, individuals are actively safeguarding their own welfare. Remember, you possess the right to be part of an environment that places a high value on your well-being, because above all, your safety matters.
