The safe work practices we adhere to in our shop are often the same ones we take out of our shops and into our homes. The topic today is what makes attention to shop safety important.
Recommendation:
Discuss in-shop procedures and ensure that frequent and regular inspections are conducted to identify potential hazards in materials and equipment. Contributors to a safe shop include:
Individuals
Supervisors
Safety Committee
Based on self-inspection, identify and point out slip and trip hazards on walking/working surfaces.
- Overhead dangers (like cranes),
- Moving equipment (like forklifts)
- General housekeeping (like slip, trip or fall hazards)
Discuss location of key information
- The emergency medical plan
- Hazard communications (SDS binder)
- Fire extinguishers, evacuation signs and routes
- Employer (labor law) posters
- Safety Committee meeting minutes.
Discuss power operated tools and equipment machine guarding, anti-kickback devices, and personal protective equipment that is required to be worn when operating machinery.
Additional Discussion Notes:
Employee qualification program to operate machines requirements (if any).
Self-inspection checklists.
Remember:
The safe work practices we bring into the shop are often the same safe work practices we take out of the shop onto the job and then into our homes.
Think safety!
