Plumb Safety: Safety Standards for Both Facility Owners and Their Customers

By Genevieve Ventiere, ABM Brokerage Marketing Manager, and George Hawkins, PLM Loss Control Representative

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was put into place to ensure safe working conditions for employees by setting and enforcing workplace standards. Though OSHA’s primary focus is the employee, it is important to understand how the hazards that can and do affect your employees are often the same ones that will affect your customers, or anyone else on your premises.

Let’s review OSHA’s recently released list of the Top 10 Safety Violations of 2021 from both a workers’ compensation and liability standpoint to highlight the importance of prevention and mitigation. All business owners, no matter the size and scope of the organization, should have a plan to address the following issues:

1. Fall Protection – According to OSHA, fall violations top the list for the 11th year in a row. Employees should be trained in the fall potential areas of their facility. The employees should also demonstrate that they know what to do in the event of a spill. Customers should also be aware of the environment surrounding them while at a company facility and feel free to notify management or a site employee of the spill.
2. Respiratory Protection – Many PLM customers are woodworking organizations whose employees utilize tools and machinery that give off dust or finishing agents that are not healthy to breathe. While it seems obvious that employees should be properly trained to use tools and machinery, they should also be made aware of the immediate and long-term dangers of inhaling large amounts of dust or any chemical aerosols. It is important that all businesses engaging in any type of activity that produces dust or fumes should provide the correct PPE equipment to employees as well as have the premises properly ventilated. Improper ventilation or dust protection could also negatively affect any customers, contractors, inspectors, or couriers entering the facility.
3. Ladder Usage
4. Scaffolding Usage – The use of ladders and scaffolding is common in our industry, whether it be for installation services, reaching/stocking merchandise, or general premises repair. Employees must be trained in the safe use of all types of ladders and platforms, and business owners must provide proper and functional safety equipment. Employees should keep all safety chains in place when ladders and platforms are not in use. Chains should also have a sign posting “Employees Only”.
5. Hazard Communication – A Hazard Communication Program should be developed to include the formal training of all employees. Also, any customer that is allowed in a potentially hazardous area while on site will need to be notified of such hazard and what company safety standards need to be followed.
6. Lockout/Tagout – Provide locks for circuit breakers or disconnects for equipment/machinery. When equipment is undergoing maintenance, these protection devices will help prevent the equipment from being accidentally turned on and endangering the operator or maintenance person, who could be a non-employee. Ideally this is done both for breakdown repairs and regular preventative maintenance and should be a formal requirement in the Safety Plan and Performance Review Standards.
7. Fall Protection Training Requirements – Though fall safety is addressed above, it is such a prevalent issue that there are separate OSHA requirements for how employees are to be trained in fall safety. There should be a formal Fall Safety Program in place as part of the overall Safety Plan, and employees should be trained and retrained frequently in the potential fall areas of their facility. Employees should be able to demonstrate that they know what to do in the event of a spill, or when products or equipment are infringing upon a thoroughfare.
8. Personal Protective & Lifesaving Equipment (Eye and Face Protection) – PPE is another important part of any company’s safety standards and should be provided for all employees. PPE includes eye, face, head and extremity protection, protective clothing, respiratory devices, protective shields, and barriers for mechanical, chemical, radiological or other workplace environmental hazards, and could also include defibrillators or emergency response alarms/outreach. Employees should be trained in the personal protective equipment necessary for each specific task. Customers and visitors should also be aware of a company’s PPE requirements (safety glasses, etc.), and employees should be trained to enforce customer use of required equipment.
9. Powered Industrial Trucks – Many business owners have some type of powered industrial trucks such as forklifts or lift trucks. All employees must be trained on the safe operation of such equipment. Employees also have the obligation to warn customers while forklifts or lift trucks are in use. Customers must be aware of the dangers involved with this type of equipment and follow company safety rules.
10. Machine Guarding – Employees should be trained on the proper use of safety guards and must never remove factory guards. Customers should also be clearly informed of and required to comply with company safety rules restricting machinery use.

There are many parties who can assist your clients in training their employees and developing a formal safety plan for their business. Insurance carriers offer their expertise through Loss Control and Risk Management teams. OSHA has a large number of safety resources for all types of businesses. Business owners can also enlist the help of third-party safety organizations, an in-house risk manager, and/or an attorney with expertise in workplace safety.

A formal safety program is an incredibly important aspect of maintaining a safe environment for employees and customers, however, it is only useful if your clients are able to make sure their employees and customers understand their responsibility in the prevention of loss or injury.