Safety First! February 2021

Date postedFebruary 1, 2021
Safety First Newsletter,

BMSA Safety First!
February 2021
Calendar of Events
2021
March 2:
Dr. Deitz NAHB Webinar - Economic Outlook: Housing a Bright Spot for Recovery
March 24:
HR Webinar-
Recruiting & Retaining Key Employees While our Nation Heals from Covid
April 7:
HR Webinar -
You Hired Them, Now What? Onboarding
Best Practices
April 15-16:
CFO Roundtable
(Virtual)
 
April 21-23:
Sales Manager Roundtable
(Hilton Head, SC)
 
April 25-27:
Roundtable 1
(Charlotte, NC)
 
April 28-30:
Roundtable 7
(Hilton Head, SC)
May 5:
HR Webinar - Performance Management: Going
Beyond the Annual Review
May 12-14:
Roundtable 5
(Charlotte, NC)
June 16:
HR Webinar -
If it’s Not Documented, it Didn’t Happen:
Essential Employee Documentation
10 Tips For Safety: Creating A Solid Foundation For Your Safety Program
If you have ever taken a look around OSHA’s website you know that things can get very confusing, very fast, especially if you are new to or overwhelmed by the world of safety. Business owners know that safety is important, and they know that they need to get their safety program in place (fast!) but knowing where to start, what’s most important, and what to focus on first can be daunting! Especially, when owners and managers have a million other things to worry about during the course of a workday.
If you find yourself in this position as an owner, safety professional, or manager, here is a top 10 tip list that will get you started and provide you with a solid foundation for your safety program. If you already have a safety and health program in place, review the list to make sure you have all your bases covered.
  1. Set Safety & Health as a Top Priority. Tell your workers that making sure they finish the day and go home safely is the way you do business. Assure them that you will work with them to find and fix any hazards that could injure them or make them sick.
  3. Lead by Example. Practice safe behaviors yourself and make safety part of your daily conversations with workers.
  5. Implement a Reporting System. Develop and communicate a simple procedure for workers to report any injuries, illnesses, incidents (including near misses/close calls), hazards, or safety and health concerns, without fear of retaliation. Include an option for reporting hazards or concerns anonymously – you might be surprised at what you learn.
  7. Provide Training. Train workers on how to identify and control hazards in the workplace. Use short-targeted safety training sessions as part of your training process. Tailgate meetings, toolbox talks, weekly or even monthly safety meetings that are short can be the perfect way to introduce reminders on proper safe work practices.
  9. Conduct Inspections. Inspect the workplace with workers and ask them to identify any activity, piece of equipment, or material that concerns them.
  11. Collect Hazard Control Ideas. Ask workers for ideas on improvements and follow up on their suggestions. Provide them time during work hours, if necessary, to research solutions.
  13. Implement Hazard Controls. Assign workers the task of choosing, implementing, and evaluating the solutions they come up with.
  15. Address Emergencies. Identify foreseeable emergency scenarios and develop instructions on what to do in each case. Meet to discuss these procedures and post them in a visible location in the workplace.
  17. Seek Input on Workplace Changes. Before making significant changes to the workplace, work organization, equipment, or materials, consult with workers to identify potential safety or health issues.
  19. Make Improvements. Set aside a regular time to discuss safety and health issues, with the goal of identifying ways to improve the program.
This top 10 tips list of recommended practices for Safety & Health programs is provided by OSHA. To learn more, visit the OSHA website at osha.gov and get access to resources to help you get started and stay on track with your safety program.
(Source: WeeklySafety.com, Nov. 2020 & OSHA.gov, Jan. 2021)
Did You Miss It?
Form 300A Deadlines
Feb. 1 was the deadline for posting Form 300A in the workplace, which is the summary of serious workplace injuries and illnesses from the previous year. It must be posted in a location that is clearly visible to all employees and new applicants, and it must be kept posted until April 30. In addition, employees have the right to request a copy of the records at any time.
March 2 is the deadline for employers to file directly with OSHA their 300A and two other reports—Forms 300 and 301. In regard to Form 300, employers with 10 or more employees are required by law to record work-related deaths and injuries or illnesses that involve loss of consciousness, restricted work activity or job transfer, days away from work, or medical treatment by healthcare professionals beyond first aid.
Click here to find out more.
(Source: EHS Today, Jan. 2020)
Attention Ohio Members!
CareWorks Comp, in conjunction with Comp Management, will be presenting important and informative workers’ comp webinars in March. These sessions will help your company meet the 2 hour safety training requirement for group and retrospective group rated employers.
 
Thursday, March 4, 2021, 2-3 pm EST:
Managing Workers’ Compensation in the Time of COVID-19
Thursday, March 23, 2021, 10-11 am EST or Tuesday, March 20, 2021, 2-3 pm EST:
Understanding Your Rate Calculation and the Factors that Drive Your Cost
 
For more information about the free webinars and the links to register click here.
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties
The U.S. Department of Labor announced adjustments to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021.
OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $13,494 per violation to $13,653 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $134,937 per violation to $136,532 per violation.
Visit the OSHA Penalties page for more information
(Source: OSHA Trade Release, Jan. 2021)
Decrease Your Forklift Accidents and Increase Your Bottom Line
Avoid the #1 OSHA Citation Enforced at Lumber Yards
Did you know all forklift operators must be certified every 3 years? The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) is offering the 2nd edition forklift training to members.
NLBMDA's forklift training program is specifically for the lumber and building material industry and meets all OSHA forklift training requirements.
The Forklift & You Kit Includes:
  • 45-minute training DVD*
  • A 198-page guide to forklift operation which doubles as the 'train-the-trainer' guide to help lead the training facilitator
  • One Operator Package*: five operator workbooks, five exams, twelve certificates, twelve ID cards, and an Employer Worksheet to track certified operators
Contact membersupport@dealer.org or (202) 367-1197

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