Most workplace accidents are avoidable.
It is a simple concept, and the responsibility of creating a safe workplace falls to both the employer and employee, said Scott Ployer, president & CEO of National Property Management Strategies Group LLC. He leads a webinar, “Performing a Safety Assessment and Job Hazard Analysis.”
“OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires all companies with 11 or more employees to do an analysis,” he said. “The analysis looks at each job by location, focusing on what the teams do.”
Employers are encouraged to promote and review their OSHA Standard Operating Procedures annually, especially since recent statistics say commercial real estate experiences a 56% turnover of personnel.
When he does an analysis, Ployer said, “It was typical for the employer to show me the safety center and personal protective equipment (PPE), which is great. But when I ask how often they go over the proper use of the PPE, there is a deer-in-the-headlights look. The analysis helps employers identify, evaluate and better control hazards before injury or death.”
He said things to look for include whether appropriate eyewear is being used at the key machine in the maintenance shop. Can someone accidentally walk into or be knocked into a machine? Are people using the proper PPE when doing work on the roof?
“When all else fails, the last resort is PPE. What can we give staff to wear to stay safe?” he said. “Employees have rights and responsibilities at their workplace; they have the right to be safe. Unfortunately, when you have companies trying to save money, training programs aren’t attended as often as they should be.”
He said studies show for every $1 spent on training; companies saw a $3 to $4 return on their investment. By law, employers are required to put a new employee through 24 hours of safety training in their first year and then eight hours every year afterward.
Ployer said the most common hazards are trips and falls, strains and sprains, and repetitive injuries.
“We have to teach people the proper way to do things,” he said. “We have to look at every task and every worker.”
That can include the proper way to store chemicals, how to read safety data sheets, lifting objects with your legs, not your back or the proper technique to shovel wet snow.
OSHA also requires employers to have someone in charge of the company’s safety plan. It can be someone on staff or a third-party provider. Additionally, he said, many insurance companies offer workplace safety training, but most clients don’t think to ask.
Safety isn’t just the employer’s responsibility. It is up to employees to use the safety equipment offered to them or to perform their tasks properly.
“Safety is a personal trait,” Ployer said. “We will give you as much as we can, but only you can decide to do things properly. We can teach it, we can give you the handouts, but we can’t make you do it.”
Jennifer Jones is the senior director of communications and public relations for NAHMA.