Tips to Keep Safety Training a Priority in Your Company

Although 90% of companies surveyed by Safety+Health Magazine in 2018 said they would keep or increase their safety training budgets, many still find it difficult to make time for such programs. Many of them pursue OSHA safety certification but fail to follow through. While all companies want to reduce risk and minimize accidents, not all of them make safety training a priority.

Anyone responsible for workplace safety training must connect and engage with every employee to become effective at promoting a safer working environment and better well-being for everyone. The problem is that most supervisors and managers are likely busy with other responsibilities. They often focus on efficiency and productivity, sometimes resulting in neglect of essential due diligence. Although businesses are aware that employee safety should be a main concern, investing time in training is not always at the top of their mind.

So, how do you prioritize safety training and maintain OSHA safety certification in your company? Here are some tips.

1. Implement an in-house training program.

Develop an effective and ongoing workplace safety training program. This program must undergo a routine evaluation to keep up with any changes in the workforce. Workplaces and working conditions are diverse, so it makes sense to design an equally diverse program. Ask leadership teams, managers, and workers for input. Document the program and share it with them. Take some time to measure its effectiveness through worker observation, feedback, performance, and testing to keep tabs on your company’s overall safety culture.

2. Deliver daily safety messages.

People tend to forget what they learn between safety training sessions, but you can always remind and reinforce safe habits by delivering daily reminders. This can be done via email, verbally, or by posting a message by their time clock. 

Even a short message like ‘Report damaged equipment immediately’ can make a difference. Messages should be topic-oriented and relevant to tasks to be effective at reinforcing safe work habits.

You can also provide safety messages via toolbox talks, which are informal meetings that take only up to five minutes on the job site (usually before work begins). You can use the opportunity to highlight job-specific safety concerns and issues or remind and encourage staff to sign up for or complete their workplace safety training program.

3. Use technology.

E-learning, virtual reality programs, simulation games, and mobile apps can enhance safety training and supplement your program. They can make safety training more engaging and entertaining for trainees while making it more efficient for employers.

Conclusion

Workplace safety is a smart investment for your company’s future. If you recognize its importance, prioritize health and safety training while ensuring proper OSHA safety certification.

Whether you require workplace safety training or a refresher, Impact Safety Training has the courses for you and your employees. We offer various OSHA Safety Certification and Training classes to help protect your assets, reduce risk, and create a compliant and safe work environment. Let us work together to prioritize safety and encourage a lasting safety culture in your company.

Introduction to excavation competent person training

OSHA defines an excavation as any man-made cut, trench, or depression on the earth’s surface, made by the removal of sand, mainly done for construction purposes. Excavation presents serious safety hazards to all workers involved. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cave-ins have caused an average of 24 worker fatalities and 88 injuries on U.S. worksites in recent years. Because excavation and trenching carry unique hazards and can be technically challenging, safe work requires a competent person trained to identify and mitigate these hazards, which include;

1. Cave-ins that can trap or crush workers inside pose the highest risk for excavation workers. 

2. Equipment or excavation soil falls on workers; when heavy equipment is placed close to the excavation, soil and debris are not removed after excavation. A cubic yard of dirt can weigh more than 3,000 pounds (1.5 tons), and soil can move surprisingly quickly, burying an adult in a matter of seconds.

3. Workers accidentally falling into the excavation is another risk that can be mitigated by deploying emergency equipment ladders, steps, or ramps so workers can safely exit the excavation.

4. Flooding or water accumulation can make it difficult for workers to get out. If an excavation has water in it or is actively taking on water, no workers can enter the excavation until the appropriate measures are taken.

5. When excavation is deeper than four feet, there is a high probability of exposure to hazardous gasses, dust, contaminants, or lack of oxygen. Control measures should be implemented, and testing should be conducted as needed to ensure the trench is safe for workers.

6. Contact with buried service lines, like sewage, and electrical lines, can be dangerous.

7. Proper maintenance and employing well-experienced machine operators will reduce the risk of equipment accidents. For vehicle and machine operators, vehicle warning strobes are needed to warn approaching traffic. Pylons, barrels, buffer zones, and safety spotters should also be deployed.

Before beginning any work, the employer or supervisor must take the necessary precautions to identify all potential hazards and risks. It's important to mandate certain safety procedures to protect all people working on the construction site and the people living around it. 

Certain activities or safety procedures at a construction site require a competent person's design, inspection, or supervision. The OSHA Construction Standard defines a competent person as someone who is:

• Capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings,

• Working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and

• Who has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them?

Excavation work is dependent on these specialized employees because its highly technical nature, as well as its inherent hazards, require a greater level of training and experience than a normal worker would possess. 

Here are a few scenarios during excavation activities where a competent person is necessary;

 Inspecting protective systems or equipment

• Monitor water removal equipment and operations.

• Inspect excavations subject to runoff from heavy rains to determine the need for diversion ditches, dikes, or other suitable protection.

• Determine cave-in potential to assess the need for shoring or other protective systems.

• Examine damaged material or equipment used for protective systems to determine its suitability for continued use.

• Classify soil and rock deposits by visual analysis and testing to determine appropriate protection; re-classifying, if necessary, based on changing conditions.

• Determine the appropriate slope of an excavation to prevent collapse due to surcharge loads from stored material or equipment, operating equipment, adjacent structures, or traffic and ensure such slope is achieved.

Inspecting Trench and Protective Systems

• Authorizing immediate removal of employees from the hazardous area where evidence of possible cave-in, failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions exists.

Unsafe Access/Egress

• A competent person qualified in structural design must design structural ramps used by employees as a means of access or egress. 

The best way to enforce such precautions is by becoming an excavation-competent person. 

The excavation Competent Person Training program is an advanced training program designed to educate supervisor-level workers to become competent enough to inspect, identify and mitigate hazards at a construction site.

According to OSHA, a competent person is knowledgeable in identifying workplace hazards relating to a specific operation and has the authority to mitigate them. The OSHA-certified training is a one-day program that provides the knowledge, ability, and authority to take required actions to mitigate hazards.

The one-day OSHA-certified training covers the following:

• Introduction to Competent Person Excavations

• Competent person responsibilities

• Identify existing and potential hazards in the surroundings

• working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees.

• students will receive the training required to become a competent person who will support compliance with OSHA regulations on the site

• Certification issued upon successful completion.

View our training calendar or call today for registration information.

5 Reasons to Get OSHA 30-hour general industry training

The 30-hour OSHA General Industry course will educate supervisors and workers on workplace and job site safety. Those who successfully complete this specialized training will be familiar with identifying, avoiding, and preventing potential job site hazards. With this OSHA 30 hour general industry training, the mission is to ensure that workers at all levels of responsibility and across all industries receive education about common workplace hazards. 

The OSHA 30-hour training course provides students with a thorough understanding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Students are taught how to identify OSHA regulations that apply to the operations in which they work.

What does the course cover?

During this course, your instructor will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to OSHA

• Managing Safety and Health

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Walking and Working Surfaces, including fall protection

• Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans, and Fire Protection

• Electrical

• Materials Handling

• Hazard Communication

• Elective Topics include Powered Industrial Vehicles, Machine Guarding, Welding, Cutting and Brazing, and more. 

Benefits of 30-hour OSHA Safety Training

Safety Foundation

This is one of the important reasons why this program was created. The training provides the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to keep everyone safe on the job from accidents and injuries. It helps establish a workplace safety culture and lays the groundwork for a long-term safety culture.

Building a positive reputation

Prospective employees prefer companies that follow high safety standards. Offering OSHA safety training is an excellent example of showing your dedication to the safety of your workforce.

Reducing workplace accidents

Regular OSHA safety training will keep your workforce updated on changing safety processes and regulations. This will result in fewer workplace injuries and fatalities. Fewer accidents mean less paperwork, less recordkeeping, and lower worker compensation costs.

Commitment to Safety

Completing OSHA 30-hour training demonstrates a commitment to safety. From potential consumers to establishing alliances with subcontractors or other organizations, safety is vital. Having your entire team OSHA 10 or 30 hours trained demonstrates that you value your employees' health and safety.

Can support all industries

The course will help you learn about the essential elements of workplace safety. This includes understanding workers' right to learn about the potential hazard of their job, as well as understanding the responsibilities for worker safety. The course covers all the hazards one might encounter in different industries, from bloodborne pathogens to scaffolds. Students will learn about Industrial Hygiene, Permit-Required Confined Spaces, Fall Protection, Ergonomics, and more. 

Impact Safety offers OSHA 30-hour general industry training designed to provide a variety of training to supervisors and workers with some safety responsibilities and ensure workers stay competent and up to date on safety practices related to their unique operations. 

Benefits of hazwoper refresher training

OSHA’s HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) provides guidance on health and safety training when employees and workers work in hazardous waste activities carried out in workplaces that work with hazardous material (HAZMAT). OSHA’s HAZWOPER recommends employers deliver different levels of training for various job tasks and work responsibilities.

The first course is the initial training course aimed at workers who are beginning employment at such a place. It is then followed by the training programs aimed at their direct supervisors and managers, who ensure that they create a safe working environment for all workers. The third course offers specialized courses for workers handling HAZMAT, hazardous waste managers, working in confined spaces, and HAZMAT emergency responders.

Overall, OSHA recommends 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training for workers when there is no significant change in their job titles or the hazards present in the work environment.

Benefits of HAZWOPER refresher training

Creating a positive organizational reputation

Organizations that follow high safety standards are preferred by prospective workers, especially in the construction industry. Offering HAZWOPER refresher training courses is a great example of showing your dedication to the safety of your workforce.

Less expensive

The 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training is less expensive than the more extended HAZWOPER training programs. Also, since it is available online, it is easily accessible to all employees working at different worksites and time zones.

Reducing workplace accidents

Regular training courses will keep your workforce abreast of changing safety processes and regulations. This will directly result in reduced workplace injury and fatalities. Fewer cases of accidents also mean less paperwork, less recordkeeping, and reduced expenses for worker compensation.

Fulfilling regulatory requirements and safety compliance responsibilities

As the 8-hour refresher training is mandated by OSHA in its HAZWOPER standard, ensuring that employees receive regular exercise will help your firm be OSHA compliant. Businesses and corporations will also be able to avoid any legal issues when safety training is refreshed annually. Besides, firms would be recognized as responsible corporations who ensure that their workers remain safe and work in a secure environment.

Emphasizing workers’ safety and health

When the employer ensures that safety training is given regularly, it stresses the importance of workplace safety. HAZWOPER refresher training courses also emphasize the employers’ views of health and safety courses, investment in employees’ safety, and how to handle hazardous material safely.

Building an engaged workforce

Organizations that ensure that their employees regularly undertake 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training are prepared to face any emergencies, thereby creating a positive culture in the workplace. Employees will feel secure in the workplace, knowing that they are up to date with the latest guidelines in safety and that their wellbeing at work is duly considered. Ultimately, when employees are happy, secure, and engaged, they are more likely to give their best to the job. This will eventually result in better productivity and a more successful business.

Impact Safety offers HAZWOPER refresher training and an 8-hour refresher course designed for any emergency response worker or hazardous waste site worker to ensure workers stay competent and up to date on safety practices related to operations involving hazardous substances. Impact Safety helps employees stay updated with laws, systems, and equipment, and stay better equipped to respond to uncontrolled hazardous waste site operations.

OSHA safety training: Who needs it?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was launched 50 years ago and proved to be a massive game-changer for labor law compliance. Its standards are crucial to how organizations in many industries will define their safety guidelines that impact the lives of their employees and workers. OSHA outlines safety standards so that employees can work in a hazard-free space. OSHA also helps to establish safety standards that help to maintain a healthy, safe working environment. 

Who needs OSHA training?

According to the U.S Department of Labor, the four main categories of OSHA environments are agriculture, construction, maritime, and general industry. We will take a look at each category:

Agriculture

Any person who grows crops or raises livestock is bound by the OSHA agriculture regulations unless expended. OSHA standards govern the management of all types of farm equipment and work in common farm settings. It also covers specific standards on noise, heat, age of workers, and sanitation conditions to help protect workers from the hazards of the job. Exposure to chemicals and direct sun is considered the prime hazards of the agricultural industry.

Construction

Construction is a high-hazard industry that includes many activities involving construction, alteration, and/or repair. Construction workers engage in many activities that may expose them to serious hazards, such as electrocutions, unguarded machinery, falling from rooftops, being struck by heavy construction equipment, silica dust, and asbestos.

OSHA offers information, resources, and tools to the construction industry to assist both employees and employers – to identify, reduce, and eliminate construction-related hazards. Impact Safety offers the 10-hour OSHA training course for the construction industry providing training for workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces in the construction industry. 

Maritime

OSHA maritime standards are aimed at workers who are employed in the repair, scrap, or building of ships, or who move cargo to and fro from the ship. Employees in the maritime industry usually face injuries related to confined spaces, toxic chemicals, falls, slips, trips, and hazards related to machines and fire. 

General industry

General industry falls outside the above categories.

Impact Safety offers a one and a half-day course and a 30 Hour OSHA General Industry course to provide students with a supervisory level of recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in the general industry. The 10 Hour OSHA General Industry course is intended for any entry-level person that wants to learn how to work safely in the general industry field while the 30 Hour OSHA General Industry course is appropriate for any person in a supervisory role that has safety responsibilities in the general industry. Impact Safety also provides an 8-hour refresher course to help students stay abreast with news in the industry, learn about new laws, and refresh on important topics.

Are you in need of OSHA Safety Training? Impact Safety offers various specialized courses including confined space certification and OSHA General Industry course to help your organization remain on par with the latest OSHA safety guidelines.

Confined Space Entry Training: Who Needs It?

Confined space training provides certain workers with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to enter and work safely in confined spaces. A confined space is an area with restricted or limited access and is not meant for continuous occupancy. Examples include tanks, storage bins, vessels, hoppers, vaults, manholes, and pits. 

Many types of workers require confined space certification, including pump truck technicians, vacuum truck operators, electricians, construction workers, oilfield workers, welders, scaffolders, and more. Training can cover different subjects, including confined space rescue.

 

How often is confined space training required?

 

If your employees regularly work in confined spaces, it’s important to strictly enforce safety guidelines and equip them with the knowledge and skills to take care of themselves and the people around them. This is why it’s important to invest in the right OSHA safety training. The frequency of training will depend on the confined space certification received. Confined space entry certification won’t expire, but students need to attend refresher training every three years. For confined space rescue training, in particular, an eight-hour refresher is required every year after the initial year.

 

What is the OSHA standard for confined space training?

 

The OSHA standard for confined spaces is 29 CFR 1910.146 and it details the requirements for procedures and practices to protect general industry employees from the hazards of entering permitted spaces. Employers must evaluate workplaces to determine permit spaces and inform exposed employees of their location, existence, and potential hazards. This can be accomplished by posting relevant danger signs or applying equally effective measures.

 

In cases when employees should not enter or work in permit spaces, an employer should take effective steps to prevent them from entering those spaces in the first place. If employees are expected to enter the permit spaces, employers must create a written permit space program and make sure it’s available to all concerned employees and representatives.

 

Importance of training for confined space entry

 

Working in confined spaces can be risky for many reasons, which can be difficult to detect at times. The most common threats include noxious fumes, drowning risks or flooding, fire risks, reduced oxygen levels, contamination, asphyxiation, and access difficulties during emergencies. These situations increase health and safety risks, making OSHA safety training all the more important. It’s not merely a regulatory requirement—it can be a matter of life and death. Working without proper training further increases the risk of injury and fatality. 

 

Where can you get trained?

 

Impact Safety is a trusted comprehensive safety source for companies in all fields and industries looking to create a compliant and safe work environment and reduce risk. We can help you get the relevant confined space certification and refresher training you and your team require. Get in touch with us to get started.