Five Steps to Safety

Safety doesn’t have to be complicated or confusing. Here are five steps you can take to ensure you are up-to-date with safety standards.

1) Join a standards committee.
Joining a standards committee gives you first hand knowledge of changes to standards.


2) Join an organization that provides trade shows and seminars.
By joining an organization that provides trade shows and seminars you expand your knowledge base and mindshare. Trade shows and seminars are great opportunities to not only learn about new standards but to also see new technologies available to help you meet those standards. Networking at these events also gives you the chance to utilize colleagues as sounding boards for issues or problems you may have with safety.

3) Create an internal safety committee
An internal safety committee is a great way to enforce safety regulations. Schedule monthly assessments of machinery and procedures to ensure that employees are performing duties in a safe manner. Monthly assessments also give you the opportunity to be proactive in solving issues before they become emergencies.

4) Benchmark another company that has a good safety history
By benchmarking a leader in safety you can assess your current safety policies and measures to ensure they line up with a company that has a proven track record with safety. Benchmarking allows you to see how other companies have handled similar situations and follow their lead.

5) Schedule a plant and risk assessment with an outside safety company.
Companies that perform plant and risk assessments are experts in safety. They have knowledge of the newest standards and what steps need to be taken to implement the latest regulations. When a risk assessment is performed a documented physical examination and inspection of either a single machine or an entire plant, is carried out under the guidelines of applicable national and/or international standards. Safety improvement on existing machines can be prioritized and implemented based on known risks, thereby extending the working life of the machine. Early identification of hazards on new machines will save time and money by facilitating the integration of appropriate safety measures.

A typical risk assessment includes:
• Identification of applicable standards, regulations and best industry practices.
• Statement of machine limits
• Examination of all hazards throughout the relevant machinery lifecycle phases
• Estimation and evaluation of risk
• Recommended approach for risk reduction

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