In 1970, the United States Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act which requires OSHA to establish and enforce workplace health and safety standards. OSHA standards are rules and regulations that describe the methods that employers are required to implement for specific activities or conditions to provide a safe work environment. Companies should establish safe work practices for addressing hazards that may present risks to the daily operations of a worksite or facility.
Discussion Points:
• What are safe job procedures?
• What are some risks in your job environment?
• What safe job procedures are included in your company’s Worker Orientation program
and safety meetings?
• What locations are safe job procedures posted in your work area?
Discussion:
Safe work practices are written procedures that outline how to perform a task with minimum risk to employees, equipment, materials, environment, and processes. Some safe work practices require specific job procedures. A safe job procedure is a guideline or a series of steps that guide a worker through a task from start to finish in chronological order. They should be documented and communicated to workers to ensure work is performed safely.
Safe job procedures should be included in the company’s Worker Orientation program. Workers should be made aware that safe job procedures are established, written, and implemented with the intent to be followed. Safe job procedures explain the dos and don’ts for performing a task or operating equipment. Workers should be evaluated to ensure they can perform the procedures of their job tasks properly. Following safe job procedures should reduce the risk of work-related injuries.
Procedures for hazardous or complicated tasks should be written and include work methods, engineering principles, and a list of the required personal protective equipment. They must be readily accessible and posted at the locations where the tasks are performed or next to the equipment used for the tasks. Companies should establish written safe work practices and safe job procedures for hazardous tasks or high-risk situations that may present significant risks and liabilities for the company and workers and should be developed over time to allow for growth and change.
As always, be safe out there!
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