Prioritize Safety with Mitigation Strategies and Planning
Trying to prevent hazards comes naturally to us in our personal lives. Whether wearing seat belts to protect us in the case of accidents, putting a lid on a cup of coffee or tea to prevent a spill, or looking both ways before crossing the street so we don’t get hit by cars – we’re constantly protecting ourselves without even realizing it.
But in our work lives? Not so much. Or at least, not nearly enough. We tend to fall into patterns and regular schedules at work, which can make us complacent and not as aware of our surroundings.
As buildings reopen and we start going back to work, now is the perfect time to revisit how to incorporate hazard recognition and mitigation into this critical part of our lives.
Common Workplace Hazards
What are the most common hazards at your facility? Here are a few your staff and tenants may be running into:
- Slipping on floors that are wet from rain dripping off coats, shoes, and umbrellas, or floors that have been cleaned but can’t be recognized because proper signage hasn’t been placed in the area.
- Tripping on mats at building entrances, elevation changes or the intersection of different floor materials, like tile and carpet.
- Falling by missing a step, double stepping, and not using the handrail on staircases.
- Being exposed to chemicals by not wearing proper PPE or using them improperly.
- Being struck by a vehicle in the street, in a parking lot or in a loading dock.
- Electrical shocks from loose wires or equipment that has not been properly locked and tagged out.
- Falling from heights, possibly from using ladders where tenants congregate such as lobbies and office spaces or in front of doors.
Recognizing Hazards
Some of the best ways to avoid hazards are to slow down and look around. By not rushing through tasks you’ll be less inclined to take shortcuts and become more aware of your surroundings.
All facility managers should conduct hazard recognition training for employees. However, while learning to recognize hazards is essential, reducing potentially hazardous situations is even more critical.
There are things every facility should have on its list of hazard mitigation tasks. This includes using clear and attention-getting signage where needed ( e.g., on wet floors, around ladders, and near changes in floor elevation). It’s also important to pay special attention to areas with low or inadequate lighting. Not being able to see properly can make it difficult to recognize hazards. Outside areas should be taken into special consideration since the amount of natural light changes with the seasons.
Job Safety Analysis/Job Hazard Analysis (JSA/JHA) Tips
Regardless of what steps you take, the truth is, you can only mitigate and eliminate the hazards you know about. That’s why conducting Job Safety, or Job Hazard, Analyses should be at the top of everyone’s list. Here are some tips to keep in mind when performing JSAs/JHAs on the tasks employees perform at work:
- Involve and engage employees: Discuss what you are going to do and why, and explain that you’re studying the task and not the employee.
- Identify applicable OSHA or other regulations and standards that may apply.
- Review incidents related to the JSA that you are conducting.
- Break tasks being reviewed into steps and, when possible, begin each step with a verb. For example, “Step 1: Reach for mop and bucket. Step 2: Place bucket under sink to fill with water.”
- Review all steps with workers to make sure you’ve covered the entire process.
- Identify hazards associated with each step, and determine which hazards can be mitigated or eliminated. Finalize new procedures to mitigate risk of the task.
- Periodically review the JSA/JHA, particularly when there is a change to your environment due to a rebuild or modification, a change in the task itself, or if a new piece of equipment is being added to a procedure. Train employees on the new JSA/JHA.
Want to learn more about how to build hazard recognition and mitigation into your facility management plans? Contact UG2 to discuss your needs.