Worker safety training is critical to ensuring your workplace is healthy, safe, and OSHA compliant. Every year, thousands of workers are injured or killed because of safety violations that could have been prevented with appropriate hazard training.
Every workplace is unique and presents unique and often changing hazards. The only way to keep your workers safe is to ensure they know how to identify when and where hazards occur, and the correct controls to activate for each hazard.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises that every employer institute a safety and health program in compliance with their recommendations. This includes general awareness training; employer, manager, and supervisor training; worker role-based training; and hazard identification and controls training for workers.
What is hazard identification and controls training for workers?
Hazard identification training ensures that every employee understands the hazards they are likely to encounter in the course of their job, and how to identify each one. Controls training ensures that they know what to do when they encounter each hazard.
What to include in hazard identification and controls training program for workers
Hazard identification and controls training should enable employees both to identify the common hazards present at their work sites, as well as general principles for identifying hazards and addressing them. Training should include:
- Techniques for identifying hazards
- Job Hazard Analysis (see https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3071.pdf)
- How to recognize both hazards in their jobs as well as more generally in the workplace
- Concepts and techniques for controlling hazards
- The hierarchy of controls, and its importance
- Proper use of work practice and administrative controls
- When and how to wear personal protective equipment
- Which personal protective equipment is appropriate for each circumstance
- Any additional training that is necessary for operating machinery, equipment, processes, materials, or other aspects of the job
- Any new hazards that may be present when a worker moves to a new job or task
Instituting a worker safety training program is a simple and cost-effective way to improve safety on the job site or at your facility, reduce worker’s comp claims, and ensure better OSHA compliance. We would love to be your partner in designing and implementing a complete health and safety program for your workplace.
Contact our certified safety professionals to answer your questions and get started today.
