Federal law
requires a written Emergency Plan or Emergency Action Plan that describes the
various emergencies your company and workers could face, then how you plan to
deal with these emergencies to minimize injuries and loss of life.
A Contingency
Plan is usually required by your insurance company, but good business practice
and common sense dictate that you plan for disasters.
Written
Safety Plans are required by OSHA and most other federal agencies worldwide.
Some agencies refer to Safety Plans as Safe Work Programs, Work Plans, Safety
Manuals and other terms. We shall use the term Safety Plans here.
Although a
federal agency requires a written Safety Plan, little guidance on writing the
plans. Several methods of writing plans are available. As long as the plans
cover a basic set of criteria, all methods are acceptable. We develop Safety
Plans according to a specific process to ensure full coverage
Management Commitment. Every plan of
every type should begin with a state of Management Commitment, preferably
signed by CEO or another top manager. If workers see management commitment to
safety, they are more inclined to adapt safe practices.
Safety Policy. The next item should be
the corporate Safety Policy, a simple one or two page statement of the
corporate policy regarding safety. A commitment by management, while important,
is not enforceable. A Safety Policy, on the other hand, is enforceable. Many
good safety policies are available. Our covers management, employees and
contractors.
Safety Plan. The method we use is to
write a series of plans – one plan for each type of hazard. We have small
clients that use plans with as few as 25 plans and larger companies with as
many as 50 or more individual plans. Each plan describes the hazard and what
the company does to abate, mitigate, eliminate or minimize the danger of the
hazard to worker’s health and lives. Be sure to read: http://safetyrich.blogspot.com/2011/05/four-levels-of-protection-from-hazards.html
to get an understanding of the benefits of addressing hazards early in the
process.
Ask questions, then answer them completely:
What is the hazard?
What could the hazard do in terms of injury and damage?
How do we train workers to recognize and avoid hazards, work safely?
How do we plan to mitigate harm to people, property and the environment?
How do we intend to protect workers and the facility from damage?
How do we
plan to review and deal with the hazard?
We urge you
to hire a professional, an expert on writing Safety Plans. You may save money
in the short term by writing it yourself, but a single injury or fatality not
only devastates a family, but costs could be extremely high.
“If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait
until you hire an amateur.” – Red Adair
However you address
the issue. Be sure to do something in writing. The law requires it and your
employees will be safer for you having done it.
See our Web
site: SafetyRich
Watch for release of white paper on Planning. Check SafetyTraining and SafetyRich Web sites for posting in later half of October 2011. Follow @OSHAnetwork and @SafetyRich on Twitter for notifications.
Future white papers on Risk Management and Employee Behaviour before end of 2011.
Watch for release of white paper on Planning. Check SafetyTraining and SafetyRich Web sites for posting in later half of October 2011. Follow @OSHAnetwork and @SafetyRich on Twitter for notifications.
Future white papers on Risk Management and Employee Behaviour before end of 2011.
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