Preparing for an OSHA inspection can be a stressful time for any worksite manager or employer. It's not only about passing the inspection and avoiding citations, but about creating a safe workplace for your employees. To help companies with this process, OSHA has created a list of the most common citations to allow employers to pay particular attention to these often missed standards. This is the second part of our series on these commonly overlooked guidelines and how you can cover all of your bases for your upcoming inspection.
Respiratory Protection
On many job sites, workers can be exposed to airborne hazards that can put their health at risk or limit their ability to safely perform their jobs. To avoid this risk, employers are required to provide respiratory protection, including respirators or air purification systems. This standard outlines the requirements for the employer to implement a respiratory protection program and provide thorough training and medical screenings to employees required to use respirators.
Employers must have the right equipment for the level of risk and ensure that this equipment is always up to industry standards. Read more about the specific guidelines contained in this standard.
Powered Industrial Trucks
When using powered industrial trucks in the workplace, employers must be aware of all of the risks and precautions associated with these types of vehicles. This OSHA standard outlines the appropriate use and maintenance of these trucks, as well as fire protection and any design standards that must be met. Some guidelines included in this standard is the requirement for appropriate marking and designations of trucks, the appropriate environment that each designation should be used in, and how sensitive components such as fuel and batteries should be stored.
Many employers overlook at least a few of the elements of this standard, so it's important to read over the full OSHA standard if you use powered industrial trucks on your worksite.
Lockout/Tagout
The standard that covers lockout/tagout, or the control of hazardous energy, can be potentially life-saving for you and your workers. This is an area of the OSHA inspection that can be particularly dangerous, so it's vital that you carefully run through the requirements for this standard. This oft-overlooked standard covers the appropriate measures an employee should take to control energy while maintaining a piece of equipment. For instance, if a worker is performing maintenance, they should use energy isolating devices to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the worksite.
This standard outlines the proper procedures for lockout and tagout programs, as well as appropriate hardware and protective materials to protect your workers. It also requires periodic inspections and maintenance to ensure continuous safety.
If you address these three standards in addition to the three covered in the first segment, you'll be prepared for your upcoming inspection. These commonly cited standards are easily overlooked, so by preparing ahead of time you can ensure that your worksite passes the inspection on your first try.
Contact the experts at Bear Staffing today for any advice on following OSHA standards, or for any hiring needs you may have.