Ladders can be found on almost every type of jobsite. From construction and utilities to the step ladder in the office used to change a light bulb, ladders are everywhere. A damaged ladder is a dangerous ladder. If inspections are not carried out at least monthly, repairs cannot be done, and a company is not shown to be carrying out their due dillgence. This post will focus on what needs to be done for ladder inspection.
Now that the temperatures are starting to get up to twenty degrees Celsius, it is time to start reminding staff of the hazards of working in hot weather. Heat can cause many health problems, from a rash to heat stroke. So what steps can be taken to prevent workers from suffering illness in hot temperatures? And, what should supervisors be watching for?
In many organizations, or even industries, there seems to be resistance to change of any kind. The feeling is that they have done things a certain way for years and it has always worked, so why ruin it? The problem with this attitude is that by not adapting a company can fall behind its competitors by not keeping up with changes in technology, market conditions, or even customer requirements. While there are many articles that talk about this in marketing and engineering, safety is often overlooked. Change management in safety issues should be a priority for companies and industries so that injury rates can be reduced.
Identifying hazards either related to the job task or to a worksite is only half the battle. After the hazards are identified, the next step is to determine how you are going to keep those hazards from becoming an incident. Controlling safety hazards involves examining the most practicable solution to the particular hazard based on the hierarchy of controls. From eliminating the hazard altogether to requiring protective equipment to work around the hazard, the hierarchy of controls is an important tool for safety professionals and supervisors to work with.
When there is an emergency, it is important to know what you need to do. In the event of a fire, staff needs to know what their role is, how to escape the building and where they need to go after they have exited. Depending on the size and location of the employer, it may have an in house firefighting team. Whatever the role that they have, knowing the emergency procedures is important part of the emergency plan to reduce the chances of injury. This is what we are looking at in Fire Safety Planning Part 4.