Management and employees share responsibilities for workplace health and safety. All employees must work together to participate in an efficient safety program. Training, its management, and the prevention and control of training risks are all components of the occupational safety program. OSHA is important for enhancing decent working conditions because it is primarily intended to protect and benefit workers while upholding the company’s reputation for excellent working circumstances (Goetsch, 2010).
The three programs to concentrate on in this case are heat stress, material handling and storage, and personal protective equipment. These occupational safety initiatives were selected because heat stress injuries when handling materials and injuries caused by PPE material in the equipment are common, as seen by the incidents.
Recent industrial innovations, automation, and digitalization have enhanced workplace safety and reduced the need for personal protection in many places of employment. PPE is crucial for occupational safety and health, especially when it comes to a head, leg, fall, and fall protection, as well as ballistic, eye, face, and hearing protection (Barratt et al., 2020). In this situation, thorough familiarity with particular PPE applications is essential for the effective execution of safety requirements. Material handling and storage entail a number of essential tasks for the sector yet are hazardous to employees’ health. This high-risk area has the potential to harm workers’ safety, decrease productivity, and raise risk levels (Ayoub & Mital, 2020). The OSH program in this area seeks to improve the health and safety of employees.
Another well-known occupational health risk is heat stress, and because of climate change, the hazards have become more serious and pervasive. In many commercial and industrial environments, both indoors and outdoors, heat stress is a frequent occurrence. Worker exposure to high ambient temperatures, physical activity, or waterproof protective equipment carries a significant risk of heat stress (Flouris et al., 2018). The OSH program for heat stress employs several frameworks, concepts, procedures, and controls to stop accidents, injuries, and other undesirable results (Goetsch, 2010). It is well acknowledged that using technological approaches, tools, systems, and mechanisms to safeguard employees from the harmful consequences of heat stress is a viable strategy.
These programs were specified because they are important focal areas and are where various threats originate in this situation. Studying the risk connected with the program requires taking into account any prior hazards that have happened, checking the workplace for safety based on the safety guidelines, and recording any potential risks. It is crucial to highlight heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash, and heat stroke while discussing heat stress (Goetsch, 2010). High temperatures can make it more likely that a worker will sustain an injury since they can cause fogged goggles and dizziness (Flouris et al., 2018).
The weight and mass of things provide the most significant risk in the area used for material processing and storage (Ayoub & Mital, 2020). Other risks include things that might fall, supplies that might be misplaced, and different kinds of equipment. The PPE OSH program scope lists instances of physical risks, including temperature changes, bright lights, electrical connections, and sharp edges (Barratt et al., 2020). Examples of health risks include prolonged exposure to toxic substances, radiation, or dust (Goetsch, 2010). This shows the vast range of dangers company’s employees may experience.
Various techniques and methods can be employed as hazard control measures to lower risks. It is vital that every employee should have access to the proper safety instructions and protective measures. Additionally, it is possible to utilize the guidelines for pre-checking for each employee when working on the machine in a hazardous location, with the right availability of protective items while at work (Barratt et al., 2020). Ample access to working hours for employees operating in vulnerable places, such as those with high temperatures in the open sun, will be helpful for evaluating a health and safety program for heat stress (Flouris et al., 2018). A system of punishment and fines for breaking the rules for the safe handling of materials will be beneficial in relation to the handling of materials and PPE.
Under these circumstances, a separate methodology should be included in the training requirements for the program’s areas. This can involve receiving instruction on how to use personal protective equipment properly for the designated purpose. Additionally, access to knowledge about working in these situations as well as training in occupational health and environmental factors such as heat stress.
The final step is training in visual signals and barricades so that personnel in the security industry are properly informed when handling materials. These education requirements may lessen risk exposure and improve occupational health and safety. In addition to trainings, it is essential to ensure employees to comply with safety procedures. All of the programs can utilize the education programs and management advocacy as the key approach (Goetsch, 2010). However, if the situation will not change, the thorough system of internal policy and fines should be created to adopt a more hard-line approach. These methods can also be used in combination, which will most likely be beneficial in a long-term development.
Concluding, there are several developments that need to be done in order for employees to follow the rules, starting with training in occupational safety and health, frequent training, and awareness raising, among other things, awarding knowledge and experience. To reduce the danger of accidents resulting in injuries to the eyes, appropriate attire is crucial. In order to maintain safety, suitable policies should be created, presented to employees as necessary, and appropriate disciplinary actions should be taken. This will ensure a safe environment for workers and potentially lead to a decrease in incidents.
References
Ayoub, M., & Mital, A. (2020). Manual materials handling. CRC Press.
Barratt, R., Shaban, R. Z., & Gilbert, G. L. (2020). Characteristics of personal protective equipment training programs in Australia and New Zealand hospitals: A survey. Infection, Disease & Health, 25(4), 253-261. Web.
Flouris, A. D., Dinas, P. C., Ioannou, L. G., Nybo, L., Havenith, G., Kenny, G. P., & Kjellstrom, T. (2018). Workers’ health and productivity under occupational heat strain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Planetary Health, 2(12), 521–531. Web.
Goetsch, D. L. (2010). The basics of occupational safety. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.