Striving for Safety Excellence: Going Beyond Required OSHA Standards

When it comes to interpreting regulations and laws, people often seek the minimum requirements necessary to comply. However, it’s crucial to understand that safety regulations, set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), should not be treated as a maximum level of performance. In fact, OSHA standards represent the lowest acceptable safety standard that employers must meet. This article explores the importance of surpassing the required OSHA standards and adopting additional safety measures to provide a truly safe work environment for employees. 

The Minimum Isn’t Always Sufficient: 

Just as speed limits are considered as maximum limits rather than goals, OSHA regulations should also be viewed as the bare minimum for workplace safety. OSHA instructors often emphasize that following the regulations alone can still result in injuries or fatalities. Therefore, it falls upon employers to assess whether these standards adequately protect their employees. 

The Need for Hazard Assessments: 

OSHA requires employers to conduct hazard assessments to determine if the provided regulations are sufficient to ensure worker safety. While a regulation might state the need for fall protection at a specific height, it’s essential to consider potential risks at lower levels. Even falls from lower heights can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Factors such as the presence of other employees or hazardous materials nearby should be taken into account during the assessment. The frequency of hazard assessments depends on various factors, including the nature of work, changes in processes or equipment, and the occurrence of incidents. It is recommended to conduct hazard assessments regularly and review them whenever significant changes occur. 

Excavating & Trenching:  

According to OSHA’s subpart, employers must implement protective systems for excavations at certain depths. Adequate protective systems are required to safeguard employees from cave-ins, except in two cases: when excavations are entirely in stable rock, or when excavations are less than 5 feet (1.52m) deep and examination by a competent person indicates no potential for cave-ins. Although protection is not mandatory for depths under 5 feet, OSHA’s general duty clause may still apply if there is a risk of a cave-in or if the body position of the worker, such as being on their knees in a 4′ 11” trench, creates a hazard. 

Going Beyond Compliance: 

By merely adhering to the minimum standards, employers convey a message that they prioritize compliance over employee safety. It is important to go beyond compliance and actively strive to protect employees. Assessing each situation and choosing the most appropriate safety measures demonstrates a genuine commitment to workplace safety. 

Maintaining Safety Checklists: 

Regarding forklift operations, OSHA’s Powered Industrial Trucks standard mandates pre-service examinations. While a written safety checklist is not explicitly required by OSHA, it is advisable for employers to maintain one. Online resources, such as the “Sample Daily Checklists for Powered Industrial Trucks” provided by OSHA and the Industrial Truck Association, offer guidance in this regard. Alternatively, the use of automation tools like the MasterCheck app can streamline forklift inspections and provide performance analytics. 

Goals and Objectives:  

OSHA promotes employers to establish safety program goals and specific objectives for their achievement. Common safety and health goals in organizations include the aim of preventing injuries. To enhance employee participation through positive behaviors, safety program goals should be set based on leading indicators. Examples of leading indicator goals include conducting more safety audits monthly, reducing the timeliness of corrective actions by a specific number of days, providing additional safety and health training courses, and so on. 

Safety Committees:  

Although OSHA does not require the implementation of a Safety Committee, many organizations recognize that effective communication is a crucial factor in achieving safety excellence. Communication and control are essential elements of any successful safety and health program, and a well-implemented safety committee program can enhance communication across all levels of the organization. By establishing a safety committee, employers can facilitate open discussions on safety matters, fostering a collaborative approach to identifying hazards, implementing preventive measures, and continuously improving workplace safety. Safety committees enable management to prioritize and strategize their efforts based on the valuable insights and recommendations discussed within the committee. Ultimately, the presence of a safety committee demonstrates a commitment to proactive safety management and the well-being of employees. 

Embracing Stricter Safety Measures: 

OSHA standards establish minimum safety and health requirements. However, employers have the freedom to adopt more stringent safety measures beyond what OSHA mandates. Striving for safety excellence involves surpassing the required standards and implementing additional precautions that address specific workplace risks. 

Incentive Programs: 

Incentive programs can play a role in promoting a strong safety culture within an organization. One type of incentive program encourages workers to report near-misses or hazards and actively participate in the safety and health management system. This program acknowledges and rewards positive actions taken by employees and is permissible under § 1904.35(b)(1)(iv) of OSHA. Another type of incentive program is rate-based, focusing on reducing the number of reported injuries and illnesses. Such programs often offer prizes or bonuses for achieving injury-free periods or evaluate managers based on their work unit’s safety performance. Rate-based incentive programs are also permissible under § 1904.35(b)(1)(iv) as long as they are not implemented in a way that discourages reporting. To ensure that employees feel comfortable reporting incidents, it is crucial for employers to take proactive measures. Merely stating that employees are encouraged to report and won’t face retaliation may not be sufficient to foster a reporting culture, especially when significant rewards are at stake. Employers can mitigate any unintended deterrent effects by implementing additional elements that prioritize safety, such as an incentive program that rewards employees for identifying unsafe conditions, comprehensive training programs to reinforce reporting rights and responsibilities while highlighting the non-retaliation policy, and establishing mechanisms for accurately evaluating employees’ willingness to report injuries and illnesses. These efforts contribute to creating a workplace culture that places a strong emphasis on safety rather than solely on injury rates. 

Employers must acknowledge that OSHA standards serve as a starting point rather than a destination for workplace safety. It is crucial to go beyond these minimum requirements and embrace a proactive approach in order to effectively protect employees. By conducting comprehensive hazard assessments, implementing additional safety measures, and maintaining well-documented safety checklists, employers can establish a work environment that truly prioritizes the well-being and safety of their workforce. It is important to remember that surpassing the mandated OSHA standards is a moral obligation that showcases a sincere commitment to the well-being of employees.