How to Create a Safety Program in Texas

The first step to maintaining a safe work environment is effective safety program development. Safety consulting companies like Safety By Design are highly skilled in producing personalized programs for businesses to improve working conditions and stay compliant. Here’s what to expect when creating a new job safety program with the help of an expert.

1. Determine Industry Requirements

In order to comply with government safety regulations and ensure safety compliance, you must first familiarize yourself with the OSHA standards relevant to your industry. If your company doesn’t have a safety program, the best move is to recruit the help of a third-party safety consulting firm. The experts at Safety By Design have years of experience working with OSHA regulations and training requirements.

2. Identify Current Hazards & Risks

As an employer, you must be aware of all materials and equipment your employees work with. Identify potentially hazardous activities to mitigate risk by assessing your workplace and consulting employees. Professional safety consultants can perform a worksite safety audit to quickly and accurately uncover deficiencies.

3. Develop Processes & Programs

Once you have identified the best places to implement changes, it’s time to construct detailed programs to enforce in the workplace. For instance, a few OSHA regulations that require written programs include Emergency Action Plan, Trenching and Excavation Safety, Confined Space Awareness, and more.

4. Educate & Train Your Workforce

Specialized education and training courses help employees to better understand company safety policies and procedures. Ensure all team members are well-versed in their responsibilities, such as reporting incidents, using appropriate personal protective equipment, properly handling hazardous materials, and more. Check out the complete list of approved OSHA training services we offer in Houston, Texas.

5. Review Your Program & Make Improvements

OSHA recommends reviewing your safety program annually in order to maintain best industry practices. This step may also involve forming a safety committee. A safety committee is responsible for writing policies and procedures for inspections, addressing areas of concern, correcting issues, reviewing records, and more.

6. Implement Safety Management Software

Leverage technology to measure safety performance, training needs, and even project man-hours. Safety management software provides employers with the tools to get and stay compliant. The SafeTeam Web Application saves companies time and money by automatically tracking safety training, recording incidents, managing inspections, and more. Request a free 60-day trial today!

Implementing a Safety Program for Your Industry

The levels of safety protocols and procedures for ensuring employee safety varies by industry. At Safety By Design, our Texas-based team of experts is highly experienced in safety program development for all industries.

Construction

When it comes to safety program development and training, the construction industry has its own unique requirements. As a result, employers and employees alike are provided with valuable strategies for recognizing and preventing hazards commonly found on construction worksites. Because construction is such a high-hazard industry, OSHA has specific standards. At Safety By Design, we specialize in helping Houston businesses implement construction site safety procedures.

Manufacturing

OSHA safety requirements for manufacturing companies are designed to keep employees safe and healthy. Top concerns that are commonly addressed in a safety program include hazard communication, lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, and heavy machinery. Our safety consultants in Houston can help manufacturing companies with exit routes, fall protection, fire prevention, and even assembling an emergency action plan.

Warehousing and Storage

According to OSHA, the fatal work injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average. Potential hazards for warehousing and storage employees include improper forklift use, insufficient fire safety, poorly stacked stock, repetitive motion injuries, failure to use PPE, and more. Ultimately, implementing warehouse safety training will help your employees avoid hazards that cause injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

Agriculture

Agricultural workers have an increased risk of work-related fatalities and injuries, in addition to hearing loss, skin disease, lung disease, and even cancer. Agriculture is a major industry, and it is up to employers to create and maintain safe and healthy work environments. The safety experts at Safety By Design are prepared to implement solutions for common agricultural hazards. Start a job safety program for your farm today!

Health Care

OSHA requires healthcare employers to provide employees with a safe work environment that does not have any known hazards resulting in death or serious injury. OSHA standards related to the healthcare field include:

• General Requirements
• Eye and Face Protection
• Respiratory Protection
• Toxic and Hazardous Substances
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Hazard Communication