Small Business Safety Handbook

Small Business Handbook

Small Business Safety and
Health Management Series

OSHA 2209-02R 2005

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and Employers cannot be cited under the General Duty
healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role Clause in Section 5(a)(1) of the Act for failure to fol-
is to promote the safety and health of America’s low recommendations in this handbook.
working men and women by setting and enforcing The materials in this handbook are based upon
standards; providing training, outreach and educa- Federal OSHA standards and other requirements in
tion; establishing partnerships; and encouraging effect at the time of publication and upon generally
continual improvement in workplace safety and accepted principles and activities within the job
health. safety and health field. They should be useful to
small business owners or managers and can be
About this Handbook adapted easily to individual establishments.
It is important to point out that 24 states, Puerto
This handbook is provided to owners, propri- Rico and the Virgin Islands operate their own
etors and managers of small businesses by the OSHA-approved safety and health programs under
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Section 18 of the Act. While the programs in these
(OSHA), an agency of the U.S. Department of State Plan States may differ in some respects from
Labor. For additional copies of this publication, Federal OSHA, this handbook can be used by
write to the U.S. Government Printing Office, employers in any state because the standards
(GPO), Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop imposed by State Plan States must be at least as
SDE, 732 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC effective as Federal OSHA standards. A list of
20401, or call the OSHA Publications Office at (202) states that operate their own safety and health pro-
693-1888, or fax (202) 693-2498 for ordering infor- grams can be found on OSHA’s website at
mation. Please note that the entire text of the www.osha.gov.
Small Business Handbook is available on OSHA’s Material in this publication is in the public
website at http://www.osha.gov/Publications/ domain and may be reproduced, fully or partially,
osha2209.pdf. without permission. Source credit is requested but
The handbook should help small business em- not required.
ployers meet the legal requirements imposed by This information will be made available to sen-
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the sory impaired individuals upon request by voice
Act), and achieve an in-compliance status before an phone (202) 693-1999 or teletypewriter (TTY) (877)
OSHA inspection. An excellent resource to accom- 889-5627.
pany this information is OSHA’s Safety and Health
Program Management Guidelines, (54 Federal Please Note: The small business employer seeking
Register 3904-3916, January 26, 1989), also avail- information on procurement or contracting with the
able on OSHA’s website. Department of Labor or OSHA should contact the
This handbook is not a legal interpretation of the Department of Labor’s Office of Small Business
provisions of the Act and does not place any addi- Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room C-
tional requirements on employers or employees. 2318, Washington, DC 20210.

Small Business Handbook
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor

OSHA 2209-02R
2005

U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov

Contents
PREFACE 4
Office of Small Business Assistance 4
Cooperative Programs 4
State Plans 4
Office of Training and Education 4
OSHA’s Website 5
Safety and Health Add Value 5

INTRODUCTION: The Value of a Safety and Health Management System 6
A Profit and Loss Statement 6
Developing a Profitable Strategy for Handling Occupational Safety and Health 6

A FOUR-POINT WORKPLACE PROGRAM: The Basis of a Plan 8
Using the Four-Point Program 8
MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT 8
WORKSITE ANALYSIS 9
HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL 9
TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS 10
Documenting Your Activities 11
Safety and Health Recordkeeping 11
INJURY/ILLNESS RECORDS 11
EXPOSURE RECORDS AND OTHERS 12

STARTING A SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: Creating a Plan 13
Decide to Start Now 13
Designating Responsibility 13
Ask for Help 13
Organize the Workplace 14
Start Gathering Specific Facts About Your Situation 14
Establish a Four-Point Safety and Health Program 15
Develop and Implement Your Action Plan 15

SELF-INSPECTION 17
Self-Inspection Scope 17
Self-Inspection Checklists 18
EMPLOYER POSTING 18
RECORDKEEPING 18
SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM 18
MEDICAL SERVICES AND FIRST AID 19
FIRE PROTECTION 19
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING 20
GENERAL WORK ENVIRONMENT 20
WALKWAYS 21
FLOOR AND WALL OPENINGS 21
STAIRS AND STAIRWAYS 22
ELEVATED SURFACES 22
EXITING OR EGRESS - EVACUATION 22
EXIT DOORS 23
PORTABLE LADDERS 23
HAND TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT 24
PORTABLE (POWER OPERATED) TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT 24
ABRASIVE WHEEL EQUIPMENT GRINDERS 24
POWDER-ACTUATED TOOLS 25
MACHINE GUARDING 25
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES 26
WELDING, CUTTING AND BRAZING 27
COMPRESSORS AND COMPRESSED AIR 28

COMPRESSORS/AIR RECEIVERS 28
COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS 29
HOIST AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT 29
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS - FORKLIFTS 29
SPRAYING OPERATIONS 30
ENTERING CONFINED SPACES 30
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS 31
FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS 32
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL EXPOSURE 33
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES COMMUNICATION 34
ELECTRICAL 35
NOISE 37
FUELING 37
IDENTIFICATION OF PIPING SYSTEMS 37
MATERIALS HANDLING 38
TRANSPORTING EMPLOYEES AND MATERIALS 38
CONTROL OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES BY VENTILATION 38
SANITIZING EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING 39
TIRE INFLATION 39

ASSISTANCE IN SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 40
OSHA Assistance 40
OSHA’S OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE 40
ON-SITE CONSULTATION 40
OTHER COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS 41
VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAMS (VPP) 42
OSHA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (OSPP) 42
OSHA ALLIANCE PROGRAM 42
States with Approved Plans 42
OSHA Publications 42
Other Sources of Assistance 43
VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAMS PARTICIPANTS’ ASSOCIATION (VPPPA) 43
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS 43
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH) 44
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CARRIERS AND OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES 44
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND EMPLOYER GROUPS 44
TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYEE GROUPS 44
THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL AND LOCAL CHAPTERS 44
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 44
SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONSULTATION 44
YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY 45
FINANCING WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENT 45
ADDITIONAL WEB PAGES OF INTEREST TO SMALL BUSINESSES 45

Appendix A: Overall Action Plan Worksheet 46

Appendix B: Model Policy Statements 48

Appendix C: Codes of Safe Practices 49

Appendix D: OSHA Job Safety and Health Standards, Regulations
and Requirements 50

Appendix E: Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) 51

OSHA Regional Offices 52

OSHA’s Non-Retaliation Policy inside back cover

4 PREFACE
American employers and workers want safe and sector and other government entities lead to
healthful places in which to work. They want improved safety and health. As a result, OSHA
everyone on the job to go home whole and healthy continues to expand its cooperative programs
each day. Determined to make that dream possi- which currently include the free and confidential
ble, OSHA is committed to assuring – so far as pos- Consultation Program, the Voluntary Protection
sible – that every working man and woman in the Programs, the Strategic Partnership Program and
nation has safe and healthful working conditions. OSHA’s newest addition, Alliances. For a more
OSHA believes that providing workers with a safe detailed description of each of these programs,
workplace is central to their ability to enjoy health, please see pages 40- 42.
security and the opportunity to achieve the Small businesses are encouraged to investigate
American dream. the full array of cooperative programs offered by
OSHA seeks to cut unnecessary rules, regula- OSHA. Participation can be on an individual com-
tions and red tape. It is eliminating thousands of pany basis or through an industry association.
pages of outdated regulations and continues to Detailed information on each program is also avail-
rewrite standards in plain English. OSHA is paring able on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov, by con-
down its regulatory agenda so that it more accu- tacting any OSHA office, or by calling (800) 321-
rately reflects realistic goals that best serve the OSHA.
needs of American employers and employees.
Confronted by the realities and demands to State Plans
keep pace with the workforce and problems of the
future, OSHA is developing new strategies to OSHA has important partnerships with the 24
reduce occupational fatalities, injuries and illness- states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands that oper-
es. Coupled with strong, effective and fair enforce- ate their own OSHA-approved safety and health
ment, OSHA strives to provide improved outreach, programs. State workplace safety and health pro-
education and compliance assistance to America’s grams frequently lead the way in developing inno-
employers and employees. vative approaches to making America’s workplaces
safer and healthier.
Office of Small Business Assistance States that operate their own worker safety and
health plans must provide worker protection that is
OSHA wants to provide quality service to our “at least as effective as” the Federal program.
small business customers. In October 2002, OSHA However, because their standards and other proce-
created the Office of Small Business Assistance to dures may vary, businesses should become famil-
provide small business direction, to facilitate infor- iar with their state regulations and agencies. See
mation sharing and to help in finding and achieving OSHA’s website for a list of State Plan States.
regulatory compliance. The office also works to
educate small businesses on using up-to-date tools Office of Training and Education
and materials, and facilitates opportunities to com-
ment on OSHA’s regulatory agenda. The Office of OSHA’s Office of Training and Education
Small Business Assistance maintains OSHA’s spe- provides training and instruction in all facets of
cialized small business web pages found at http:// occupational safety and health. OSHA’s Training
www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/index.html. Institute, located in Arlington Heights, IL, provides
The Office of Small Business Assistance can be training for OSHA compliance safety and health
contacted by telephone at (202) 693-2220 or by officers as well as for the general public and safety
writing to: Director, Office of Small Business and health staff from other Federal agencies. In
Assistance, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room addition to OSHA’s Training Institute, there are 32
N-3700, Washington, DC 20210. additional education sites located throughout the
country. These OSHA education centers operate in
Cooperative Programs conjunction with universities, colleges and learning
centers to conduct OSHA courses for the private
Years of experience show us that voluntary col- sector and other Federal agencies, making safety
laborative relationships between OSHA, the private and health training and education more accessible

OSHA HANDBOOK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

5

to those who need it. There are tuition fees for pri- If you would like to receive regular updates
vate sector students. For more information about from OSHA about new programs, tools, best prac-
OSHA’s Training Institute, OSHA’s education cen- tices and other useful information, subscribe to the
ters, or to obtain training catalogs with course agency’s e-news memo, QuickTakes. QuickTakes is
schedules, write the OSHA Training Institute, 2020 issued twice monthly to subscribers and is always
South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL available online. You can subscribe to OSHA’s
60005 or call (847) 297-4810. The information is QuickTakes at www.osha.gov.
also fully accessible on the Internet at
www.osha.gov. Safety and Health Add Value

OSHA’s Website Addressing safety and health issues in the work-
place saves the employer money and adds value to
OSHA has made every effort to continuously the business. Recent estimates place the business
expand and improve its website. OSHA’s extensive costs associated with occupational injuries at close
website provides employers and employees with to $170 billion–expenditures that come straight out
practical, easy-to-understand and up-to-date guid- of company profits.
ance on regulations, compliance assistance and When workers stay whole and healthy, the
learning how to identify and control hazards. Each direct cost-savings to businesses include:
OSHA cooperative program has individual web I lower workers’ compensation insurance costs;

pages describing program elements and highlight- I reduced medical expenditures;

ing successes of the participants. Several pages I smaller expenditures for return-to-work

are devoted to small business, technical links, news programs;
items, publication lists and an inventory of compli- I fewer faulty products;

ance assistance tools, including expert advisors I lower costs for job accommodations for

and eTools. eTools are “stand-alone” interactive, injured workers;
web-based training tools on occupational safety I less money spent for overtime benefits.

and health topics. Regulations, standards, direc-
tives and interpretations relating to OSHA can be Safety and health also make big reductions in
found as well. There is a Spanish version of the indirect costs, due to:
OSHA website, and many posters and some publi- I increased productivity;

cations are also available in Spanish. I higher quality products;

OSHA’s web pages include MyOSHA, which I increased morale;

allows users to create their own personalized I better labor/management relations;

OSHA web page with customized content and I reduced turnover;

links. Quick Start is another tool on OSHA’s I better use of human resources.

Compliance Assistance web page that allows the
user to identify many of the major OSHA require- Employees and their families benefit from
ments and guidance materials that apply to their safety and health because:
individual workplaces or industry sectors. I their incomes are protected;

Through its website, OSHA invites citizens to e- I their family lives are not hindered by injury;

mail questions that can be routed to appropriate I their stress is not increased.

agency officials for response. Any communication
conducted via the “Contact Us” link on the OSHA Simply put, protecting people on the job is in
website is considered an informational exchange everyone’s best interest–our economy, our commu-
rather than an official communication with the nities, our fellow workers and our families. Safety
Department of Labor. For an official response to a and health add value to businesses, workplaces
question or concern, inquiries should be submitted and lives.
in writing.

Occupational Safety and
Health Administration

6 INTRODUCTION: The Value of a Safety and Health Management System
A Profit and Loss Statement Developing a Profitable Strategy for
Handling Occupational Safety and Health
As a small business owner, you are, by nature,
a risk taker. You wager your business acumen Nobody wants accidents to happen in his or her
against larger, perhaps more heavily financed cor- business. A serious fire, a permanent injury, or the
porate groups and other free-spirited, self-employ- death of an employee or owner can cause the loss
ed individuals like yourself. There is excitement of profit or even an entire business. To prevent
and challenge in such a venture, but to succeed such losses, you don’t have to turn your business
you need good management information, an ability upside down. You may not have to spend a lot of
to be a good manager of people and the intelli- money, either. You do need to use good business
gence and inner strength to make the right deci- sense and apply recognized prevention principles.
sions. There are reasons why accidents happen.
Thousands of workers die each year and many, Something goes wrong somewhere. It may take
many more suffer injury or illness from conditions some thought, and maybe the help of friends or
at work. But how often does an owner or manager other trained people, to figure out what went
like you actually see or even hear about work-relat- wrong, but an accident always has a cause–a rea-
ed deaths, serious injuries or illnesses in the busi- son why. Once you know why an accident hap-
nesses with which you are familiar? How often has pened, it is possible to prevent future incidents.
your business actually sustained this type of loss? You need some basic facts and perhaps some help
In most small businesses, the answer is rarely. from others who already know some of the an-
For this reason, many owners or managers do not swers. You also need a plan–a plan to prevent
understand why there is controversy about the accidents.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Not all dangers at your worksite depend on an
(OSHA), job safety and health standards, inspec- accident to cause harm, of course. Worker expo-
tions, citations, etc. sure to toxic chemicals or harmful levels of noise
But others have learned why. Unfortunately, or radiation may happen in conjunction with rou-
they have experienced a loss. These owner/man- tine work as well as by accident. You may not real-
agers will tell you that it is too late to do anything ize the extent of the exposure or harm that you and
once a serious accident happens. They have learn- your employees face. The effect may not be imme-
ed that prevention is the only real way to avoid this diate. You need a plan that includes prevention of
loss. these health hazard exposures and accidents. You
Reducing losses is a goal that you as an owner need a safety and health management system.
or manager share with us in OSHA. While we may It is not difficult to develop such a plan. Basi-
see this goal in a slightly different light, it remains cally, your plan should address the types of acci-
a common bond. dents and health hazard exposures that could hap-
We have learned from small employers, like pen in your workplace. Because each workplace is
you, that you place a high value on the well-being different, your program should address your spe-
of your employees. Like many small businesses, cific needs and requirements.
you may employ family members and personal There are four basic elements to all good safety
acquaintances. And, if you don’t know your em- and health programs. These are as follows:
ployees before they are hired, then chances are
that the very size of your workplace will promote 1. Management Commitment and Employee
the closeness and concern for one another that Involvement. The manager or management team
small businesses value. leads the way, by setting policy, assigning and sup-
Assuming that you are committed to safe and porting responsibility, setting an example and in-
healthful work practices, OSHA wants to work with volving employees.
you to prevent all losses. We believe that, when you
make job safety and health a real part of your every- 2.Worksite Analysis. The worksite is continually ana-
day operations, you will not lose in the long run. lyzed to identify all existing and potential hazards.
Investing in safety and health activity now will better
enable you to avoid possible losses in the future. 3. Hazard Prevention and Control. Methods to pre-


7

vent or control existing or potential hazards are put It will certainly give you a way to express and doc-
in place and maintained. ument your good faith and commitment to protect-
ing your workers’ health and safety.
4.Training for Employees, Supervisors and This approach usually does not involve large
Managers. Managers, supervisors and employees costs. Developing a health and safety protection
are trained to understand and deal with worksite plan does not have to be expensive and generally
hazards. does not require additional employees, especially
in smaller businesses. Safety and health can be
Regardless of the size of your business, you integrated into your other business functions with
should use each of these elements to prevent work- modest effort on your part.
place accidents and possible injuries and illnesses. The key to the success of a safety and health
Developing a workplace program following plan is to see it as a part of your business opera-
these four points is a key step in protecting you tion and to see it reflected in your day-to-day oper-
and your workers’ safety and health. If you already ations. As you implement the plan and incorporate
have a program, reviewing it in relation to these it into your business culture, safety and health
elements should help you improve what you have. awareness will become second nature to you and
Following this four-point approach to safety and your employees.
health in your business may also improve efficien- The next section provides short descriptions
cy. It may help you reduce insurance claims and and illustrations of each element. Since most
other costs. While having a safety and health plan employers, like you, are pressed for time, these
based on these four elements does not guarantee descriptions will assist you in getting started on
compliance with OSHA standards, the approach your own approach.
will help you toward full compliance and beyond.


8 A FOUR-POINT WORKPLACE PROGRAM: The Basis of a Plan
The Four-Point Workplace Program described assets you have. Their safety, health and goodwill
here is based upon the Safety and Health Program are essential to the success of your business. Hav-
Management Guidelines issued by OSHA in ing them cooperate with you in protecting their
January 1989. (For a free copy of the guidelines, safety and health not only helps to keep them
go to OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov, write to healthy–it makes your job easier.
OSHA Publications, U.S. Department of Labor, P.O. Here are some actions to consider:
Box 37535, Washington, DC 200013-7535, or call
(202) 693-1888.) Although voluntary, these guide- I Post your policy on worker safety and health
lines represent OSHA’s policy on what every work- next to the Job Safety and Health Protection
site should have in place to protect workers from Poster where all employees can see it. (See
occupational hazards. The guidelines are based Appendix B, Model Policy Statements.)
heavily on OSHA’s experience with its Voluntary
Protection Programs (VPP), which recognize excel- I Hold a meeting with all employees to commu-
lence in workplace safety and health management. nicate your safety and health policy, and dis-
For more information on these guidelines and cuss your objectives for safety and health.
OSHA’s cooperative programs, contact OSHA’s
Office of Small Business Assistance, U.S. I Make sure that your support is visible by get-
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, ting personally involved in the activities that
NW, Room N-3700, Washington, DC 20210, (202) are part of your safety and health program.
693-2220. For example, personally review all inspection
and accident reports and ensure that follow-
Using the Four-Point Program up occurs when needed.

As you review this publication, we encourage I Ensure that you, your managers and your
you to use the Action Plan Worksheet in Appendix supervisors follow all safety requirements that
A to jot down the things you want to do to make apply to all employees, even if you are only in
your workplace safe for your employees. Noting an area briefly. If, for instance, you require a
those actions as you go along will make it easier hard hat, safety glasses and/or safety shoes in
to assemble the total plan you need. an area, wear them yourself when you are in
that area.
MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT AND
EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT I Take advantage of your employees’ special-
As the owner or manager of a small business, ized knowledge and encourage them to buy
your attitude toward job safety and health will be into the program by having them make in-
reflected by your employees. If you are not inter- spections, conduct safety training, or investi-
ested in preventing employee injury and illness, gate accidents.
your employees will probably not give safety and
health much thought either. I Make clear assignments of responsibility for
Therefore, it is essential that you demonstrate at every part of your safety and health program,
all times your personal concern for employee safety and make sure everyone understands them.
and health, and the priority you place on them in The more people who are involved, the better.
your workplace. Your policy must be clear. Only you A good rule of thumb is to assign safety and
can show its importance through your own actions. health responsibilities in the same way you
You can demonstrate the depth of your commit- assign production responsibilities. Make it a
ment by involving your employees in planning and special part of everyone’s job to work safely.
carrying out your efforts. If you seriously involve
your employees in identifying and resolving safety I Give those with safety and health responsibili-
and health problems, they will bring their unique ty enough people, time, training, money and
insights and energy to achieving the goals and authority to get the job done.
objectives of your program. The men and women
who work for you are among the most valuable I Don’t forget your safety and health program


9

after you make assignments; make sure the ards. The checklists (at pages 18-39) provide a
job gets done. Recognize and reward those starting point. Your state consultant can assist
who do well and correct those who don’t. you in establishing an effective system.

I At least once a year, review what you have I Make sure your employees feel comfortable in
accomplished in meeting your objectives and alerting you or another member of manage-
reevaluate whether you need new objectives ment when they see things that look danger-
or program revisions. ous or out of place.

I Institute an accountability system where all I Learn how to conduct a thorough investiga-
personnel will be held accountable for not fol- tion when things go wrong. This will help you
lowing work rules designed to promote work- develop ways to prevent recurrences. Exten-
place safety and health. sive information can be found on OSHA’s
website under “Accident Investigation” in the
WORKSITE ANALYSIS index.
It is your responsibility to know what items or
substances you have in your workplace that could I Review several years of injury or illness rec-
hurt your workers. Worksite analysis is a group of ords to identify patterns that can help you
processes that helps you make sure that you know devise strategies to improve your safety and
what you need to keep your workers safe. For help health program. Periodically review several
in getting started with these processes, you can call months of experience to determine if any new
on your state on-site Consultation Program and patterns are developing.
have an experienced health and safety professional
visit your workplace for free and confidentially. HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Locations for each state are listed on OSHA’s web- Once you have identified your existing and
site. Also, OSHA’s booklet, Job Hazard Analysis, potential hazards, you are ready to implement the
may be helpful. (See OSHA Publications at page systems that prevent or control those hazards.
42 for ordering information.) Your state Consultation Program can help you do
Here are some actions to consider: this. Whenever possible, hazards should be elimi-
nated. Sometimes that can be done through sub-
I Request a consultation visit from your state stitution of a less toxic material or engineering con-
on-site Consultation Program covering both trols. When you cannot eliminate hazards, systems
safety and health to get a full survey of the should be established to control them.
hazards that exist in your workplace and those Here are some actions to consider:
that could develop. You can also contract for
such services from expert private consultants I Set up safe work procedures based on an
if you prefer. analysis of the hazards in your workplace and
ensure that employees understand and follow
I Establish a way to get professional advice them. It is a good idea to involve employees
when you make changes to procedures or in the analysis that results in those procedures.
equipment, to ensure that the changes are not (See Appendix C, Codes of Safe Practices.)
introducing new hazards into your workplace.
Find ways to keep current on newly recog- I Be ready to enforce the rules for safe work
nized hazards in your industry. procedures. Ask your employees to help you
establish a disciplinary system that will be fair
I Periodically review with employees each job, and understood by everyone.
analyzing it step-by-step to see if there are any
hidden hazards in the equipment or procedures. I Where necessary, ensure that personal protec-
tive equipment (PPE) is used and that your em-
I Set up a self-inspection system to check your ployees know why they need it, how to use it
hazard controls and evaluate any new haz- and how to maintain it.


10

I Provide for regular equipment maintenance to first aid. First-aid supplies must be readily
prevent breakdowns that can create hazards. available for emergency use. Arrangements
Ensure that preventive and regular mainte- for this training can be made through your
nance are tracked to completion. local Red Cross chapter, your insurance carri-
er, your local safety council, and others.
I Plan for emergencies, including fire and natu-
ral disasters. Conduct frequent drills to en- I Check battery charging stations, maintenance
sure that all employees know what to do operations, laboratories, heating and ventilat-
under stressful conditions. ing operations and any corrosive materials
areas to make sure the required eyewash facil-
I Ask your state consultant to help develop a ities and showers are operational.
medical program that fits your worksite. In-
volve nearby doctors and emergency facilities I Consider retaining a local doctor or an occu-
by inviting them to visit your workplace and pational health nurse on a part-time or as-
help you plan the best way to avoid injuries needed basis for advice on medical and first
and illness during emergency situations. aid planning.

I Ensure the ready availability of medical per- TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS
sonnel for advice and consultation on matters AND MANAGERS
of employee health. This does not mean that An effective accident prevention program re-
you must provide health care, but you must quires proper job performance from everyone in
be prepared to deal with medical emergencies the workplace.
or health problems connected to your work- As an owner or manager, you must ensure that
place. all employees know about the materials and equip-
ment they work with, known hazards and how to
To fulfill the above requirements, consider the control the hazards.
following: Each employee needs to know that:
• no employee is expected to undertake a job
I Develop an emergency medical procedure to until he or she has received job instructions
handle injuries, transport ill or injured workers on how to do it properly and is authorized to
and notify medical facilities. Posting emer- perform that job. Also,
gency numbers is a good idea. • no employee should undertake a job that
appears unsafe.
I Survey the medical facilities near your place You may be able to combine safety and health
of business and make arrangements for them training with other training, depending upon the
to handle routine and emergency cases. Co- types of hazards in your workplace.
operative agreements may be possible with Here are some actions to consider:
nearby larger workplaces that have on-site
medical personnel and/or facilities. I Ask your state consultant to recommend train-
ing for your worksite. The consultant may be
I Ensure that your procedure for reporting able to conduct training while he or she is
injuries and illnesses is understood by all there.
employees.
I Make sure you have trained your employees
I Perform routine walkthroughs of the worksite on every potential hazard that they could be
to identify hazards and to track identified haz- exposed to and how to protect themselves.
ards until they are corrected. Then verify that they really understand what
you taught them.
I If your business is remote from medical facili-
ties, you are required to ensure that adequate- I Pay particular attention to your new employ-
ly trained personnel are available to render ees and to employees who are moving to new


11

jobs. Because they are learning new opera- INJURY/ILLNESS RECORDS
tions, they are more likely to get hurt. OSHA rules for recording and reporting occupa-
tional injuries and illnesses affect 1.4 million estab-
I Train your supervisors to understand all the lishments. Small businesses with 10 or fewer
hazards faced by the employees and how to employees throughout the year are exempt from
reinforce training with quick reminders and most of the requirements of the OSHA recordkeep-
refreshers, or with disciplinary action if neces- ing rules, as are a number of specific industries
sary. in the retail, service, finance, insurance and real
estate sectors that are classified as low-hazard.
I Make sure that your top management staff Detailed information about OSHA recordkeeping
understand their safety and health responsibil- rules can be found at http://www.osha.gov/record-
ities and how to hold subordinate supervisory keeping/index.html or refer to 29 Code of Federal
employees accountable for theirs. Regulations (CFR) 1904 for the specific exceptions.
OSHA recordkeeping can help the small busi-
Documenting Your Activities ness employer evaluate the success of safety and
health activities. Success can be measured by a
Document your activities in all elements of the reduction or elimination of employee injuries and
Four-Point Workplace Program. Essential records, illnesses during a calendar year.
including those legally required for workers’ com- The OSHA recordkeeping system has five steps:
pensation, insurance audits and government in-
spections must be maintained as long as the actual 1. Obtain a report on every injury or job-related ill-
need exists or as required by law. Keeping records ness requiring medical treatment (other than basic
of your activities, such as policy statements, first aid).
training sessions, safety and health meetings,
information distributed to employees, and med- 2. Record each injury or job-related illness on
ical arrangements made, is greatly encouraged. OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and
Maintaining essential records also will demonstrate Illnesses) using the instructions provided.
sound business management as supporting proof
for credit applications, for showing “good faith” in 3. Prepare a supplementary record of occupational
reducing any proposed penalties from OSHA injuries and illnesses for recordable cases on OSHA
inspections, for insurance and other audits, and aid Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report).
efficient review of your current safety and health
activities for better control of your operations and 4. Every year, prepare an annual summary using
to plan improvements. OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related
Injuries and Illnesses). Post it no later than
Safety and Health Recordkeeping February 1, and keep it posted until May 1. A good
place to post it is next to the OSHA Workplace
Records of sales, costs, profits and losses are Poster.
essential to all successful businesses. They enable
the owner or manager to learn from experience 5. Retain these records for at least five years.
and to make corrections for future operations.
Records of accidents, related injuries, illnesses and Periodically review these records to look for any
property losses can serve the same purpose, if they patterns or repeat situations. These records can
are used in the same way. The primary purpose of help you to identify high-risk areas that require
OSHA-required recordkeeping is to retain informa- your immediate attention.
tion about accidents that have happened to help
determine the causes and develop procedures to Basic OSHA recordkeeping requirements
prevent a recurrence. address only injuries and illnesses, so you might
consider expanding your own records to include all


12

incidents, including those where no injury or illness EXPOSURE RECORDS AND OTHERS
resulted. This information may assist you in pin- In addition to injury/illness records, certain
pointing unsafe conditions and/or procedures. OSHA standards require records on the exposure
Safety councils, insurance carriers and others can of employees to toxic substances and hazardous
assist you in instituting such a system. exposures, physical examination reports and
The employer is required to report to OSHA employment records.
within eight hours of the accident, all work-related As you identify hazards, you will be able to
fatalities or multiple hospitalizations that involve determine whether these requirements apply to
three or more employees. your workplace. Your records should be used in
Even if your business is exempt from routine conjunction with your control procedures and with
recordkeeping requirements, you may be selected your self-inspection activity. They should not be
by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or considered merely as bookkeeping.
a related state agency for inclusion in an annual
sample survey. You will receive a letter directly from
the agency with instructions, if you are selected.


STARTING A SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: Creating a Plan 13

You can use this handbook to create a basic Designating Responsibility
plan of action for starting a safety and health
management system at your business. The action You must decide who in your company is the
plan described in this section provides the most most appropriate person to manage your safety
direct route to getting yourself organized to com- and health system. Who can ensure that the pro-
plete the Four-Point Program outlined in the previ- gram will become an integral part of your busi-
ous section. ness? In many cases it will be you, the owner.
Sometimes it will be a plant manager or key super-
Decide to Start Now visor. It could even be an engineer, personnel spe-
cialist, or other staff member.
The time to start your safety and health man- Whoever you choose should be committed to
agement system is now. You have a better picture workplace safety and health, have the time to de-
of what constitutes a good safety and health pro- velop and manage the program, and be willing to
gram. Now you can address the practical concerns take on the responsibility and accountability that
of putting these elements together and coming up goes with operating an effective program. The
with a program to suit your workplace. individual will need your full cooperation and sup-
Hopefully, you have been taking notes for your port, but the ultimate responsibility for safety and
action plan as you reviewed the preceding de- health in your workplace rests on you.
scription of the Four-Point Program. You should
now be ready to decide what you want to accom- Ask for Help
plish and to determine what steps are necessary
to achieve your goals. Next you need to deter- Federal occupational safety and health law
mine how and when each step will be done and allows a state to develop and operate its own occu-
who will do it. pational safety and health program in place of the
Your plan should consider your company’s Federal OSHA program. It is possible that the reg-
immediate needs and provide for ongoing, long- ulatory aspect of the law (setting of mandatory
lasting worker protection. Once your plan is minimum standards and conducting inspections of
designed, it is important to follow through and workplaces) is being operated by your state gov-
use it in the workplace. You will then have a pro- ernment as opposed to Federal OSHA.
gram to anticipate, identify and eliminate condi- One of the first things to learn is which branch
tions or practices that could result in injuries and of government, Federal or state, has current juris-
illnesses. diction over your business. If you are not sure
If you have difficulty deciding where to begin, a what agency is responsible for administering work-
phone call to your state Consultation Program will place safety and health in your state, contact the
help get you started. A state consultant will survey nearest OSHA Area Office to find out. (See
your workplace for existing or potential hazards. www.osha.gov). You will need certain Federal
Then, if you request it, he or she will determine OSHA publications (or comparable state publica-
what you need to make your safety and health pro- tions) for use in your safety and health activities,
gram effective. The consultant will work with you such as:
to develop a plan for making these improvements
and to keep your program effective. I Job Safety and Health Protection - OSHA
Whether you choose to work with a consultant 3165. You must display the Federal or state
or to develop your program yourself, many publi- OSHA poster in your workplace. This poster
cations are available from your state on-site Con- is also available in Spanish (Job Safety and
sultation Program or from OSHA that spell out in Health Protection OSHA 3167).
greater detail the steps you can take to create an
effective safety and health program for your work- I OSHA standards that apply to your business.
place. The rewards for your efforts will be an effi- You need to have a copy of all OSHA stan-
cient and productive workplace with a low level of dards that apply to your type of business
loss and injury. available for reference. (See Appendix D.)


14

Standards are the regulations that OSHA uses vey should focus on evaluating workplace condi-
to inspect for compliance and should be the tions with respect to safety and health regulations
baseline for your inspections in determining and generally recognized safe and healthful work
what to do when hazards are identified. Most practices. It should include checking on the use of
businesses fall under OSHA’s General Industry any hazardous materials, observing employee work
Standards. If you are involved with construc- habits and practices, and discussing safety and
tion or maritime operations, you will need the health problems with employees. See the Self-
standards that apply to these classifications. Inspection Checklists (at pages 18-39), to help you
(In states with state-run occupational safety get a good start on creating this initial survey.
and health programs, use the appropriate
state standards.) 2. The second major activity is to assess your
existing safety and health program and identify
I Recordkeeping requirements and the neces- areas that work well and those that need improve-
sary forms. ment. You should gather as much information as
you can that relates to safety and health manage-
I Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. ment in your workplace. You should include the
You may want a copy of this legislation for following in this review:
reference.
I Safety and health activities. Examine ongoing
Organize the Workplace activities as well as those tried previously,
company policy statements, rules (both work
Poor housekeeping can contribute to low and safety), guidelines for proper work prac-
morale and sloppy work. Most safety action pro- tices and procedures, and records of training
grams start with an intensive cleanup campaign in programs.
all areas of the workplace.
Get rid of unecessary items; provide proper I Equipment. List your major equipment, what
waste containers; store flammables properly; make it is used for and where it is located. Special
sure exits are not blocked; mark aisles and pas- attention should be given to inspection sched-
sageways; provide adequate lighting, etc. ules, maintenance activities, and plant and
Get everyone involved and impress upon em- office layouts.
ployees that you want to make your workplace
safer, more healthful and more efficient. I Employee capabilities. Make an alphabetical
list of all employees, showing the date hired,
Start Gathering Specific Facts their job descriptions, and experience and
About Your Situation training.

Before making changes in your safety and I Accident and injury/illness history. Review
health operations, you should gather information first-aid cases and workers’ compensation
about the current conditions and business practices insurance payments and awards, and review
that comprise your safety and health program. your losses. Compare your insurance rate
This information can help you identify problems with others in your group. Give special atten-
and determine what is needed to solve them. tion to recurring accidents, types of injuries,
Your workplace assessment should be conduct- etc.
ed by the person responsible for your safety and
health management system and/or a professional After gathering facts, see if any major problem
safety and health consultant. The assessment con- areas emerge such as interruptions in your normal
sists of two major activities: operations, too many employees taking too much
time off due to illness or injury, too many damaged
1. A comprehensive safety and health survey of products, etc. General help with this kind of prob-
your entire facility will identify any existing or lem identification can often be obtained from com-
potential safety and health hazards. This initial sur- pensation carriers, local safety councils, trade asso-


15

ciations, state agencies, major suppliers or similar- Establish and regularly conduct a worksite
ly situated businesses in the same industry. analysis. A successful safety and health program
If you discover a major problem, see what can depends on an accurate identification of all the haz-
be done to solve it. Once a problem is identified, ards and potential hazards in your workplace. This
you can work on the corrective action or a plan to is an ongoing process that includes routine self-
control the problem. Take immediate action and inspections.
make a record of what you have done. Even if you Create systems and procedures to prevent and
find no major problems, don’t stop there. Now it is control hazards identified through your worksite
time to develop a comprehensive safety and health analysis. OSHA standards can be helpful because
program to avoid any major problems in the future. they address controls in order of effectiveness and
preference. The hierarchy of controls is engineer-
Establish a Four-Point Safety and ing, administrative, work practice and PPE. When-
Health Program ever feasible, engineering, administrative or work
practice controls should be instituted even if they
The success of any workplace safety and health do not eliminate the hazard or reduce exposure.
program depends on careful planning. This means Use of such controls in conjunction with PPE will
that you must take the time to analyze what you help reduce the hazard or exposure to the lowest
want to accomplish and develop an action plan in practical level. Where no standard exists, creative
order to attain your goals. From this standpoint, problem-solving and consultant resources may
you can design a step-by-step process to take you help you create effective controls. The basic for-
from the idea stage to an effective safety and mula for controlling workplace hazards, in order of
health management system. preference, includes:
The best way to create a safe and healthful
workplace is to institute the Four-Point Program I Eliminating the hazard from the machine, the
discussed at page 8 of this handbook. method, the material or the facility.
Establish your management commitment and
involve your employees. No safety and health I Abating the hazard by limiting exposure or
program will work without this commitment and controlling it at its source.
involvement. The first step is to designate a person to
be responsible for your safety and health program. I Training personnel to be aware of the hazard
Involve your employees as widely as possible and to follow safe work procedures to avoid it.
from the beginning. They are most in contact with
the potential and actual safety and health hazards I Prescribing PPE for protecting employees
at your worksite and will have constructive input against the hazard and ensuring that they not
on the development of your program. The ultimate only use it, but that they know how to use it
success of your safety and health program will correctly.
depend on their support.
Make sure your program assigns responsibility Establish and provide ongoing training for
and accountability to all employees in your organi- employees, supervisors and managers to ensure
zation. A good safety and health program makes it that everyone at your worksite can recognize haz-
clear that each and every employee, from you ards and how to control them.
through the supervisory levels to the line worker, These points are crucial to a safe and healthful
carries responsibility for his or her part of the pro- workplace for you and your employees, making it
gram. Make safety and health duties clear and more difficult for accidents to occur and for work-
hold every individual accountable for his or her related health problems to develop.
safety- and health-related duties.
Refer to the recommended actions to take in the Develop and Implement Your Action Plan
Worksite Analysis paragraph at page 9. These will
help start your program off on the right track. You Developing an action plan to build a safety and
will be building the foundation for a successful health program around the four points can serve as
safety and health program. a “road map” to take your program to where you


16

want it to be. An action plan tells you what has to Remember, a safety and health program is a plan
be done, the logical order in which to do it, who is put into practice. Keep your program on track by
responsible and where you want to be when you periodically checking its progress and by calling on
finish. It describes problems and solutions, but is a state consultant when you need assistance.
not ironclad. An action plan can and should be Any good management system requires period-
changed to correspond with changes in the work- ic review. Take a careful look at each component of
place. your safety and health program to determine what
A good action plan has two parts: is working well and what changes are needed.
Once again, a state consultant can assist you in this
1. A list of major changes or improvements to area. Any necessary improvements can be turned
make your safety and health program effective. into new safety and health objectives for the com-
Each item should be prioritized, have a target date ing year. Developing new action plans to imple-
for completion and identify who is responsible for ment these improvements will continue progress
implementation. toward an effective safety and health program,
reduce your safety and health risks, and increase
2. A specific plan to implement each major change efficiency and profit.
or improvement, including what you want to Remember that it is important to document
accomplish, the steps required, who will be your activities. The best way to evaluate the suc-
assigned to do what and a schedule for comple- cess of your safety and health program is to have
tion. documentation of what you have done, which pro-
vides guidance on how you can make it work even
A worksheet to help you design an overall better.
action plan and describe specific action steps Technical assistance may be available to you as
appears in Appendix A. a small business owner or manager through your
Once a plan is established, put it into action, insurance carrier; your fellow businesspeople; sup-
beginning with the highest priority item. Ensure pliers of your durable equipment and raw materi-
that it is realistic, manageable and addresses the als; the local safety council; and many local, state
steps you have planned for that item. A detailed and Federal agencies, including the state on-site
description of the steps required will help you keep Consultation Programs and closest OSHA Area
track of your progress. Keep in mind that you can Office.
work on more than one item at a time and that pri- Establishing a quality safety and health man-
orities may change as other needs are identified or agement system will take time and involve some
as your company’s resources change. resources, but you should be pleased with the
Open communication with your employees is results. Employees will feel reassured because of
crucial to the success of your efforts. Their cooper- your commitment to their safety and health on the
ation depends on them understanding what the job. You may save money through increased pro-
safety and health program is all about, why it is ductivity and reduced workers’ compensation in-
important to them and how it affects their work. surance costs. You may gain increased respect in
The more you do to involve them in the changes you your community. The tangible and intangible re-
are making, the smoother your transition will be. wards for a solid safety and health program far
Putting your action plan into operation at your outweigh the cost of an accident, injury or work-
workplace will be a major step toward implement- place fatality.
ing an effective safety and health program.


SELF-INSPECTION 17

The most widely accepted way to identify haz- I Building and Grounds Conditions – floors,
ards is to conduct safety and health inspections walls, ceilings, exits, stairs, walkways, ramps,
because the only way to be certain of an actual sit- platforms, driveways, aisles.
uation is to look at it directly from time to time.
Begin a program of self-inspection in your own I Housekeeping Program – waste disposal,
workplace. Self-inspection is essential if you are to tools, objects, materials, leakage and spillage,
know where probable hazards exist and whether cleaning methods, schedules, work areas,
they are under control. remote areas, storage areas.
This section includes checklists designed to
assist you in self-inspection fact-finding. The I Electricity – equipment, switches, breakers,
checklists can give you some indication of where to fuses, switch-boxes, junctions, special fixtures,
begin taking action to make your business safer circuits, insulation, extensions, tools, motors,
and more healthful for all of your employees. grounding, national electric code compliance.
These checklists are by no means all-inclusive
and not all of the checklists will apply to your busi- I Lighting – type, intensity, controls, conditions,
ness. You might want to start by selecting the diffusion, location, glare and shadow control.
areas that are most critical to your business, then
expanding your self-inspection checklists over time I Heating and Ventilation – type, effectiveness,
to fully cover all areas that pertain to your busi- temperature, humidity, controls, natural and
ness. Remember that a checklist is a tool to help, artificial ventilation and exhausting.
not a definitive statement of what is mandatory.
Use checklists only for guidance. I Machinery – points of operation, flywheels,
Don’t spend time with items that have no appli- gears, shafts, pulleys, key ways, belts, cou-
cation to your business. Make sure that each item plings, sprockets, chains, frames, controls,
is seen by you or your designee and leave nothing lighting for tools and equipment, brakes, ex-
to memory or chance. Write down what you see or hausting, feeding, oiling, adjusting, mainte-
don’t see and what you think you should do about it. nance, lockout/tagout, grounding, work space,
Add information from your completed checklists location, purchasing standards.
to injury information, employee information, and
process and equipment information to build a I Personnel – training, including hazard identifi-
foundation to help you determine what problems cation training; experience; methods of check-
exist. Then, as you use the OSHA standards in ing machines before use; type of clothing;
your problem-solving process, it will be easier for PPE; use of guards; tool storage; work prac-
you to determine the actions needed to solve these tices; methods for cleaning, oiling, or adjust-
problems. ing machinery.
Once the hazards have been identified, insti-
tute the control procedures described at page 9 I Hand and Power Tools – purchasing stan-
and establish your four-point safety and health dards, inspection, storage, repair, types, main-
program. tenance, grounding, use and handling.

Self-Inspection Scope I Chemicals – storage, handling, transportation,
spills, disposals, amounts used, labeling, toxi-
Your self-inspections should cover safety and city or other harmful effects, warning signs,
health issues in the following areas: supervision, training, protective clothing and
equipment, hazard communication require-
I Processing, Receiving, Shipping and Storage – ments.
equipment, job planning, layout, heights, floor
loads, projection of materials, material han- I Fire Prevention – extinguishers, alarms, sprin-
dling and storage methods, training for mate- klers, smoking rules, exits, personnel assign-
rial handling equipment. ed, separation of flammable materials and
dangerous operations, explosion-proof fix-


18

tures in hazardous locations, waste disposal appropriate information concerning employee
and training of personnel. access to medical and exposure records and
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) been
I Maintenance – provide regular and preventive posted or otherwise made readily available to
maintenance on all equipment used at the affected employees?
worksite, recording all work performed on the
machinery and by training personnel on the
proper care and servicing of the equipment.
J Are signs loading, biohazards, exposures to x-
ties, floor
concerning exit routes, room capaci-

ray, microwave, or other harmful radiation or
I PPE – type, size, maintenance, repair, age, stor- substances posted where appropriate?
age, assignment of responsibility, purchasing
methods, standards observed, training in care J Is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and
Illnesses (OSHA Form 300A) posted during the
and use, rules of use, method of assignment.
months of February, March and April?
I Transportation – motor vehicle safety, seat belts,
vehicle maintenance, safe driver programs. RECORDKEEPING

I First-Aid Program/Supplies – medical care J Are occupational injuriesonlyillnesses, except
minor injuries requiring
or
first aid, recorded
facilities locations, posted emergency phone
as required on the OSHA 300 log?
numbers, accessible first-aid kits.

I Evacuation Plan – establish and practice pro-
J Are employee medical hazardous substances
employee exposure to
records and records of

cedures for an emergency evacuation, e.g., or harmful physical agents up-to-date and in
fire, chemical/biological incidents, bomb compliance with current OSHA standards?
threat; include escape procedures and routes,
critical plant operations, employee accounting
following an evacuation, rescue and medical
J Are employee training records kept and acces-
sible for review by employees, as required by
duties and ways to report emergencies. OSHA standards?

Self-Inspection Checklists J Have arrangements been made to retaineach
records for the time period required for
specific type of record? (Some records must
These checklists are by no means all-inclusive. be maintained for at least 40 years.)
You should add to them or delete items that do not
apply to your business; however, carefully consider
each item and then make your decision. You
J Areitems suchpermits and records up-to-date
for
operating
as elevators, air pressure tanks,
should refer to OSHA standards for specific guid- liquefied petroleum gas tanks, etc.?
ance that may apply to your work situation. (Note:
These checklists are typical for general industry but SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
not for construction or maritime industries.)

EMPLOYER POSTING J Do you have an active safety and health safety
gram in operation that includes general
pro-

J Is the required OSHA Job Safety and Health
Protection Poster displayed in a prominent loca-
and health program elements as well as the
management of hazards specific to your work-
tion where all employees are likely to see it? site?

J Are emergency telephone found in case of
where they can be readily
numbers posted J Is one person clearly responsible for the safety
and health program?
emergency?
J Do youup of management and laborgroup
made
have a safety committee or
represen-
J Where employees mayphysical agents,toxic
substances or harmful
be exposed to
has
tatives that meets regularly and reports in
writing on its activities?


19

J Do you have a working procedure to handle
in-house employee complaints regarding safe-
J If employees have hadpathogens, was an im-
involving bloodborne
an exposure incident

ty and health? mediate post-exposure medical evaluation and
follow-up provided?
J Are your employees the safety and health pro-
advised of efforts and
accomplishments of
gram made to ensure they will have a work-
J Are medicalconsultationreadily availableemploy-
advice and
personnel
on matters of
for

place that is safe and healthful? ees’ health?

J Have you consideredexcel in reducing work-
or workgroups who
incentives for employees J Are emergency phone numbers posted?
place injury/illnesses? J Areeach work area,first aid kits easily accessible
to
fully supplied
periodically inspected and
replenished as needed?
MEDICAL SERVICES AND FIRST AID
J Havephysician, indicating that they are ade-
first aid kits and supplies been approved
J Is there a hospital, clinic, or infirmary for med-
ical care near your workplace or is at least one
by a
quate for a particular area or operation?
employee on each shift currently qualified to
render first aid? J Is there an eye-washorstation or sink available
for quick drenching flushing of the eyes and
J Have all employees emergencies as part of
respond to medical
who are expected to body in areas where corrosive liquids or mate-
rials are handled?
their job responsibilities received first aid
training; had hepatitis B vaccination made FIRE PROTECTION
available to them; had appropriate training on
procedures to protect them from bloodborne J Is your local fire department familiar with your
facility, its location and specific hazards?
pathogens, including universal precautions;
and have available and understand how to use
appropriate PPE to protect against exposure to
J If you have aand tested annually?is it certified
as required
fire alarm system,

bloodborne diseases?*
*Pursuant to an OSHA memorandum of July 1,
J If youinspected regularly? and valves, are
they
have interior standpipes

1992, employees who render first aid only as a col-
lateral duty do not have to be offered pre-exposure J If youflushedoutside privateafire hydrants,aare
they
have
at least once year and on rou-
hepatitis B vaccine only if the employer includes
tine preventive maintenance schedule?
and implements the following requirements in
his/her exposure control plan: (1) the employer
must record all first aid incidents involving the
J Are fire doors and shutters in good operating
condition?
presence of blood or other potentially infectious
materials before the end of the work shift during J Are fire doors andobstructions, including and
protected against
shutters unobstructed
their
which the first aid incident occurred; (2) the em-
counterweights?
ployer must comply with post-exposure evaluation,
prophylaxis and follow-up requirements of the J Are fire door and shutter fusible links in place?
Bloodborne Pathogens standard with respect to
“exposure incidents, ” as defined by the standard; J Are automatic sprinkler systemcheckedcontrol
valves, air and water pressure
water
period-
(3) the employer must train designated first aid ically as required?
providers about the reporting procedure; (4) the
employer must offer to initiate the hepatitis B vac-
cination series within 24 hours to all unvaccinated
J Is the assigned to responsible persons or to a
tems
maintenance of automatic sprinkler sys-

first aid providers who have rendered assistance in sprinkler contractor?
any situation involving the presence of blood or
other potentially infectious materials.
J Are sprinkler heads protected bydamage?
if exposed to potential physical
metal guards


20

Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030(b), for
J Is proper clearance maintained below sprinkler
heads?
the definition of “other potentially infectious
materials. ”
J Are portable fire extinguishers provided inin
adequate number and type and mounted J Are hard hats required, providedexists?worn
and
where danger of falling objects
readily accessible locations?

J Are fire extinguishers recharged regularly with J Are hard hats periodically inspected for dam-
age to the shell and suspension system?
this noted on the inspection tag?

J Are employees periodically instructed in the J Is appropriate footfoot injuriesrequired where
there is the risk of
protection
from hot, corro-
use of fire extinguishers and fire protection sive, or poisonous substances, falling objects,
procedures? crushing, or penetrating actions?

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AND CLOTHING
J Are approvedCFR 1910.134provided when need-
ed? (See 29
respirators
for detailed infor-
mation on respirators or check OSHA’s website
J Has the employer determined whether hazards
that require the use of PPE (e.g., head, eye,
at www.osha.gov).

face, hand, or foot protection) are present or J Is allreadymaintained in a sanitary condition
and
PPE
for use?
are likely to be present?

J If hazards or the likelihood of hazards are J Are food or beverages consumed only in areas
where there is no exposure to toxic material,
found, are employers selecting appropriate
blood, or other potentially infectious materials?
and properly fitted PPE suitable for protection
from these hazards and ensuring that affected
employees use it?
J Is protection against thesound levels exceed
al noise provided when
effects of occupation-

those of the OSHA Noise standard?
J Have trained on PPE procedures,employeesPPE
both the employer and the
been i.e., what
is necessary for job tasks, when workers need
J Are adequate work procedures,whenand other
equipment provided and used
PPE
cleaning
it, and how to properly wear and adjust it? up spilled hazardous materials?

J Areand worn where there is any danger of fly-
ed
protective goggles or face shields provid- J Areorappropriate procedures in place to dispose
of decontaminate PPE contaminated with,
ing particles or corrosive materials? or reasonably anticipated to be contaminated
with, blood or other potentially infectious
J Are approved safetyareas where thereto berisk
worn at all times in
glasses required
is a
materials?
of eye injuries such as punctures, abrasions,
GENERAL WORK ENVIRONMENT
contusions, or burns?

J Are employees who wear correctivewith harm-
lenses J Are all worksites clean, sanitary and orderly?
(glasses or contacts) in workplaces
ful exposures required to wear only approved J Are work surfaces kept the surfaces are slip-
means taken to assure
dry and appropriate

safety glasses, protective goggles, or use other resistant?
medically approved precautionary proce-
dures? J Are all spilled hazardous materials or infec-
including blood and other potentially
liquids,

J Are protective gloves,required where employ-
means provided and
aprons, shields, or other tious materials, cleaned up immediately and
according to proper procedures?
ees could be cut or where there is reasonably
anticipated exposure to corrosive liquids,
chemicals, blood, or other potentially infec-
J Is combustible scrap, debrisfrom the worksite
stored safely and removed
and waste

tious materials? See the OSHA Bloodborne promptly?


Small Business Safety Handbook

Small Business Safety Handbook

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Small Business Safety Handbook