Is OSHA Training Needed?

There are a lot of workers and employers out there who asks such question…. Is OSHA safety training needed? They somewhat think that the safety guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are only for the new workers or those without problems just as yet. They think that they are unnecessary. Successful workers and companies, however, do know that this safety training programs are a part of a success for the day to day operations of their industry – a lot of them out there even provides it (for employers) or take it up on their own (workers), even though it is not required by their local government, as they know it is their key to success.

Neglecting health and safety in different workplace can earn the organizations a hefty fine from OSHA – it can cause then hundreds to even millions of dollars. Aside from that, they will also lose money from accidents/injuries through extra medical bills, loss of man power, delays in the project and more. No worker life is worth any money at all so why wouldn’t you comply with the health and safety regulations and risks accidents and mishaps at your workplace right? It’s better to keep a smooth and safety operation than to lose a huge amount of money. Therefore, you must follow all the rules and meet every requirement - even at times when you are not required for a health and safety training in your location. Make your workplace safe, make your workers safer and protect your organization.

Different industries have their own strict rules and guidelines for health and safety. For workers and employers, they should know those restrictions and they should know how they can comply. They can do this by contacting their local safety council or administration (OSHA for the USA) – most of them have their own websites so they can take advantage of the internet to know these details. You can also visit the online providers of these programs because they know how your company can comply with OSHA, which produces a safe working environment and more productivity.

Occupational safety training not being required in most places should not be a factor on why you would not get it for yourself or for your workers. Yes they may cause you some money and time to get workers or your own health and safety training but in the long run, it can save you more money and it can save you your biggest possession, your life. Workers and organizations needs to understand what OSHA compliance is and what it can do to the business. Do not do it because you want to meet or to avoid penalties, do so because safety training can help make the workplace a better place for success.

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OSHA Training and the Economy

As we continue with our growth industrially, jobs and careers in hazardous places such as construction site do not seem to decrease. But, with this current economy, growth is not as fast in some places – actually, there are but actually the opposite of growth for businesses in some places. This can cause people their jobs and their livelihood. Even though some people have experienced this before (post-recession), professionals and workers still need to find ways to survive the day to day battle with this economy.

In the construction field, one way to managing your career is by keeping your OSHA training certification up to date. Most organizations are with limited resources nowadays so they are out to find employees that can do the job and can do it without having to spend excessively – having a safety training certification can help notify employers that the workers have the ability to do their jobs on the day to day basis without having to risk accidents and mishaps in the workplace that can cause extra expenditures (medical), delays at work, loss of man power, etc,. Workers without the right certification may easily be neglected over those workers who have the right training. The competition in this industry is no longer just about experience but also having the right credentials.

Workers with the right certification and training background doesn’t just stand better position in getting hired, but they also have a better chance to be kept by companies that maybe cutting down on costs and laying off some workers. This is the reality and people needs to understand the importance of careers nowadays and how they should manage it well given the situation with the economy.

Time can tell on when the economy is going to go back the way it was before or be better than how it is now and with it, different industries will also find ways to get back on track. You don’t have to wait for that time, you have to manage your career well now and you have to start today. Always update your OSHA training certification and prove that you are an asset to a company or organization and you’ll be sure to have a good career. These are one of the best things to do in managing your career given the current situation of the economy.

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OSHA Going Through Local Emphasis Program Establishment

OSHA Establishes Local Emphasis Program in Wis. and Offers Compliance Assistance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may be more popularly associated with safety at construction sites, but actually it affects all sectors because work safety cuts across industries. This March, OSHA put together a local emphasis program to protect workers from the range of dangers on Wisconsin dairy farms, from those involving animal handling to manure storage.

"Far too many workers are injured and killed in preventable incidents at dairy farms in Wisconsin," revealed Mark Hysell, OSHA area director in Eau Claire, Wis. "This program will enable OSHA inspectors to visit dairy farms and ensure that all required measures are taken to protect workers."
Most employers today already require OSHA courses, such as OSHAcampus 30 hour and 10 hour training (both online OSHA training), as hiring requirements to reduce worksite injuries, and local emphasis programs, such as the one established on Wisconsin dairy farms, go a long in enhancing safe work environments and conditions.

Based on Wisconsin Dairy Farm Census of Agriculture data, some 34,000 workers are currently employed in the state's dairy farms. About 40 percent of them are immigrants, who may be not as familiar with safety and health rights and responsibilities as other workers. Since 2006, OSHA reported having investigated five fatality inspections at dairy farms in Wisconsin.

Under the local emphasis program, OSHA hopes to perform thorough safety and health inspections at dairy farms that have 10 non-immediate family member employees and at dairy farms that have run a temporary labor camp in the last 12 months. OSHA said that each inspection will include detailed questions to accumulate information on common dangers associated with the operation of horizontal bunker silos, skid-steer and tractor operations, and hazard communication.

OSHA is also endeavoring to make the work of cleanup crews—who often must brave inclement weather and the dangers of destroyed structures, fallen trees, and downed power lines—as safe as possible after a storm or a tornado.

Although most employers now require OSHA courses, such as OSHA 30 training and OSHA 10 training (both online OSHA training) as hiring requirements, OSHA’s providing compliance assistance still helps mitigate hazards and minimize the risks injuries on the ground.

"The safety and health of these cleanup crews are our chief concern, and we are on the ground in affected areas providing compliance assistance," said Greg Baxter, the OSHA acting regional administrator in Chicago. "Storm recovery efforts expose workers to a wide range of hazards, which can be minimized by knowledge, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment."

According to OSHA, among the dangers usually encountered during cleanup work are downed electrical wires, carbon monoxide and electrical hazards from portable generators, burns, lacerations, being struck by traffic or heavy equipment, and hazards from tree trimming or working at heights.
OSHA enjoins workers and employers in recovery work to call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) if they need onsite assistance in their areas. Vital information on safe work practices and personal protective equipment can be found on OSHA's Tornado Recovery page at http://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/tornado/index.html.

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OSHA Training and Safety Standards – Company Violations

You’d think that safety violations were limited to accidents only as far the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is concerned. But despite appearances, safety and health are not limited to accidents alone. This October, OSHA cited Bridgford Foods Corp. for 27 safety and health violations at its food manufacturing facility in Dallas. Among the infractions was the company’s failure to establish a hearing-conservation program for its workers who are exposed to unhealthy noise levels—a topic that actually comes up in online OSHAcampus.com 10 hour training and OSHA 30 certification.

Bridgford was also found to have failed to put up a measure called a lockout/tagout for energy sources to protect workers from machines unexpectedly starting up. These two major violations, plus 25 others, will cost the company in penalties totaling $422,600.

“Bridgford Foods has a history of failing to implement necessary safety and health,” said OSHA regional administrator John Hermanson in Dallas. “Under the law, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace.”

There are routine violators and there are occasional violators. And then there are the serial violators who repeatedly and wilfully violate the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSAHA requirements for safety and health at the workplace. One such is All-Feed Processing & Packaging Inc. One would think that the company never heard of OSHA 10 hour training, OSHA 30 certification, or 40 hour HAZWOPER training.

Recently, OSHA cited All-Feed Processing & Packaging for 23 safety and health violations at its pet-food production and packaging facility in Galva, Illinois, among them nine wilful infractions of OSHA’s air-contaminant, respiratory-protection, and hearing-conservation minimums. Other violations included failure to provide appropriate fire and explosion protection in locations of high concentrations of combustible dust. In all, OSHA proposed fines reaching $758,450.

All-Feed Processing & Packaging had been issued several citations for similar violations before, including one for a dangerous, potentially fatal dust explosion and fire that occurred at the same facility in 2009.
“By showing a blatant disregard for worker safety and health, this employer continues to expose workers to deadly hazards,” said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels.

OSHA health and safety standards are a focus of training programs for workers, safety directors, foremen, and field supervisors at OSHAcampus.com, a leading online training resource for OSHA and HAZWOPER programs such as 10 hour OSHA training, OSHA 30 certification, and 40 hour HAZWOPER training.

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