If you’re a small business owner, you know that one of your responsibilities is keeping your workplace and your employees safe. Fortunately, there are many tools that can help you streamline your safety plan and motivate your workers to take ownership of the entire team’s safety. Here are the top safety resources every small business owner should know about.
Toolbox Talks – Toolbox Talks, from the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), are designed to make your safety meetings engaging and straightforward. They are geared toward several industries and are released monthly to supplement existing workplace safety programs. OSHA also suggests using props to maintain interest, opening the floor for Q&A after the plan has been announced, keeping records of topics and attendance, and modeling safety for employees. There are currently over 100 accessible Toolbox Talks on topics like fall prevention, scaffold safety, ladder use, electrical safety, fire prevention, personal protective equipment (PPE), and much more.
COVID-19 Information for Workers – This educational website, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is full of valuable information on how you can help reduce the risk of exposure and to COVID-19 in your small business. There you’ll find guidance on preparing your workplace for virus prevention, tips on coping with work stress and building reliance, and information on appropriate PPE. It also includes general workplace safety and health topics regarding hazards and exposures, chemicals, emergency response and preparedness, disease and illness, safety and prevention, and more.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics – This alphabetical index of links gives you unlimited access to hundreds of OSHA safety topics. It’s a one-stop-shop for all your small business safety needs. From “A” (accident investigation) to “Z” (Zika virus), this index practically covers it all. Each topic included (like dermal exposure, confined spaces, reproductive hazards, respiratory protection, solvents, and wood dust) typically link to photos, standards, compliance materials, federal notices, case studies, and other helpful resources.
PATHS Safety Talks – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has published a series of engaging safety talk topics that small business owners can download for free. The PATHS talks are useful regardless of what state your business is in, and they cover topics including carelessness, common sense, housekeeping, heat exhaustion, driving in bad weather, and the “Ten Commandments” of good safety.
OSHA Safety Videos – If you’re more comfortable showing videos than leading safety presentations yourself, OSHA has a great selection of videos you can share with your employees. From instructional snippets (that last less than a minute) to detailed presentations (that are over 20 minutes long), you’re sure to find what you need. Topics include suggestions for assembly lines, ergonomics, fall protection, healthcare, OSHA inspections, respirator use, social distancing, worker rights, and more. There is also a useful selection of videos that are recorded in Spanish.
The SafetyPro Podcast – If you’re a fan of podcasts, you can catch up on workplace safety while you brush your teeth, work-out, or commute. The SafetyPro Podcast, hosted by Blaine J. Hoffmann, MS, OHSM, is aimed at providing you with all the relevant information necessary to achieve a safer, more productive workplace with actionable info you can use immediately. The SafetyPro Podcast episodes average 30 minutes and cover issues like psychological safety, OSHA items to watch, employee engagement, continuous process improvement, and safety for women in the workforce.
Hopefully, these resources will breathe new life into your workplace safety training program. Remember to use safety opportunities to show your workers you care about their well-being—and that you value their contributions to the team.
Thanks for reading our educational resource posted on June 8, 2020 Any above reference to a specific company or product is meant for educational purposes only and is not specifically endorsed by Pie. If you’re a small business owner, see more small business resources or get a workers’ compensation quote in 3 minutes.
