Workplace Safety: Get AWAIR

1. Workplace Safety: Get AWAIR Presented by: • Richard Higgins, CSP, Corporate Environmental/Safety Manager, Hutchinson Technology Incorporated • Joe Morin, Loss Prevention Team Leaders, SFM – The Work Comp Experts

2. Housekeeping Matters • Follow-up Survey • Question & Answer • Please note that this information is designed to give general and timely information in the covered subjects. The materials are not intended as legal advice or assistance with respect to individual problems. Attendees should consult counsel in regard to specific legal affairs/issues.

3. Objectives • What is AWAIR? • History • Who is subject to it? • Program elements

4. What is AWAIR? • Acronym stands for “A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction” program

5. History • In 1990 Minnesota amended its Occupational Safety and Health Act • Required employers in certain industries to develop written, comprehensive workplace safety and health programs • Program participants have expanded over time

6. Who is subject to AWAIR? • MNOSHA developed list of NAICS codes (North American Industry Classification System) • Employer’s primary NAICS code • If more than one code, secondary codes may trigger compliance • See Minnesota Rules §5208.1500 for those covered https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/rules/?id=5208.1500

7. Program Elements • Element Number 1 • How managers, supervisors, and employees are responsible for implementing the program and how continued participation of management will be established, measured, and maintained

8. One Way To Accomplish This • Safety committee formation

9. Safety Committee Function • Review incidents/accidents • Identify root causes and corrective actions • Address safety issues

10. Safety Committee Function • Develop projects/plans/goals addressing safety • Establish targeted safety goals and objectives • Address safety policies and procedures • LOTO • Confined Space • Hearing Conservation • Electrical Safety

11. Effective Safety Committees • Meet on a regularly scheduled basis • Have prepared agendas • Review past assignments • Assign action items and completion dates • Compile meeting notes • Communicate

12. Safety Committee Make-up Cross section of management and employees Safety representative External – insurance company loss control person Consultant

13. Safety Committee Member Roles • Chairperson • Effective leadership • Vice chair • Recorder • Effective team members

14. Extra “Dos” for Safety Committees • Take on special projects • Off the job safety • Promote awareness • Slips/trips/falls • Integrate wellness campaigns • Assist in emergency preparedness • Make safety more visible and productive

15. Safety Committees “Don’ts” • Be just another meeting • Function without an agenda • Focus on low-priority activities • Be a commiseration session

16. Why Committees Fail • No spirit of commitment • No real sense of purpose • Lacks leadership • Attendance is spotty • Meetings lack structure • No measurable goals • Committee works in a vacuum …and the list goes on!

17. Program Elements • Element number 2 • The methods used to identify, analyze, and control new or existing hazards, conditions, and operations

18. Methods That Can Be Used • Internal resources • In-house safety engineers (representatives) • Job Safety Analysis’ (JSA) surveys • Incident/Accident reporting

19. Methods That Can Be Used • External resources • MNOSHA consultation services • Insurance loss control professionals • Consultants

20. Job Safety Analysis • Break down job into basic steps/tasks • Identify potential hazards • Is there a danger of employee striking against, being struck by, or making injurious contact with an object? • Can employee be caught in, by, or between objects? • Is there a potential for slipping, tripping, or falling? • Could the employee suffer strains from pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, or twisting? • Is the environment hazardous to safety or health?

21. Job Safety Analysis • List recommendations for each hazard identified • Engineer hazard out • Administrative • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Training/Instruction aids • Housekeeping • Ergonomics

22. Incident/Accident Reporting • Timely reporting • Medical only, Lost Time, Subrogation, Abatement • Comprehensive, accurate information • Thorough investigation (analysis) • supervisor should conduct the interview/investigation/analysis • Root causes • Accurate conclusions • Preventative actions & communications

23. Program Elements • Element number 3 • How the plan will be communicated to all affected employees so they are informed of work-related hazards and controls

24. Communication • New/continuing employee training • Classroom • Video • Hands on • Computer based training programs • Systems to track training (manual or electronic)

25. Components of Effective Training Programs • Clearly stated objectives • Concise program content for your targeted audience • Discussion points • Knowledge checks • Review program for on-going improvement

26. Program Elements • Element number 4 • How workplace accidents will be investigated and corrective action implemented

27. Accident Investigation • Primary objective is identification of hazard(s) and their elimination • Behavior influences • Investigate all incidents (including near misses, potential hazards, etc.) • Timeliness is key to establish facts while information is fresh • Supervisor involvement is critical

28. Key Questions for Investigations • Six Key Questions • Who? • What? • When? • Where? • Why? • How?

29. Investigations • Learn • Evaluate solution options • (Q = is there a problem to be solved?) • Implement corrective actions • Engineering controls • Management controls

30. Investigations • Follow-up • Communicate the corrective actions • Follow-up

31. Program Elements • Element number 5 • How safe work practices and rules will be enforced

32. Enforcement • Responsibility permeates all levels of an organization • Expectations need to be communicated to all employees at all levels • Safety policies and procedures need to be defined and accessible to all employees

33. Enforcement Con’t. • Needs to be fair and consistent throughout an organization • Document corrective actions • Management • Set an example • Recognize the “good” (positive reinforcement)

34. Program Review • Review entire AWAIR program annually • Review goals and objectives • Establish new goals and objectives • Communicate • Update accordingly

35. What Have We Covered? • History • Those covered • Program elements

36. Peer to Peer Help Line • Kick- Off – May 1 • Among our members, vast network of workplace safety experts from every industry. • Members can call or submit an online form for answers and advice from their peers. • More information go to our website: http://www.mnchamber.com/benefits/safety-management-peer-to-peer.cfm

37. Q & A

38. Thank You Richard Higgins Corporate Environmental /Safety manager Hutchinson Technology Incorporated Richard.higgins@hti.htch.com Joe Morin Loss Prevention Team Leader SFM – The Work Comp Experts Joe.morin@sfmic.com This program was brought to you by the Minnesota Chamber Safety Management Committee. For more information on this or other initiatives, check out our website at: http://www.mnchamber.com/benefits/safetymanagement.cfm