Signs that you might need a safety check
Date Posted: 11/22/2021
If workers use duct tape to repair tool handles, electrical cords, ladders, or other equipment...you might need a safety check.
If your first aid cabinet needs to be restocked several times a week...you might need a safety check.
If walls and storage racks have dents from forklifts bumping into them...you might need a safety check.
If workers take off their safety glasses to see better because the lenses are badly scratched...you might need a safety check.
If an employee says, “What’s the big deal?” when you remind him not to bypass a machine guard...you might need a safety check.
If aisles and walkways are wet or littered with pieces of cardboard, plastic, or other debris...you might need a safety check.
If emergency equipment (portable fire extinguisher, eyewash station, etc.) is not immediately accessible because workers set pallets in front of them or hang jackets from them...you might need a safety check.
If workers in a noisy environment frequently ask you to repeat what you just said...you might need a safety check.
If labels on chemical containers are unreadable or employees do not know what the label warnings mean...you might need a safety check.
If employees block emergency exit aisles with carts, boxes, or other items...you might need a safety check.
If flammable materials like cardboard are near workers who are welding...you might need a safety check.
If unknown chemicals form puddles and stains on the floors...you might need a safety check.
If employees shout “Watch out!” on a regular basis...you might need a safety check.
If stacks of bags or other materials are leaning, or you worry about workers getting too close to stacked materials due to risk of collapse...you might need a safety check.
If workers don’t visually inspect equipment (ladders, tools, etc.) for damage before using them...you might need a safety check.
If forklift operators allow passengers to ride on the truck, or (worse) use passengers as extra weight to carry heavier loads...you might need a safety check.
If your workplace has more than one of these or similar problems...you definitely need a safety check.
How Safety Management Suite Can Help
Employees have a lot of safety rules to follow, including conducting pre-use safety checks of equipment like forklifts and ladders. To help ensure that all requirements are met, consider conducting your own safety checks. The Audits feature in the J. J. Keller® SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE provides numerous ready-to-use checklists with questions on dozens of topics. The results can help you identify potential hazards and address them before an incident occurs.
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