Page 24 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2018

VISION PROTECTION
The Everyday Balance of Vision Protection Programs
Every job needs to have not only a job description,
but also a hazard analysis, which can change over time. BY LINDA J. SHERRARD
“Is your vision protection program balanced with wants and needs?”
Before you answer that you want “zero vision accidents,” evaluate the needs and baseline status of your vision protection program, and also the costs and benefits to both your
employees and loss prevention goals. A well-designed and well–managed “successful” vision protection pro- gram is not simply about product selection. To man- age and be successful with a critical program such as vision protection, you have to look beyond the simple code compliance.
The simplistic “thou shalt wear vision protection” fails to consider all the critical key elements of running and maintaining a solid, workable program. Quot- ing the code is the baseline for any safety program, but especially vision protection. Our programs must move past basic compliance into true performance programs in order to succeed. Consider these areas to help you determine where your program really stands, ranging from nothing to fully compliant and actually proactive and working:
As safety, what is your involvement in the plan- ning/implementation of personal protective equip- ment and how it translates into loss prevention? Exactly like upper management, supervisor, or line worker, you have the knowledge, background infor- mation, and method to ensure your program is not only functional . . . but successful at all levels.
Not just product selection: Have you made sure all the needed elements of a functional program are
in place, such as education and training? Are these measures kept current and fresh, or do the employees groan when they are forced to endure training?
■ Program evaluation: Has a true vision protec- tion program evaluation been done and discussed with all levels of employees, the safety committee, and management?
■ Eye injuries matter: Detail every process that could possibly create the situation where an eye in- jury could occur. Not just high-hazard items, such as grinding or welding—think about janitorial chemi- cals, floor strippers, etc. If it can splash, splinter, or fly . . . that is a good place to start. Every job needs to have not only a job description, but also a hazard analysis, which can change over time. (When was the last time your company’s were updated?)
■ JSA/JHA: Does every worker at your facility have one in place and know what his/her role is in it? Are these updated as needed and evaluated at least an- nually or when job duties change? More importantly, does upper management fully understand what ex- actly a JSA/JHA is and how it can contribute to the long-term loss control bottom line? (I often notice managers disregarding these valuable documents and signing without really reading/understanding them.)
■ Leadership at all levels: Every worker at your facility knows immediately when a new program is honest or if it is only hot air to appear to be within compliance. Your top leaders have to understand and be up front about their strengths and backgrounds. No one is an expert at everything, and your employ- ees accept willingly when leaders admit this and ask questions. A great leader knows when to give advice and apply it to the process at hand and when to keep his or her mouth shut. (Which are you?)
■ Disciplinary action efforts: Do you coach your employees or simply whack them with disciplinary action, which often creates a disgruntled employee and defeats your purpose. This is especially true when any disciplinary action is tied to conduct, bonuses, or promotion. Disciplinary issues are real but need to be stepped in order to be fair and consistent.
■ Feedback: Do employees have a venue to re- port vision protection items that simply do not meet the need? Or request changes such as sizing or im- mediate availability? If employees have to wait to re- place a broken/damaged PPE item, chances are they will hesitate to report it and work with damaged PPE (scratched lenses, for example), which increases the potential for personal injury or injury to others and
20 Occupational Health & Safety | AUGUST 2018
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