Page 43 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2019

to inactive water. Testing should replicate a real-life scenario to ensure that each site can be confident in the emergency unit’s ability to reliably perform. In addition, documen- tation of the routine testing—including location, dates, and performance—pro- vides records to demonstrate your facility’s diligence in protecting and monitoring each unit. These records can be managed in a va- riety of forms, including inspection tags on the units and safety equipment surveys.
5. Create a robust safety culture: This may be the most important overarching as- pect of what we do in the safety industry, yet it is not covered as thoroughly as it should be. The hope is that emergency eyewashes and showers will never have to be used, and it is this mindset that exposes facilities to risks and potential severe fines for non- compliance. It is often that these pieces of equipment are out of sight and out of mind, which could pose a fatal threat during a crisis. The key to overcoming this mental- ity is developing a strong safety culture and understanding the risks of noncompliance.
In 2016, OSHA raised its penalties by 80 percent, and they continue to increase annually based on the Consumer Price In- dex yearly percentage increase.3 Consider the OSHA penalty hike a boon for work- place safety. Studies have shown that work- place injuries are reduced in settings where health and safety inspections have direct consequences for violations. And while it can seem impossible to build a system with the resources to inspect every single work- place for violations, increasing employer awareness about steep financial penalties for non-compliance may well do the trick.
Understanding the “why” behind choosing the right equipment, the right placement, the right environment, and the importance of proper maintenance could reduce costs and, in the end, could save a life.
Eric Clark is Director of Haws Services, www.hawsco.com.
REFERENCES
1. 2014 Independent research survey, Haws Corporation
2. Based on results from Haws Site Survey Program
3. OSHA fines to increase significantly. (Nov. 5, 2015) Retrieved from http://www.safetyand- healthmagazine.com/articles/13258-osha- fines-to-increase-significantly
www.ohsonline.com
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