Archive for December, 2009

If you see this on your front lawn or on your property, chances are that a Cal/OSHA representative will soon be on the scene to investigate. For anyone not familiar with this incident, this is a picture of the crane that toppled in a Santa Rosa neighborhood on November 16th while removing an oak tree. Although thankfully no one was hurt in the incident, there was a significant amount of property damage to the residence.

Cal/OSHA did in fact show up to investigate, and though the results of that investigation have not yet been released, the objectives are to determine why it happened and how similar incidents can be avoided in the future. This is a case in which Cal/OSHA knocks with an “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

In your own case, it may not be as obvious, but there are hazards in your workplace and the objective should be preventive or proactive action instead of being reactive after an accident has occurred. Common sense may not necessarily be as common as we think, and you should be observant in your own workplace for some obvious and not so obvious signs.

• Is equipment being operated without all machine guards in place?
• Are electrical interlocks being defeated out of convenience or to improve productivity?
• Are employees taking shortcuts or not following established procedures?
• Are all employees aware of and trained on your Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)?
• Do employees know where MSDS sheets are for all substances that they work with?
• Do employees know how and where to get help?

Although you may think the some of the answers may be obvious, that’s an assumption that can be disastrous after the fact if an accident were to occur. It’s always better and less expensive for all involved to practice some preventive medicine and be proactive in order to prevent accidents. In the case of the Santa Rosa crane collapse, the house needs to be rebuilt and someone is going to have to pay for it. In your own workplace, if there’s an accident, there are costs incurred that in all likelihood could have been avoided, such as workers’ comp, lost time and productivity, accident investigation, increased insurance premiums, etc. It pays to manage your risk in a preventive way, as the ROI will always be worth it.

Do you need help in getting your own preventive maintenance program started or not sure where to start? Give us a call or send us an email. We’re here to help you succeed.