Strategy in Safety Management

By: E-t-c.com

                Managing safety needs a new approach to further lessen the chances of unwanted incidents in the workplace. Although there is already a sizable decrease in workplace accidents due to the comprehensive laws and regulation imposed by U.S. Safety and health Agencies, there is still room to amend health and safety procedures to further lessen risks and hazards in the workplace. Safety Management Services Arizona provided by safety and health consultancy group such as the ETC Compliance Solutions is a program to meet the safety and environmental needs of both the private and public industrial clients. The usual approach to this kind of service is geared to the client’s need and budget requirement. This is usually decided upon after a preliminary visit to the worksite is done. The consulting company then develops a detailed plan of action that may require the consultant to do several days to a few months of safety and health training depending on the amount of work needed to attain compliance from the U.S. Health and Safety Agency.

                Safety preparedness is one basic requirement to an efficient and effective safety and health management system. From simple things like having a first aid kits and effective fire extinguishers situated in critical areas of the workplace to automatic and positive response in coordinating disaster response when massive tragedy in the worksite strikes are the basic requirements of a well prepared safety and health contingency plan. In the Mining Industry, safety preparedness coupled with proper training such as Onsite MSHA Training Arizona can solve common safety issues such as evacuation from the tragedy sites, positive reaction to methane poisoning in mine caves and even injuries derived from mine blasting.

                However, the old saying that “an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure” can be aptly applied to the safety and health system in the workplace. Preventing accidents and unsafe situations in worksite is still the best method to keep workers safe. We may not be able to prevent destructions derived from natural calamities such as hurricanes but we can prepare for such an event and lessen the destruction it would cost. It must be emphasized that it is equally important to balance between prevention and obstruction. Remember that preventing certain activities on any section of the workplace may be the safe thing to do but if the company will lose money and leads to the closing of the business, then the safety method imposed is counterproductive. The best way to resolve this kind of problem is to go around the risk and find ways to protect the worker without disturbing the productive flow of the company.

For more information go to http://e-t-c.com/environmental-management/

What is HazWOPER?

By: Etc.com

HazWOPER is an acronym for “Hazardous Waste Operation Emergency Response” and this is a form of training mandated by the U.S. Federal Government people who work on projects where uncontrolled hazardous materials are present. The training focuses on the nature of hazardous substances and the risk associated with it. Other related topics discussed in this kind of training are the recognition of hazardous materials, response and implementation, knowledge of personal protective equipment, containment and control procedures, and materials and decontamination procedures. The kind of training one has to go into depends largely on the kind of hazardous materials the trainee is going to be in contact with. For instance, there is a big difference in the training of workers handling gaseous chemicals from those who will be in contact with nuclear waste materials.  Hazmat Training or Hazardous materials training outlines the minimum training requirements for people who work with hazardous materials have business on specific hazardous waste sites.

                Personnel who are given general duties in sites where hazardous substances are present are required by the government to attend 40 hours of classroom and practical training. They are also required to go on field training for at least three days and the full course can only be taken once. Failing the hazmat training can never be an option. Once the trainee passes the hazmat course he will still be required to take an eight hour refresher course annually.

                Employees whose duties are restricted to visiting the hazardous area only when needed are also required to take the training. However the time and coverage of the training is less than that of the workers whose presence in the area is required almost daily. For restricted visitors, their training requires 24 hours of classroom and practical instructions including one day of field instruction and an 8 hour annual refresher course. More comprehensive hazmat training is the first responder course. This is for personnel who will be responding to emergencies within a hazardous area.

                Companies involve in handling hazardous materials can ask the help of government agencies for their training. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is one federal agency who assists private companies for this particular training. Onsite OSHA safety training is one form of assistance that the agency can give. However, the company in need can also opt to hire a private consultant firm like the E.T.C. Compliance Solutions (who is also a service provider of OSHA) to train the company personnel on how to handle hazardous materials.

For more information go to http://e-t-c.com/training/

Breaking the Gap: Trainings that Trascend Generations

By: E-t-c.com

Language can be an obstacle to optimum learning. Learning needs are as unique as the learner is; age and culture make effective instruction a huge challenge. In fact, these are among the many challenges employers face when training new hires and experienced employees alike regarding workplace safety.

The generation gap makes it all the more complicated. Older employees are known to be resistant to change, while the younger ones repel anything too conventional or canned, preferring creative and mentally stimulating activities.

What trainers should understand is that different worker generations have different sets of beliefs, work ethics and perception of safety. Furthermore, each generation retains information differently. It is important that these values and views be taken objectively, and differences be understood well so effective communication can be established and generation-appropriate training techniques can be applied.

In order to identify proper learning techniques, employers should first recognize the generations comprising today's workforce.

•Baby Boomers

These are workers born from 1946 to 1964, and makes up 38% of all US workers, making them the largest population. Veterans as they are called, these employees have been working even before OSHA and its guidelines were established in the 1970s - making them a bit hesitant to undergo training. These people are known for their dedication to improvement and persistence and their ability to work well in a team.

• Generation X

Gen Xers were born from 1965 to 1975 and comprise 32% of the working population. Their life goals seem to revolve around family and finding the perfect balance between their career and family life. In general, they are independent and take instructions well, especially if delivered online. However, they also tend not to trust authority, thus making them also resistant to work trainings.

• Generation Y

Also known as millennial, these are people born from 1976 onward to the new millennium, and are the smallest segment of the working population (21%). Because of the technological advancements they have been accustomed to, they can be impatient and quite dependent on technology and all things instant, thus requiring more supervision than Baby Boomers or Gen Xers.

On the flip side, they are known to be excellent multitask, brimming with ambition and creativity. They absorb information well in a robust environment that requires them to actively participate in concise discussions.

Training That Fits Individual Needs

Considering how unique these individuals are, safety training programs should be carefully mapped out according to their specific needs. Training programs should be flexible and interesting and instructors should exercise creativity for better absorption of the topics at hand. Consider these teaching must-do's for safety training.

• Seek the expertise of older generations.

There is a wealth of insight and experience that Gen Y professionals can learn from veterans and Gen Xers. When hiring new employees, pair them up with their older counterparts for them to not only obtain more information, but also to draw inspiration from the experience of veterans

• Utilize sophisticated technologies.

With how far technology has come, it is now much easier to transcend boundaries and access information on safety. Take advantage of the power of the Web and other technology tools like mobile applications. You can perhaps allow participants to download training guides into their mobile devices for review at a later time.

• Develop safety training programs that are engaging yet informative.

Be it hazardous materials training or a lecture on mining, trainings are best maximized and absorbed by the audience when the content is delivered in an engaging manner. Regardless of the generation they belong to, participants learn best if the content is not too verbose and lengthy.

Keep presentations simple. Use interactive visuals. Incorporate charts, statistics, diagrams and info graphics to maintain interest. Encourage active discussion and interaction among participants. Another helpful tip is to use demonstrations for a particular scenario then requires a return demonstration from attendees. This does not only make the training livelier, but also helps the trainer evaluate if the attendees indeed understood lectures on safety practices/

Training can be an incredible challenge for employers, moreso if participants belong to different generations. Consider the needs and strengths of each worker when coming up with a safety training program, so you can establish objectives and outcomes more efficiently. When it comes to conducting specialized training like Onsite Spanish MSHA Training, you would be better off hiring experienced companies that specialize in safety management services like ETC Compliance Solutions. They have the tools, technologies and the right people to train your employees effectively, regardless of their generation.

For more information go to http://e-t-c.com/environmental-management/

Even the Military Are Not Exempt From Safety Awareness

By: E-t-c.com

When people think of safety issues, they rarely have the military in mind. Most mainly focus on manufacturing companies or factories because they are the ones with the most obvious safety issues. Although this may be true to some extent, all other places of work that contain human subjects fall under safety legislation and therefore the military is no exception. By military, people may take it to mean only the men and women in uniform but it includes everybody and anybody who works within the military jurisdiction. Like every other facet of work, safety management services have identified specific safety issues that are unique to the military services only. This makes it important for all military personnel to pursue safety training or refresher training whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The training that is pertinent to military personnel usually covers some military-specific areas and also other related areas where military expertise is called upon to intervene. These include; the unique role and duties of a site safety and health officer, construction safety, emergency response, onsite OSHA safety training for personnel, fall protection, excavation safety, rigging and cranes and activity hazard analysis development. Although military personnel are usually very well trained in safety matters to do with their job, it is still imperative that they expand this safety training to include knowledge that may not seem directly related to their everyday duties but can turn a military professional into a well-rounded officer in terms of safety and health in their workplace.

As we all know military expertise is usually called upon to handle matters to do with construction in the area of roads or buildings. This type of work can be completely unrelated to the everyday work that most people expect of military personnel. Construction work has its attendant challenges and training in this area is vital for ensuring that construction-related accidents are kept to a minimum. This training is also completed by fall protection training because most construction work takes place high above the ground. Statistics show that the rates of accidental falls can be significantly reduced when participants are trained properly. Construction equipment like rigging or cranes must be handled with due care and training on this special heavy duty equipment can help save lives and keep the work place accident-free.

Also related to construction is excavation safety. This kind of training is very important for personnel called upon to work in confined spaces like the underground. Since it is a well known fact that sometimes the military handle hazardous material, training in how to assess and handle hazardous situations helps reduce the damaging effects of panic or anxiety. Furthermore, training in emergency response measures can never be enough no matter the setting and it is always wise to refresh the memory because a person never knows when they will be faced with an emergency. Over and above military duties, a military site safety officer is trained on enforcing the safety and health statutory requirements for their line of work.

For more information go to http://e-t-c.com/online-training/