OSHA REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is a division of the United States Department of Labor. OSHA was created in 1971 to administer the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The act established a nationwide program to protect workers from injury, illness, and death caused by unsafe working conditions. Small businesses are required to comply with OSHA regulations.
Abiding by OSHA laws is not only required, it makes smart business sense. Employees who become ill or are injured due to unsafe working conditions are costly. Reductions in staff morale, decreased productivity, significant costs, and high turnover are often direct results of inadequate attention to the quality of the workplace.
Getting Started
OSHA and small businesses share the responsibility when it comes to fostering a healthy and safe place in which to work. It is essential that you become knowledgeable about the specific OSHA regulations that apply to your business. Not knowing may result in worker injury, hefty fines, and severe penalties. Due to the diversity of small business fields, the complexities of OSHA requirements, and the potential fines and penalties for non-compliance, you may be asking yourself, “Where do I start?”
Enrollment in industry-specific OSHA training classes is a cost-effective, proven method of learning about what is required. The right training program begins with an assessment of your business. The finest OSHA training classes give business owners, managers and staff the tools to work within in the law and improve their respective working conditions.
SEA Inc. is a leader in OSHA compliance education. With emphasis on customized training, SEA Inc. offers powerful compliance programs that go beyond teaching regulations. Conducted in a classroom environment, either on-site or at a training facility, knowledgeable and experienced instructors guide students through a hands-on experience that meets or exceeds OSHA requirements.
Planning and Training for the Proposed Changes
Although EPA is already planning webinars to help bring NPDES organizations up to speed with the new rule, the experts at SET believe that hands-on training offers a far better option for those NPDES-permitted municipalities, businesses and industries that must make changes to meet the new reporting requirements. That is why SET offers comprehensive training, planning and consulting, not only for NPDES compliance but for such programs as Hazardous Waste Management, RCRA Compliance, DOT, SPCC, and Hazardous Materials Management as well. SET training instructors have updated industry knowledge and the ability to convey that information in an understandable format to managers and workers who deal with the handling and disposal of hazardous materials or industrial waste.
OSHA 10 Training
OSHA 10 training from SEA Inc. is a one-of-a-kind program, designed to take students step-by-step through OSHA regulations tailored to their business needs. The OSHA Ten Hour training course covers all aspects of navigating through the often-confusing ocean of OSHA requirements. Business leaders learn to protect employees, fill out reports, and communicate with OSHA representatives. In addition, they learn about the most common industry fines and violations and how to avoid them.
The OSHA Ten Hour training course assists business professionals in engaging each employee in the safety compliance process. Involved employees are more likely to work within the rules and avoid mistakes.
SEA Inc. also offers a more comprehensive 30-hour training class, designed to delve even further into the intricacies of working within OSHA regulations.
Avoid Fines and Penalties – Enroll Today
SEA Inc. is comprised of a fully accredited team with over 225 years of combined safety, health, and compliance expertise. Ongoing training and continuing education ensures that instructors stay current about the latest additions and changes to OSHA regulations. Each course is presented in an appealing way that encourages learning and knowledge retention.
SEA Inc. offers affordable OSHA training options designed exclusively for your business. Tailored to your individual needs, SEA Inc. programs provide the detailed instruction and hands-on training that keep you OSHA compliant and increase worker health and safety.
Enrolling is easy. Contact us or call 501-568-3111 or toll free 888-627-8740 to learn how.
A Quick Guide for Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities By Keina Jennings, CEO/CFO, SEA
By Don Harkness, East Coast Regional Manager, SEA Ladder Inspection Safety At-A-Glance Ladders of all types are useful in the workplace. They are tools that allow workers to safely reach another level. Working at elevated levels poses plenty of risks, ones that have been covered in many regulatory training courses you have attended. Walking, Working Surfaces and Fall protection all focus heavily on the different hazards, of which SEA would be honored to share with you, but today, I want to focus on what needs to happen prior to using the ladder. The Right Tool for the Job And make no mistake, ladders are tools, and only perform as well as we, the operators, allow them to. So, what do we need to consider when picking the right ladder for our job? Several key factors include, but aren’t limited to: What are we doing? What style do you need? Step Ladders, extension ladders, and platform ladders all serve different purposes! What is the weight limit of my ladder? Note that the weight limit includes you and all the tools/equipment you are wearing, including fall protection! What height do I need my ladder to be? Ladders come in all shapes and sizes, so ensure you pick one that allows you to not put yourself at risk, even if it takes a little extra time to go and get it! What material should my ladder be made of? Most ladders are fiberglass but also come in several other materials. Make sure you plan for the task and don’t pick a metal ladder when working with electricity, for example The Most Important Step After choosing the ladder for our task, we need to perform an all-around inspection of the ladder. How often do we need to perform this inspection? Does it need to be documented? Ladders must be inspected before every use to ensure that no damage has occurred. As far as documentation goes, it is required that a documented inspection occur once a year, but your company policy can dictate more frequent documented inspections.
By Alison Jennings, VP Operations, SEA Sometimes it takes a real-life moment to remind us how quickly routine tasks can turn into injuries. Recently, I had a reminder of just how quickly something simple can turn into an injury. I was hanging a picture frame at home. Nothing complicated—just one of those quick projects you knock out in a few minutes. I picked the frame up by the sides to move it into position. As I lifted it, the bottom of the frame suddenly gave out. The glass dropped straight down and landed directly on the top of my bare foot. Within seconds, what started as a simple task turned into a trip to urgent care. The cut was deep enough that I ended up needing eight stitches. Looking back, there were a few things I didn’t think about in that moment. I was barefoot. I didn’t consider the possibility that the frame might break. I didn’t think about what could happen if the glass slipped or fell. It really wasn’t a dangerous job. I wasn’t using power tools or heavy equipment. I was just hanging a picture. But that’s the reality of many injuries—they don’t happen during obviously dangerous activities. They happen during everyday tasks when we assume nothing will go wrong.