In certain states , you are required to have an Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP). Even if you don’t have that many employees or you live in a state that doesn’t require an IIPP, it is a good idea to have one. This written program is the backbone of your entire safety program. It summarizes everything from who is responsible to guidelines for safety and how the company ensures these guidelines are followed. These are the eight required elements of an IIPP:
- Name one person who is responsible for safety.
- Identify the safety rules one must follow to avoid injury and enforce those rules.
- Allow for two way communication of safety concerns.
- Manager to Employee
- Employee to Manager, anonymously if needed
- Inspect your worksite on a regular basis and document the inspections.
- Investigate accidents and incidents to determine the root cause.
- Take corrective action to address safety issues and document those actions.
- Train your employees. The more dangerous the job is, the more training you should provide.
- Maintain required safety and health records (OSHA 300, for example).
You likely have chemicals at your place of business that could be addressed with a Hazard Communication Program, but the need for a formal program is much lower for an office than for a business using hazardous chemicals. This written program explains how you notify your employees of the various exposures related to the chemicals used in the workplace. It requires you to have a chemical list and maintain safety data sheets for each chemical and make this information available to employees. You also must train your employees regarding their exposures at hire, if the employee changes jobs or if any new chemicals are brought into the workplace.For more information about Hazard Communication including an outline of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) visit Fed OSHA.
Eighty degrees is the new trigger for needing a Heat Illness Prevention Plan and additional requirements for high heat are triggered when temperatures reach 95 degrees. The basic tenets for heat illness are the provision of water, rest and shade. Employees and supervisors must be trained on methods to prevent heat illness and identify the signs and symptoms of heat illness. You should also have a plan in place for emergencies. OSHA has developed many resources for Heat Illness Prevention including training for employees and training for the trainer. Although many resources are directed towards construction and agricultural workers, don’t disregard this information if your workplace has a tendency to get hot in the summer. Fatalities due to heat illness have occurred in other industries. The regulation still applies to you.