Workplace Safety: Get AWAIR Presented by: Richard Higgins, CSP, Corporate Environmental/Safety Manager, Hutchinson Technology Incorporated Joe Morin, Loss Prevention Team Leaders, SFM – The Work Comp Experts

Housekeeping Matters Follow-up Survey Question & Answer Please note that this information is designed to give general and timely information in the covered subjects. The materials are not intended as legal advice or assistance with respect to individual problems. Attendees should consult counsel in regard to specific legal affairs/issues.

Objectives  What is AWAIR?  History  Who is subject to it?  Program elements

What is AWAIR?  Acronym stands for “A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction” program

History  In 1990 Minnesota amended its Occupational Safety and Health Act  Required employers in certain industries to develop written, comprehensive workplace safety and health programs  Program participants have expanded over time

Who is subject to AWAIR?  MNOSHA developed list of NAICS codes (North American Industry Classification System)  Employer’s primary NAICS code  If more than one code, secondary codes may trigger compliance  See Minnesota Rules § for those covered

Program Elements  Element Number 1  How managers, supervisors, and employees are responsible for implementing the program and how continued participation of management will be established, measured, and maintained

One Way To Accomplish This  Safety committee formation

Safety Committee Function  Review incidents/accidents Identify root causes and corrective actions  Address safety issues

Safety Committee Function  Develop projects/plans/goals addressing safety Establish targeted safety goals and objectives  Address safety policies and procedures LOTO Confined Space Hearing Conservation Electrical Safety

Effective Safety Committees  Meet on a regularly scheduled basis  Have prepared agendas  Review past assignments  Assign action items and completion dates  Compile meeting notes  Communicate

Safety Committee Make-up  Cross section of management and employees  Safety representative  External – insurance company loss control person  Consultant

Safety Committee Member Roles  Chairperson Effective leadership  Vice chair  Recorder  Effective team members

Extra “Dos” for Safety Committees  Take on special projects Off the job safety  Promote awareness Slips/trips/falls  Integrate wellness campaigns  Assist in emergency preparedness  Make safety more visible and productive

Safety Committees “Don’ts”  Be just another meeting  Function without an agenda  Focus on low-priority activities  Be a commiseration session

 No spirit of commitment  No real sense of purpose  Lacks leadership  Attendance is spotty  Meetings lack structure  No measurable goals  Committee works in a vacuum Why Committees Fail …and the list goes on!

Program Elements  Element number 2  The methods used to identify, analyze, and control new or existing hazards, conditions, and operations

Methods That Can Be Used  Internal resources In-house safety engineers (representatives) Job Safety Analysis’ (JSA) surveys Incident/Accident reporting

Methods That Can Be Used  External resources MNOSHA consultation services Insurance loss control professionals Consultants

Job Safety Analysis  Break down job into basic steps/tasks  Identify potential hazards  Is there a danger of employee striking against, being struck by, or making injurious contact with an object?  Can employee be caught in, by, or between objects?  Is there a potential for slipping, tripping, or falling?  Could the employee suffer strains from pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, or twisting?  Is the environment hazardous to safety or health?

Job Safety Analysis  List recommendations for each hazard identified  Engineer hazard out  Administrative  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Training/Instruction aids  Housekeeping  Ergonomics

Incident/Accident Reporting  Timely reporting Medical only, Lost Time, Subrogation, Abatement  Comprehensive, accurate information  Thorough investigation(analysis)  supervisor should conduct the interview/investigation/analysis  Root causes  Accurate conclusions  Preventative actions & communications

Program Elements  Element number 3  How the plan will be communicated to all affected employees so they are informed of work-related hazards and controls

Communication  New/continuing employee training  Classroom  Video  Hands on  Computer based training programs  Systems to track training (manual or electronic)

Components of Effective Training Programs  Clearly stated objectives  Concise program content for your targeted audience  Discussion points  Knowledge checks  Review program for on-going improvement

Program Elements  Element number 4  How workplace accidents will be investigated and corrective action implemented

Accident Investigation  Primary objective is identification of hazard(s) and their elimination  Behavior influences  Investigate all incidents (including near misses, potential hazards, etc.)  Timeliness is key to establish facts while information is fresh  Supervisor involvement is critical

Key Questions for Investigations  Six Key Questions  Who?  What?  When?  Where?  Why?  How?

Investigations  Learn  Evaluate solution options (Q = is there a problem to be solved?)  Implement corrective actions  Engineering controls  Management controls

Investigations  Follow-up  Communicate the corrective actions  Follow-up

Program Elements  Element number 5  How safe work practices and rules will be enforced

Enforcement  Responsibility permeates all levels of an organization  Expectations need to be communicated to all employees at all levels  Safety policies and procedures need to be defined and accessible to all employees

Enforcement Con’t.  Needs to be fair and consistent throughout an organization  Document corrective actions  Management  Set an example  Recognize the “good” (positive reinforcement)

Program Review  Review entire AWAIR program annually  Review goals and objectives  Establish new goals and objectives  Communicate  Update accordingly

What Have We Covered?  History  Those covered  Program elements

Peer to Peer Help Line Kick- Off – May 1 Among our members, vast network of workplace safety experts from every industry. Members can call or submit an online form for answers and advice from their peers. More information go to our website: management-peer-to-peer.cfm

Q & A

Thank You Richard Higgins Corporate Environmental /Safety manager Hutchinson Technology Incorporated Joe Morin Loss Prevention Team Leader SFM – The Work Comp Experts This program was brought to you by the Minnesota Chamber Safety Management Committee. For more information on this or other initiatives, check out our website at: