Sparks, noise, chemicals, falling objects, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, flying objects and sharp edges are just a few of the hazards facing U.S. workers on a daily basis. The ideal option is to eliminate the hazard and barring that, to control a hazard at its source, perhaps by putting a barrier — such as a wall — between the worker and the hazard.
When this isn't a feasible, other measures must be put into place to safeguard employees and prevent workplace injuries that can result in skyrocketing workers' compensation costs for employers.
To that end, OSHA requires that all employers protect their employees from workplace hazards that can cause injury by not only providing personal protective equipment (PPE) but also making sure their workers know how to use it and when to use it. When using PPE, whether it's safety glasses, gloves, earplugs or full body suits, employers must make sure employees have the proper training regarding:
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When PPE is necessary and how to properly wear it.
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Its limitations.
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How to determine if PPE is no longer effective.
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How to care for PPE.
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The process for replacing PPE.
Even though this is old news for employers, managers and even employees, non-compliance is widespread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if all workers would just wear gloves, then more than 1 million hospital emergency visits by U.S. workers per year could be avoided. Last year, hand injuries alone cost employers over $500 million dollars (lost time, settlements, etc.).
CHECK THE CULTURE
If there is a lack of commitment in creating a culture that requires employees to automatically don PPE when necessary, employers don't need to look beyond themselves.
A recent survey commissioned by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) of safety influencers in the heavy construction industry revealed that the main reason workers chose not to wear PPE when needed was because “employers don't require or enforce usage.” While many employers realize that the use of PPE can pay huge dividends in workplace safety, plus result in higher morale and lower insurance premiums, many do not update their equipment, assess new situations or require rigorous enforcement.
The adverse result is loss of manpower (which few companies already running on the bare minimum can afford) and higher workers' compensation costs. For some companies, a high number of injuries also hinders their competitiveness when bidding on certain contracts. A high price to pay for the low price of a carton of safety goggles.
REASONS FOR REFUSING
So why are some employees still reluctant to wear PPE? A Kimberly-Clark professional survey taken at the 2008 National Safety Council Congress and Expo and the 2009 American Society of Safety Engineers' conference found that discomfort was given as the most common reason.
A good solution is to involve employees in the selection, and to have a select group that is representative of employees using the gear try different samples and test it. It may be that more than one style is needed to accommodate the work force.
The second most common reason is the belief that PPE is not necessary for the task. Employees may have performed the same task for many years and never been injured. Showing employees videos of what can happen or having someone who sustained an injury speak to the group is the most effective way to combat this excuse.
Next is the concern that PPE is unattractive or doesn't fit properly. If employees are content with their appearance, they will be more likely to use PPE. Increasingly, manufacturers are looking to improve style; offering some options in color and style can increase use.
UPDATING REGULATIONS
Even regulations can be outdated and ineffective. Falls are the leading cause of injury and fatalities in the workplace, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consensus of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Launching a sweeping overhaul of the walking-working surfaces and PPE standards (PPE) to prevent injuries from slips, trips and falls, OSHA acknowledged that most of its existing standards for walking-working surfaces are more than 30 years old and inconsistent with both national consensus standards and more-recently promulgated OSHA standards addressing fall protection.
Citing the 2009 death of a worker at a chocolate processing plant who fell from an unguarded work platform, OSHA ‘s proposed rulemaking includes significant revisions to the existing general industry scaffold standards to better protect workers from such injuries.
As the rule stands now, for the most part, employers only are required to use guardrail systems. Under the proposed rule, employers would have to install a second layer of safety in place by also choosing the most effective fall protection option as added protection, ranging from the traditional safety nets to self-retracting lanyards. The proposed rule also would allow OSHA to fine employers who allow workers to climb certain ladders without fall protection.
In proposing the new rule, OSHA Administrator Dr. David Michaels referred to the 2009 incident by stating, “This is a clear and grave example of the human cost incurred when fall protection safeguards are absent, ignored or inadequate.”
PPE AND THE BOTTOM LINE
For employers, PPE can protect not only their employees but also their company's bottom line. An auto parts manufacturer in Michigan, which traditionally saw its claims costs increasing at the rate of 7-8 percent annually, now suddenly saw them escalating over 20 percent. A certified WorkComp advisor (CWCA) reviewed all open and prior injury claims, OSHA logs and safety committee minutes, and found that part of the problem was a safety issue centered on employees not wearing safety glasses.
By working closely with the safety committee and the human resources department, they were able to reduce the number of reported injuries and near misses by implementing a PPE training session and a “safe reporting without retaliation” rule that allowed proper reporting of safety glasses issues among co-workers. This action helped in part to reduce the number and size of the company's workers' compensation claims and lower its premium costs from $430,302 in 2004 to $185,000 in 2008. The company now uses its excellent safety record to beat the competition for work; a win-win for the employer and the employees.
Kevin Ring is the lead workers' compensation analyst for the Institute of WorkComp Professionals, which trains insurance agents to help employers reduce workers' compensation expenses. A licensed property and casualty insurance agent, he is the co-developer of a new workers' compensation software suite that will help insurance professionals in working with employers. He can be contacted at 828-274-0959 or [email protected].