You can show OSHA your desire to comply by using the 52 Weeks of Safety Workbook to document your actions.

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Shawn Chambers
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1 You can show OSHA your desire to comply by using the 52 Weeks of Safety Workbook to document your actions. For employees to follow safe work procedures they have to first know what they are. That is why OSHA requires employers to educate their employees in the safety rules adopted by the company. It is my experience that many employees think that the employer makes up their own safety rules. For this reason OSHA wants employers to educate employees about OSHA Regulations so that they know where the rules came from. Several years ago OSHA started a training initiative known as OSHA Outreach in the form of a 10 and 30 hour course. This training is like drinking from a firehouse and as good as it is, it fails to reinforce company expectations for safety. That is why I spent the last 2 years working on the 52 Weeks of Safety Workbook. The 52 Weeks of Safety Workbook is designed to educate each employee by engaging them in a weekly discussion in their teams. In the front of the workbook is a place for the employee to put their name and the date they received their personal workbook. Each week their supervisor or team leader leads everyone to read and answer the two multiple choice questions provided. This should be followed by a discussion around the newly learned safety application and OSHA Regulation. Even if the material doesn't apply to their current job, they should discuss the material to increase their personal understanding of safety. Learning comes from being educated in knowledge. Someone who works in a manufacturing facility may read the week about excavation and think, "I don't do this." But what they may not realize is that this material will trigger understanding of safety procedures and regulations that do apply to them. Hence the old adage, "All learning is good." As a safety professional and adult educator for more than 18 years I have seen many employees "get safety" once they make the connections with their companies safety rules and OSHA Regulations. Because each employee has their personal copy of the workbook their learning is being documented. Each week your employees will add to their body of knowledge. Through the weekly reading, answering the questions and discussions they will increase their understanding. As they learn more the conversations about creating a safe workplace will be enforced and the ultimate goal will be attained. Recently David Michaels of OSHA let the expectation be known: "For many employers, investing in job safety happens only when they have adequate incentives to comply with OSHA's requirements," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "Higher penalties and more aggressive, targeted enforcement will provide a greater deterrent and further encourage these employers to furnish safe and healthy workplaces for their employees." The new Severe Violator Enforcement Program is intended to focus OSHA enforcement resources on recalcitrant employers who endanger workers by demonstrating indifference to their responsibilities under the law. This supplemental enforcement tool includes increased OSHA inspections in these worksites, including mandatory OSHA follow-up inspections, and inspections of other worksites of the same employer where similar hazards and deficiencies may be present. "SVEP will help OSHA concentrate its efforts on those repeatedly recalcitrant employers who fail to meet their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It will include a more intense examination of an employer's practices for systemic problems that would trigger additional mandatory inspections," said Michaels The goal of every company should be Nobody Gets Hurt. When every supervisor or team lead increase safety awareness of this common goal, employees will experience hitting the goal and they will know why. That positive experience will help improve their behavior and lead to a workplace where everyone can go home every day without injury. Thanks, and Be Safe! Carl Potter, CSP

2 This workbook was designed to be used as a tool to teach employees about safety in an easy to read and understand format. When workers understand where safety rules come from, they are more likely to comply with them. Topics include: - Employee Responsibility - Ladder Safety - Housekeeping - Walking and Working Surfaces, etc. Written by internationally known safety expert Carl Potter, 52 Weeks of Safety is the answer to your training needs for the next 52 weeks. Use this to promote OSHA safety education for less than.29 cents per week, per employee. Each week includes a short anecdotal article by Carl Potter, followed by a pertinent OSHA Regulation and two multiple choice questions to be answered. Purchase one workbook for each employee and have them sign and date the day it was assigned. Each week the employees are lead through a discussion. Even if the topic of the week does not apply to an employee's work, they can learn how OSHA Regulations and industry can work together to create a workplace where Nobody Gets Hurt. 8.5" x 11" format with a lesson per page, per week To order fill out this form and fax it to: book(s) - $14.95 each / 5-24 books - $13.95 each / books - $12.95 each / books - $11.95 each books - $10.95 each / books - $9.95 each / 2500 or more books - $8.95 each Number of books: X (each book) = Total (Standard shipping charges will be applied to the total order, not to exceed 5% of order in USA) Please charge the following credit card for this order or use P.O. number: Number: Expiration Date: Name on Credit Card (please print): Phone Number: Signature: Shipping Address: Attention (name): Address: City: State: Zip Code: - To request additional information call: or Carl Potter at: carl@potterandassociates.com

3 REVIEW VERSION OF: 52 Weeks of Safety Volume 1 by Carl Potter, CSP, CMC, CSP All Rights Reserved 2009 Potter and Associates International, Inc This document is assigned to: Print Name Date Assigned If found, please return to the person named above.

4 PLEASE NOTE This document shall not be used as a complete text of safety training by any company, corporation, job site, union, individual, or any other entity. Used as supplemental training, this document can provide a platform for discussions and learning. OSHA regulations are taken from osha.gov and may not be current due to continued changes. Do your own research to make sure that you are following current regulations. The author makes no implications and it is the user s responsibility to check, test and verify any and all information in the text. Any questions or comments can be ed to the author at: carl@potterandassociates.com. NO PORTION OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE COPIED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY FORMAT. This document is protected under copyrights of the United States of America and any company, corporation, organization or individual will be prosecuted. Common fines for copyright infringements can be as much as $5, USD per violation. The yellow caution sign with Nobody Gets Hurt is a trademark belonging to Potter and Associates International, Inc. and is only to be used by permission. 52 Weeks of Safety Volume 1 Copyright 2009 by Potter and Associates International, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without the prior written permission from Potter and Associates International, Inc Additional copies may be purchased on the web at: or

5 Foreword My intent is not to teach you every aspect of safety in this small piece of work. If this whet your appetite to do some digging of your own, then I have been successful. If it serves as a simple tool to introduce some basic safety rules, regulations and work practices, then I have been successful. Safety by definition is what we do to identify a hazard that could lead to an injury, maiming or fatality, then evaluate the hazard and put controls in place that will help us hit the goal: Nobody Gets Hurt. To that end, I hope you will use this document to provoke discussions in safety meetings, training, and crew briefings. If each person involved in your safety process has his or her own book to write in and take notes, they will likely participate in your weekly discussions. In designing this book, I have gone to great lengths to create something that is simple to use and understand that will add more value to your safety process than the cost of the material. Safety is a subject that many individuals, companies, and corporations put a high value on but spend as little money as possible on to train the workforce to perform work safely. Safety performance comes from applying knowledge and experience in a way that just seems to be "common sense." Following an incident where someone is injured, maimed or killed on the job, people will say, "I can t believe he did that!" People that fail to follow safety procedures or wear their personal protective equipment on a regular basis are bound to find themselves hurt by the hazard that they did not recognize or control. In the Safety Creed that I wrote (in the preceding page of this book and at you will note the premise that it is impossible to measure how well safety works when "Safety" is performed. It seems that safety becomes very valuable following a tragic event either at work, home, or play. I hope that you will find this document helpful in your pursuit to work safely so that you can return home to your family every day without injury. Remember to create a work plan with the goal in mind that Nobody Gets Hurt. Be Safe! Carl Potter

6 Table of Contents WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 WEEK 5 WEEK 6 WEEK 7 WEEK 8 WEEK 9 WEEK 10 WEEK 11 WEEK 12 WEEK 13 WEEK 14 WEEK 15 WEEK 16 WEEK 17 WEEK 18 WEEK 19 WEEK 20 WEEK 21 WEEK 22 WEEK 23 WEEK 24 WEEK 25 WEEK 26 WEEK 27 WEEK 28 WEEK 29 RESPONSIBILTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) EXCAVATING OSHA INSPECTIONS MATERIAL STORAGE FORK LIFT OPERATION RIGGING AND HOISTING LADDER SAFETY HAND TOOLS TAGOUT PROGRAM FIRE CONTROL FOR WELDING AND CUTTING COMPRESSED GASSES SAFETY SIGNS WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES TRANSPORTATION LADDER SAFETY WALKING-WORKING SURFACES FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS WOODEN STEP LADDER SAFETY PORTABLE POWERED TOOLS BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS ELECTRICAL SAFETY SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY FIRE PROTECTION PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) FALL PROTECTION HAND TOOLS HOUSEKEEPING EMERGENCY RESPONSE

7 WEEK 30 WEEK 31 WEEK 32 WEEK 33 WEEK 34 WEEK 35 WEEK 36 WEEK 37 WEEK 38 WEEK 39 WEEK 40 WEEK 41 WEEK 42 WEEK 43 WEEK 44 WEEK 45 WEEK 46 WEEK 47 WEEK 48 WEEK 49 WEEK 50 WEEK 51 WEEK 52 HEARING CONSERVATION GAS CYLINDER SAFETY MATERIAL STORAGE LAWNMOWER SAFETY PAINT AND SOLVENTS LADDER SAFETY HAND PROTECTION POWER, MACHINE, AND PNEUMATIC TOOLS CRANE SAFETY HAZARDOUS ENERGY CONTROL ARC WELDING HAZARD COMMUNICATION SCAFFOLD SAFETY WALKING-WORKING SURFACES FORK LIFT OPERATIONS TRANSPORTING GAS CYLINDERS EYE PROTECTION RIGGING AND HOISTING PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR LADDER SAFETY VEHICLE MOVEMENT POWER, MACHINE, AND PNEUMATIC TOOLS RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL ANSWERS

8 WEEK 1 RESPONSIBILTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL Who is responsible for safety? Everyone is! OSHA says that the company is responsible for providing a workplace free of recognized hazards. This means that companies must provide a means for identifying hazards before they cause an injury or damage. In turn, the company also must provide employees with procedures and equipment to protect themselves, coworkers, the public, and equipment from injury or damage. Training employees to control or prevent the hazard from causing injury or damage is the first step in companies taking responsibility for safety. But, as OSHA also points out, it is vital that employees follow or comply with rules, regulations, and orders. Imagine having everything you need to make a job safe but never implementing them. This week s safety questions are the foundation for the safety questions in future weeks. Take time with fellow employees during your weekly safety contact to discuss how the company identifies hazards, develops controls, and assures that everyone complies. Remember the goal is Nobody Gets Hurt. OSH Act General Duty Clause Duties (a) Each employer -- (1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees; (2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act. (b) Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct. QUESTIONS 1. Which of the following statements is not true? a) Employees and the employer share responsibility for safety and health. b) Employees are responsible for the safety of themselves, their fellow workers, and the general public. c) An employee should report any hazardous conditions or unsafe equipment at the next safety meeting they attend. d) Each employee must become familiar with and use all the protective devices provided for his/her protection. 2. The Occupational Safety and Health Act states that, shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations and orders issued pursuant to the Act which are applicable to their own actions and conduct. a) each employee b) supervisors and managers c) safety specialists d) foremen

9 WEEK 2 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense that protects the human body from injury. When we can t abate or control a hazard through administrative controls we must wear our PPE. Would a firefighter go into a burning building without a bunker coat? No way! Hardhats, safety glasses and gloves are very common types of PPE. But as we get more and more complex hazards such as chemical, bacteria, resins, etc. PPE in itself becomes complex. Take time to discuss PPE requirements in your workgroup this week. Never assume everyone knows what can hurt them. Whatever you do, don t shortcut PPE. As the day goes on and the work becomes unexciting, people tend to make more errors while performing tasks. Errors can cause an incidental interaction with the human body and a hazard leads to an injury. In most cases, the injury could have been prevented with PPE that was within reach of the worker. Choose to wear your PPE so that you can go home every day this week without an injury. Don t forget the goal: Nobody Gets Hurt. OSHA (a) Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact. OSHA (a)(1) The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. QUESTIONS 1. Suitable clothing and/or personal protective equipment shall: a) be worn at all times. b) be used whenever required by instructions or whenever it provides greater safety. c) be available to wear home. d) not be worn without specific instruction. 2. Approved and suitable eye and face protection shall always be worn wherever there is danger of exposing the eyes to: a) flying particles. b) acids, caustics and harmful light rays. c) electrical flashes or other hazardous conditions. d) All of the above are correct.

10 WEEK 3 EXCAVATING When conducting excavations it is important to use all your knowledge for creating an injury-free worksite. For instance, consider when a site requires excavation that causes the ditch to become a confined space. In many cases air quality can be an issue on a hot day when heavy gases that are flammable can find their way into the ditch. Remember that OSHA regulations can be combined to create work practices. In addition, make sure that you are using competent inspectors to insure that proper stabilizing systems are used to prevent cave-ins. Conditions can change overnight and during work hours. Worksites must be continually re-inspected when workers are exposed to hazards created. If your workgroup performs excavation work, spend some time in your safety discussion considering the hazards created by this work. Identify the competent persons who will inspect and sign-off that excavations are safe for workers. Remember that a well planned job is a safe job and you will hit the goal: Nobody Gets Hurt. OSHA (k)(1) Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems shall be made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. An inspection shall be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections shall also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee exposure can be reasonably anticipated. OSHA (c)(5)(ii)(C) Before an employee enters the space, the internal atmosphere shall be tested, with a calibrated direct-reading instrument, for oxygen content, for flammable gases and vapors, and for potential toxic air contaminants, in that order. Any employee who enters the space, or that employee's authorized representative, shall be provided an opportunity to observe the preentry testing required by this paragraph. QUESTIONS 1. Which of these statements are true about trenches and excavations in which employees are working? a) They shall be inspected at least daily by a qualified person. b) They shall be inspected before and after the job is completed. c) More frequent inspections shall be made when necessary because of rainstorms, freezing/thawing conditions, and other hazard- increasing occurrences. d) All of the above are correct. e) Both a) and c) are correct. 2. Before initially entering a confined space for any reason: a) it shall be assessed for hazards. b) a work plan shall be devised, and proper clearance obtained. c) the atmosphere shall be tested as required by the Confined Space Entry Program. d) All of the above are correct.

About Carl Potter.. Carl Potter works with organizations that want to put safety first in the minds of their employees, so that everyone can go home every day without injuries. Carl knows safety!

11 About Carl Potter.. Carl Potter works with organizations that want to put safety first in the minds of their employees, so that everyone can go home every day without injuries. Carl knows safety! After working in the electric utility industry for over 17 years, he started Potter and Associates International in Through his presentations and consulting, he now spends his time bringing his frontline, hands-on experience of personal responsibility and safety to companies all over the country. Carl is a certified safety professional, certified management consultant, and certified speaking professional. He is the author of Who Is Responsible for Safety and several other books. In addition, thousands of safety professionals around the world depend on Carl's weekly safety e-zine, Safety Spot News. As a commercially rated pilot who flies his own plane, he brings different perspectives to workplace safety. He is involved in a number of humanitarian efforts that involve safety and aviation including Angel Flight of Oklahoma, Mission Aviation Fellowship, and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary a division of the US Homeland Security. His unique background and frontline experience have made Carl Potter the goto person when it comes to creating a safe work environment. Find out more about Carl's presentations at: Also, for Carl's books, DVDs and safety stickers visit: or

Health & Safety at Work

Ministry of Labour Worker Health & Safety at Work Prevention Starts Here Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps This workbook belongs to: Table of Contents Introduction 4 Step 1: Get on Board 5