On average, in the United States, there are 14 workers injured every second, according to the
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). These incidents range from small to large injuries. Some leave a lasting effect on the individuals and businesses involved.
The National Safety Council estimates that work injuries in 2021 cost $167 billion, including wages, productivity losses, medical expenses, damaged property and administrative costs. So, safety is something that should be on all of our minds. As I get older and more cautious about accidents, I am more aware of how an injury can change your life. Poor safety performance can have a very negative impact on workplace culture and morale.
And quite honestly, paying attention to safety hazards and working to prevent accidents – is just the right thing to do. That’s why this issue features two articles involving safety topics. The Pallet Enterprise regularly carries content designed to inform and assist companies in creating good safety practices and strong safety cultures.
If you want to take advantage of our online archive of free resources, click on the “Workplace Safety” link on the top right of the Pallet Enterprise homepage (www.palletenterprise.com). Or you can conduct a search on the website using our convenient search option on the top right of the homepage. Our online archive is the largest collection of pallet and sawmill-related safety content anywhere on the Web.
This issue includes an article on sawing safety covering specific instances where improper safety procedures led to incidents in the forest products and pallet industries. Don’t miss this informative article on page 62. Also, the issue includes a review of common safety challenges facing pallet companies based on the expertise of a leading insurance provider to the industry. If you want to know how to get insured, reduce incidents and have lower premiums, this article will help companies both large and small avoid common hazards. Check out the common pitfalls article on page 56.
Why talk about safety now? A big reason is that many pallet companies have slowed down over the last six months and are not as busy creating perfect opportunities to focus on operational issues that may have been ignored, including safety.
Many pallet companies have a manager or HR staff person tasked with OSHA compliance and workplace safety. Other companies have a safety team made up of various people, from managers to line workers. While these people lead the effort, everyone is responsible fo ensuring that a facility remains a safe place to work.
So, what should you do over the rest of the year to ensure safety success? It all starts with developing a list of common safety hazards or areas to inspect. (See the article on page 56 and also look online for assistance.) Then, the people responsible for safety in the plant should walk the floor during a typical production period. Be on the lookout for employees doing things that violate safety practices. Watch for unsafe conditions around machinery. Notice signage and other visual cues meant to reinforce safe practices. During this internal inspection, areas of improvement or safety violations should be noted to be addressed later. A manager should talk with any employee who is seen engaging in unsafe behavior. Training should be provided to reinforce the proper way to work.
Safety isn’t just a once- a-year activity. It must be a daily focus. Regular training is needed to ensure that workers remember and follow best practices. As pallet companies have a moment to take a breath and slow down from the hurried pace of the last two years, now is a great time to identify and correct safety concerns, conduct safety training and start working on a safety culture so that when activity picks up, workers are better prepared to work safely in the midst of a rush season.
