Safety Self-Inspections Make
Sense for Contractors
Recent estimates
place the business costs associated with occupational injuries at close to
$170 billion annually.* No contractor wants to see employees injured on a
work site. Addressing safety and health issues in the workplace can save
contractors money and add value to their businesses through:
-
Lower workers’ compensation insurance costs
-
Reduced medical expenditures
-
Fewer quality issues on projects
-
Increased productivity
-
Improved morale
-
Better labor relations
-
Reduced turnover
Many contractors are taking the
initiative and conducting their own safety inspections at every work site
where they are active, as well as at the storage, maintenance and office
facilities they operate. By being proactive, contractors are also sending a
clear message that employee safety is a priority.
If you are interested in instituting a formalized safety program in your
company,
OSHA has checklists that can help. Here are some key areas that may
deserve your attention.
Receiving, Shipping and Storage
Examine equipment, layout, heights, floor loads, material handling and
storage methods and training for material handling equipment, such as
loaders
and forklifts.
Hand and Power Tools
Review inspection, storage and repair of all power tools. Educate employees
on the proper grounding, use and handling of all tools used in your
projects.
Electric Power
Review and formalize policies on working with, in or near electric lines.
Project managers and supervisors should use only certified electricians to
set up switches, breakers, fuses, switch boxes, junctions, circuits and
extensions on your work sites.
Chemicals
Any chemicals used on work sites should be handled, transported and stored
according to state and federal requirements. Employees working with these
chemicals should be trained, closely supervised and provided with
protective clothing.
Personnel
Provide employees with appropriate training in identifying hazards and in
checking machines before use. Training should also be provided on the safest
methods for cleaning, oiling and adjusting machinery.
Maintenance
Provide regular and preventive maintenance on all equipment used at
different work sites and record all work performed on the machinery.
Building and Grounds Conditions
Examine all floors, walls, ceilings, exits, stairs, walkways, ramps,
platforms and aisles to ensure that they do not present any safety hazards.
Safety Equipment
You should be aware that, by law, contractors are required to provide
certain types of protective clothing and equipment to employees. According
to the
federal government, personal protective equipment (PPE) in this category
includes the following:
-
Nonprescription eye protection
-
Prescription eyewear inserts/lenses for full-face respirators
-
Goggles
-
Face shields
-
Laser safety goggles
-
Hard hats
-
Hearing protection
-
Respiratory protection
-
Fall protection
-
Ladder safety device belts
-
Reflective work vests
-
Rubber insulating gloves
-
Non-specialty gloves—payment is required if they are PPE, such as for protection from dermatitis or severe cuts and abrasions. Payment is not required if they are for keeping clean or for cold weather protection.
*Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2008.
Work-In-Process is provided by
Somerset for our clients and other interested persons upon request.
Since technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no
final conclusion on these topics should be made without further review.
For additional information on the issues discussed,
please contact
Ken
Hedlund,
Jay Feller,
Steve George,
Chris
Mayfield or
Rebecca Ogle
of our
Construction & A/E Team.
This document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used,
for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the
taxpayer.
Somerset CPAs,
P.C.
3925 River Crossing Parkway, Third Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
317.472.2200 • 800.469.7206 • FAX 317.208.1200
www.somersetcpas.com
