Communication is Everything

 

 

I think most operators would agree that it's not a question  as to whether or not to have regular safety meetings  but rather, can you really afford not to.  Without a consistent  forum  to communicate  with your employees  the likelihood  of achieving  your desired goals  becomes  almost impossible .

 

The following are some considerations that may assist you in maximizing the results when you introduce safety and health meetings to your organization:

 

• One of the most important  steps to begin this process is to find  a  leader that will accept a position  as the safety committee  chairperson . He or she should have the  proper background  and experience to engage your employees .
• Keep your meetings short  and to the point .
• Use visual aids  whenever possible.
• Remember that the forum of the meeting should be geared as a discussion  not a lecture.
• It is very important to have an agenda as well as a roll call for those attending.
• Before setting  the meeting agenda, think about what " take away" messages you want  for the employees.
• Often , employees do not want to be told what not to do but rather shown what the right thing to do is.
• Keep your meetings as positive as possible.
• Try to hold your meetings  in a comfortable setting.
• If possible, allow attendees to present a topic and rotate them  from meeting to meeting .
• Occasionally,  it may make sense to invite a consultant  or outside source  to attend a meeting
• Take pictures or videos of people or processes that represent the way management wants it to look like. Pictures and videos at the site make it more personal than using generic photos etc.
• Encourage questions. 
• Try to end the meeting on a high note, for example complementing somebody on a procedure that was well done.

If you have regular safety meetings and incorporate these ideas, keep up the good work. If not, you need to start one today. To be effective, safety must be  perceived as important  as all the other messages management  deems critical  to the success of your operations .  The following links may help you structure a plan that you can make a permanate part of your safety or employee manual.

Safety Coordinator Responsibilities
Safety Committee Guidelines
Safety Committee Responsibilities
Safety Meeting Agenda
Safety Meeting Roll Call Sheet

Tell us what you do to make your meetings successful!

Remember, a safe wash protects people and profits!!

ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES FOR 

EMPLOYEES  

OSHA defines personal protective equipment as equipment worn to minimize exposure to serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment may include items such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs, etc.

With that said, as the saying goes, "you can lead the horse to water, but you can't make him drink" So, the question is, you can provide the items needed to protect the employee, but how do you make them use it? OSHA requires more than availability.

There was an interesting article in Safety/NewsAlert titled "Is it enough to provide safety gear, or do you have to make 'em use it"? Article Link Even though this pertained to a workers compensation case, it raises a good question that I believe every operator should ask themselves. What do I do to promote the use of the devices that will keep my employees safe?

 The following are some ideas that should be part of your list:

• Are employees held accountable for not using protective equipment? How severe should the punishment be? Termination?
• How easy do you make it to find the equipment you want them to use? Are they in a properly labeled container in close proximity of the hazard?
  

  
• Do you train the employees to understand the risks of not using the protection and show them how and when to use it?
• Do you have written policies regarding the company's expectation for using the safety equipment?
• Is the equipment clean and comfortable to use?
• Do you have a maintenance plan to keep the equipment in good working condition?
• Did you assign a person to monitor a personal protection program? Are you aware of how effective it is?
• Do you use signage to warn employees of the hazards and advise them what equipment to use? Are the signs readable and in the proper language?
  

  

  
  
• Do you encourage employees to report unsafe conditions that would require protection equipment? (Front line eyes & ears)

Car wash tunnels and especially equipment rooms are usually the areas that pose the most serious threats to your employee's well-being. This makes the use of personal protection equipment by your employee one of the most important aspects of any safety program. At a minimum, these questions should become a checklist along with any additional ideas you may have to engage the staff to use these devices.

Keep in mind, as employers, there are at least two reasons compliance is critical to your business. First, if an employee is hurt and depending on the severity of an injury, OSHA may elect to levy fines for what they may consider non-compliance with the intent of the regulation. Secondly, even more importantly, an injured worker will cost your company a great deal of time and money. Begin today!

For additional information on personal protection equipment, please visit the following links to car wash safety 101.
Link 1
Link 2

Let us know what questions you would add to our list.

Remember, a safe wash protects people and profits!