My favorite commercials are the ones where people text on their smart phones and trip over a park bench, walk into another person, or drop their phones into public urinals. In all cases, my response has been, "Really?" I have the same response when looking at some OSHA regulations and pending legislation, then think, "Whatever happened to common sense?" I know the old saying, "Common sense isn't so common." Unfortunately, that statement is closer to fact than fiction. They say common sense is an acquired skill, a been-there, seen-it, done-it, bought-the-T-shirt kind of thing; only being gained through personal experience. But when you read the headlines or view the candid photographs that people submit to trade publications or post online, it makes you take a step back and wonder, "What were they thinking?"
Let's start with some existing rules that many of us would consider a basic "common sense" approach to preventing workplace injury and illness. In two of OSHA's chemical standards (and probably many others) it states that employers should not allow their employees to eat, drink or smoke in areas where hazardous materials are present. Really? Wouldn't you think a normal person with average intelligence would know not to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with one hand while handling a toxic chemical with the other? Or for an employee not to smoke while fueling a vehicle or a propane tank? Apparently not. Otherwise a rule wouldn't have been written about it.
I recently completed a safety audit for a northern Nevada company. Located not more than five feet from a spraying operation that uses a Class 6 - Poison, I found no less than a dozen empty soda cans where an employee sprayed this chemical and enjoyed a cold soda all at the same time (you'd think it would've been difficult to drink while wearing a respirator). After the audit, the employer updated the company safety and training policy. But their response at the audit debriefing was, "We'd placed signs telling them not to do that. It looks like we'll need to train these folks."
Another really moment that's one of my personal favorites regards forklift operators. OSHA clearly states that forklift operators be prohibited from checking fuel levels in gas tanks with an open flame device. Really? While most people consider this another example of common sense, this situation has also happened.
Where does this all end? OSHA refers to it as protecting the workers, while others think of it as culling the herd. No matter what you call it, you must identify the smallest of hazards and inform your employees of these, even if it seems obvious.
This brings me to the point of this column. Has your company considered all the little things that most of us would figure to be common sense? Have you or your safety person conducted surveys and included these in your safety policies and employee training? Things that most of us would take for granted, such as a sign warning workers that the surface of a recently welded piece of metal may still be hot or that employees must wear canvas or leather gloves when stacking wooden pallets. In a good safety program, these are the types of things not to be overlooked.
Current statistics and trends show that many small injuries are due to violations of common sense. Take, for example, the hundreds of shipping and receiving employees who lacerate themselves with razor sharp box cutters. They cut toward themselves rather than away from their bodies.
Under OSHA's General Duty Clause, employers are required to train their workers on the safe use of box cutters. Is this included in your company's training program? Have you provided anti-cut gloves for these individuals? And if so, have you completed the required paperwork? Has a job safety analysis been completed? Have you filled out the required personal protective equipment assessment (29CFR1910.132) for the issuance of the anti-cut gloves? All of these requirements apparently preclude the need for common sense on the part of your workers.
Slipping, tripping and falling are other top causes of workplace injuries. And the main contributing factor to this type of accident is poor housekeeping. Have you ever seen the sign, "Your mother doesn't work here. Please pick up after yourself?" According to OSHA, that sign's not enough. Part of your overall safety program needs to include basic housekeeping. Poor housekeeping can also increase maintenance costs for equipment, fire hazards and the possibility of harborage for mice and insects.
Now, back to personal electronics. Does your company have policies that address these areas of concern?
Prohibit employees who operate workplace motor vehicles or equipment from using cell phones for talking or texting.
iPod usage guidelines while at work.
If your company does not have these types of policies, and hasn't trained workers not to utilize electronic diversions while on duty, then your company can be held liable. Unfortunately, recent headlines prove this fact: the New York City subway crash where they believe the conductor was texting and missed a stop signal, leading to a horrific crash; or the tour bus driver that may have been using a cell phone and was so distracted so that the vehicle crashed and people died.
Make no mistake; a good, solid company safety program will include what most would consider to be basic common sense really!
Scott Alquist is the manager of TMCC's Safety Center, which provides regulatory compliance public courses and customized safety training for business. Contact him at salquist@tmcc.edu.
