Developing a Safety Program for

the Workplace
Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D.
Agricultural Engineering Department
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
The Texas A&M System
Why Safety
 Why Safety
• Reduce Number of Injuries
• Reduce Costs Associated with
Injuries
• Comply with Regulations
Why Safety
 Why Safety
• Reduce Number of Injuries
• Reduce Costs Associated with
Injuries
• Comply with Regulations
 Reduce Injury Costs
• Average cost of injury
-~$11,000
• Indirect cost ~ 50 times direct cost
- Lost time/productivity, low
morale
- Equipment Damage
 Costs by Injury
25000
23,299

20000
17,802

15000

11,858 12,011 11,853

11,218
10000

5,837 6,294

5000

0
Head/CNS

Leg

Upper Back
Hand/Finger

Low er Back

Multiple
Foot/Toe
Arm
 Why Safety
• Reduce Number of Injuries
• Reduce Costs Associated with
Injuries
• Comply with Regulations
OSHA Inspections Region VI
• ~4,200 /year ~1/2 programmed
• Average cost ~$2,500 – 17,000
• How often – once every 102 years
• Landscape ~ 40% of violations
were paperwork violations
Creating a Safety
Program
Creating a Safety Program
• Management commitment
- Real commitment
- Active participation
• Assignment of Authority
- Supervisors/foremen provide lead
- Safety committee
Developing a Safety
Program
 Developing a Safety Program
• Develop/implement safety policies and
work rules
- Policy should be brief, to the point and
define management’s philosophy
- Clear enforceable work rules
- Require commitment to comply
 Safety Rules
• General
- apply to all employees
• Job specific safety rules
- developed specifically for each
major job activity
Developing a Safety Program
• Orientation and Training
-Orientation ~ familiarize new
employees with safety policy and
work rules
-Provide regular training ~ refresh
Why Orientation is Critical

Work Fatalities
6 to 10 years
13% Over 10 years
14%

2 to 5 years
28%
1 year
45%
Developing a Safety Program
• Hazard Abatement
- Schedule regular imspections
- Document and correct unsafe conditions
or practices
- Encourage reporting of hazards
- Develop safety procedures for new
equipment
Developing a Safety Program
• Commitment to injured workers
- Healthy employees ~ productive
- Let injured workers know that
their needs are a priority
Developing a Safety Program
• Injury statistics and reports
- Keep records of all injuries
- Use to evaluate safety needs
- Use to identify hazards to
eliminate
Employee Selection
 Employee Selection
• Develop Job Application
• Require all applicants to complete
• Verify information on application
• Use available sources to find additional
information
• Complete additional checks if job requires
applicant to drive
 Employee Selection
• Request applicants to submit to
physical examination
• Request applicants to submit to
drug tests
• Verify paperwork complete before
offer employment
Employee Orientation &
Training
 Employee Orientation &
Training
• General
– all employees
• Job Specific
– employees that perform specific
task
 Employee Orientation &
Training
• Keep records of topics covered
• Require employees to sign roster
• Short frequent meetings
 Employee Orientation &
Training
• General ~ All employees
– Policy and rules
– Proper lifting
– Ergonomics
 Employee Orientation &
Training
• General ~ All employees
– Policy and rules
– Proper lifting
– Ergonomics
 Employee Orientation &
Training
• General ~ All employees
– Policy and rules
– Proper lifting
– Ergonomics
 Ergonomics
• Ergo = work
• Nomos = work
• Ergonomics
– Make work environment fit workers
dimensions
– Rotate employees
– Working Smarter
 Ergonomics
• Machinery is often designed
– Without considering human
interface, or
– To fit the average human
– One size fits all
 Ergonomics
• Make equipment fit within
limitations and capabilities of the
worker
 Ergonomics
• Two types of Injuries
– Instantaneous
– Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTD)
 Ergonomics
• Instantaneous
– Occurs as soon as the incident
occurs
– Most back injuries are coded as
instantaneous
 Ergonomics
• Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTD)
– Cumulative ~ occurring gradually
– Trauma ~ bodily injury
– Disorders ~ Physical ailments of
abnormal conditions
 Ergonomics
• Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTD)
– Force
– Repetition
– Posture
– Lack of Rest
 Ergonomics - Force
• Find easier way
• Use assistive devices
• Get assistance
 Ergonomics
• Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTD)
– Force
– Repetition
– Posture
– Lack of Rest
Ergonomics - Repetition
• Rethink task
• Alter procedure to minimize
repetition
 Ergonomics
• Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTD)
– Force
– Repetition
– Posture
– Lack of Rest
 Ergonomics - Posture
• Maintain good posture
• Modify work environment to
facilitate good posture
Ergonomics - Posture
 Ergonomics
• Cumulative Trauma Disorders
(CTD)
– Force
– Repetition
– Posture
– Lack of Rest
Ergonomics – Lack of Rest
• Consider rotating employees
• Rotation to task that stresses different
muscle tendon group
 Employee Orientation &
Training
• Specific – Specific employees
– Chemical Handling/PPE
– Mower Safety
– Chain Saw Safety
– Guards and Shields
– Proper Lifting, etc.