Why OSHA Compliance is Not Enough

In the world of workplace safety, there are two distinct but equally crucial perspectives: compliance and ensuring every employee goes home safe at the end of the day. As safety managers, it's our job to effectively balance these approaches to create the safest possible work environment. Let's explore how to achieve this balance.

Compliance: Meeting the Legal Requirements

Compliance with OSHA regulations is non-negotiable for any organization. It's the foundation upon which a safe workplace is built. Compliance involves:

Having a written safety program tailored to your specific operations.
Developing machine-specific procedures to mitigate risks.
Providing comprehensive training to all employees to equip them with the knowledge to perform their job safely.

Take lockout/tagout procedures, for example. To be compliant, companies must have a documented program, conduct regular training, and perform periodic inspections to ensure the program is effective. Compliance is about meeting the minimum legal requirements to avoid penalties and ensure a basic level of safety.

Going Beyond Compliance: The Human Aspect

While compliance is essential, it's not enough. We need to understand that the ultimate goal of safety is to ensure that every employee goes home safe, healthy, and unharmed. This requires us to look beyond simply ticking boxes and understand the importance of safety measures on a human level.

Employees need to know why safety procedures are in place and how they protect them from harm. They need to understand that wearing a forklift seatbelt isn't just a rule; it can prevent serious injuries in the event of an accident. It's about instilling a deeper sense of understanding and awareness.

Creating a Safety Culture

To truly create a culture of safety, we need to connect the "why" with the "what." Employees should be trained in a way that makes it easy to do the right thing. This involves:

Providing the right tools and equipment.
Delivering comprehensive training tailored to specific tasks and hazards.
Ensuring employees have the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

When safety is made accessible and when employees understand the reasons behind safety measures, they are more likely to follow them diligently.

The Secret to Reducing Employee Complaints

Employee complaints are often the number one reason that OSHA inspections occur, and ignoring these complaints is not an option. Here's how to effectively deal with them:

Employees need to feel heard. Make sure to validate the employee's feelings and address the problem that led to their compliant.
Next, take action and investigate their complaint. Take photos of the problem areas and talk to employees and management about how to come to a solution that eliminates the source of the complaint.
Finally, take ownership of the problem. Even if their complaint is invalid, make them feel heard by validating that they are being protected under the company.

Conclusion

Balancing compliance with a genuine concern for employee well-being is the key to a successful safety program. By focusing on both legal requirements and the human aspect of safety, organizations can create a safer work environment where employees feel valued and protected. Remember, the goal is not just to meet compliance standards but to ensure that everyone goes home safe.