REMOVING HAZARDS TO SAVE WORKERS’ LIVES

University of Iowa Safety Training

2014

Removing Hazards is Essential to Safety

“The primary component [of any safety program] has to be abatement of hazards. That’s why people are injured. The goal of safety programs has to be to eliminate hazards, not simply to change behavior.”David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, testimony before Whistleblower Protection Program Advisory Committee, January 29 2013.

In order to have an “unsafe” or “at-risk” behavior, what must

be present?

A HAZARD

All injuries and illnesses on the job

are the result of

Exposure To Hazards.

There are NO exceptions!

“Everyone, and that includes you and me . . . becomes distracted, inattentive, bored, and fatigued. We occasionally take chances, we misunderstand, we misinterpret, and we misread. These are completely human characteristics. Because we are human and because all these traits are fundamental and built into each of us, the equipment, machines and systems that we construct for our use have to be made to accommodate us the way we are, and not vice versa.”

Al Chapanis, Former Professor of Human Factors Engineering Department, Johns Hopkins University

Research Based Health and Safety ProcessIdentify Hazards•Interview Workers•Observe•Inspect

Evaluate Hazards

•Prioritize by Risk Analysis

Control Hazards•Select Controls Based on Hierarchy

HOW DO WE REMOVE

HAZARDS?

The SIRP Procedure

Reporting Hazards is Protected by Federal Law§20109. Employee Protections. (b)Hazardous safety or security conditions.—(1) A railroad carrier . . . shall not . . . discriminate against an employee for—

(A) Reporting, in good faith, a hazardous safety or security condition[.] Source: Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) 49 U.S.C. §20109

Reporting Injuries Is Also Protected By Federal Law

§20109. Employee Protections. (a)In general.--A railroad carrier . . . may not . . . discriminate against an employee if such discrimination is due, in whole or in part, to the employee's lawful, good faith act done . . . — (4) to notify, or attempt to notify, the railroad carrier or the Secretary of Transportation of a work-related personal injury or work-related illness of an employee; Source: Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) 49 U.S.C. §20109

WHY TURN IN SIRPS?•To approach Health and Safety the right way – By removing hazards before they cause accidents.

•Once SIRP turned in, can be reviewed at Safety Meetings to be sure hazard removed.

•There are many examples of SIRPs leading to removal of hazards, making our jobs safer.

•Working safely requires workers to be aware of their surroundings, including any hazards that may be present. Removing hazards that can be removed is a key way to work safely.