With melamine-tainted milk continuing to be a problem in convenience stores in China, it brings a very important issue up for everyone – how safe are our supermarkets? The U.S. has previously experienced various health concerns with fruits, vegetables and even peanut butter, but do we ever think of how the safe practices of supermarket employees could potential harm us?
Besides how supermarket safety can affect consumers, employees’ are at high risk of injury due to the variety of tasks that must be performed. Cashiers, bakery and deli workers, butchers and stockers all need specialized training to help them safely perform their job duties. SafetySkills™ has developed an online grocery and supermarket safety training series that addresses safety concerns in grocery stores. This series includes the following courses:
According to Tiara Rye, a Homeland Assistant Frontend Manager, felt that the series “was very interactive…it is easy to use and covers all the basic points in safety.” She also encourages other members of this industry to use this training .
The SBCA 2009 Award Program recognizes the top 5 percent of small businesses across the country. The winners of the award are chosen by the use of consumer feedback and how important the small businesses are to the American economy. The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based off information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports. Award winners are a valuable asset to their community and exemplify what makes small businesses great.
“Being chosen as one of the top 5 percent of small businesses is fantastic and shows the public that we offer a great service,” said Greene. “The need for the best training possible is something that I hope more and more businesses will realize is essential to building a strong business.”
I hope that everyone makes workplace safety their New Year’s resolution and learns from the lessons of 2009 and looks to this company to make safety a priority in their business.
It’s safe to say that when you think of Black Friday, you think about tons of sales to save you money on holiday shopping. Unfortunately, some of these savings come with a high price. Last year on Black Friday a Wal-Mart security guard was trampled to death by overly eager shoppers trying to make the most out of the potential savings that awaited them. This particular incident received news coverage all over the U.S. and even internationally in hopes of getting people to realize that no amount of financial savings is worth someone’s life.
But apparently not everyone got the message. There have been multiple reports of violent incidents occurring across the country just to save a buck. In a Sheboygan, Wisconsin Wal-Mart this morning police were called in a scuffle broke out over discounted GPS units. Another case in Centennial, Colorado Toys ‘R’ Us resulted in a 78-year-old woman being thrown to the floor. 14 Police patrol cars were called to another Toys ‘R’ Us in Jantzen Beach, Oregon when a physicla dispute took place amongst 100 shoppers who had been waiting since midnight.
Shoppers also need to be aware of the added risk that lies ahead of them on the road. Contrary to popular belief the most dangerous holiday to be driving is not New Years’ but actually Thanksgiving. This is not that surprising when you put all elements into consideration and can be used when driving during the rest of the holiday season:
The one thing to learn from all of this is that Thanksgiving is a time to show gratitude for what you have, not to hurt others in order to get what you want.
I think this video says it all – provide forklift training for your staff! Oh, and if you’re company sells alcohol, make sure that the workers aren’t keeping the party going while on the clock.
For most people, thoughts of lasers go to the cool special effects of hollywood blockbusters. Honestly, how many little boys wanted to be Luke Skywalker fighting with his light saber? More than I could possibly count. But on a serious point, lasers are used in many different ways in the real world. Medical procedures, manufacturing and mechanical production are just a few. When you think about the fact that tumors are being removed and people are getting 20/20 vision all because of a laser is pretty incredible. But if a laser can do all of that, the potential dangers in the event of a mistake should get your attention. Lasers are used more and more and learning proper laser safety training is a must for any business to avoid accidents. Knowing this, SafetySkills Laser Safety course, http://www.safetyskills.com/laser-safety-training, is the best way for any employer and employee to stay safe on the job using this type of technology.
This course teaches learners the basic principles of laser operations and three essential laser components, how to identify major types of lasers, beam-related and non-beam-related hazards associated with laser operation and the controls used to eliminate or minimize laser related hazards. It also allows grown adults to shoot lasers at UFOs during the competency sections of the course, which is pretty cool if you ask me.
It is easy to say that diversity awareness is a hot topic for 2009 and employers should take this October, Diversity Awareness Month, as an opportunity to share this with employees. With the appointment of Sonya Sotomayor to the Supreme Court and the recent Crowley/Gates controversy, the entire nation has become aware of how important it is to understand each others’ differences. No place needs to be knowledgeable of this more than the workplace. SafetySkills™ Diversity in the Workplace course provides employers and employees with an education on the advantages of diversity and how to respect each others’ difference to create a positive work environment.
“Diversity is extremely important to any business,” Trey Greene, CEO of noodleStream.com. “Getting as many different perspectives as possible can only benefit your company. Understanding various markets by employing individuals who fits that demographic really helps you realize what makes them tick.”
Besides the professional benefits diversity can lead to, having the proper training on the matter can help avoid misunderstandings and potentially offensive situations that could have been otherwise prevented.
“I believe very few people intentionally say something discriminatory towards another person, but that doesn’t make it any less hurtful to the injured party. Sometimes co-workers need to be taught how to work together. This is not only good for your staff, but also for your business’ protection,” said Greene.
To learn more about diversity in the workplace, visit www.safetyskills.com/diversity-in-the-workplace.
According to a poll done by Harvard, only 4 out of 10 adults are definitely getting the H1N1 virus vaccine when it becomes available this year. This number rises slightly, 6 out of 10, when asked if they would get the vaccination in the event that their community members were sick or dying from the virus.
Some might find these results shocking, but when the 1976 national influenza campaign gone wrong is put in perspective it makes complete sense. This campaign ended with blood on the hands of the government. The disease never spread as expected and 500 of those who were vaccinated developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, resulting in the 25 deaths. Knowing this and the effects that have been linked to countless other vaccinations, it’s only natural that people, especially parents, would be concerned about vaccinating themselves and their children.
But with all that said, there is still a great risk being expressed by experts about the dangers of swine flu. It is still expected to become a major problem and everyone should decide how they want to handle the situation. For those who would like the vaccination, contact your medical professional about the vaccine and when it will be available to you. For those who choose not to be vaccinated, be extremely aware of the other prevention methods you can take to avoid getting swine flu.
Everywhere you go all you see and hear is the need to go green. Green cars, green houses, green foods and clothing (aka organic), green cleaning products, if it exists there is probably a way to make it green. So it only seems logical that education and training courses would jump on the bandwagon. Online education and training courses are becoming extremely popular and cheaper than the traditional classroom method.
Perks of online education and training:
Can be done anywhere at anytime
Saves thousands of trees with online testing and record keeping
Lessens gas consumption which is better for the environment and your wallet
No building or utility costs
No trainer costs
Takes less time to complete
Companies worldwide have realized the benefits of using green training. This method allows employers to train their employees at anywhere and anytime with the most current content. On top of the fact that less time is spent by employees in training and more time working, it saves businesses by financially by the cost cuts that go with this change. Companies like Dell, Yahoo, Goldman Sachs and even the country of Norway have committed to going carbon neutral and are reaping the benefits, not only through the PR that it brings in but with the money saved.
Workplace safety can appear very daunting for many employers. Creating a safe work environment for workers is not only morally right, but also a legal right in this country. There are many important tools available to ensure that all of the necessary precautions are taken to avoid and reduce accidents in the workplace.
1. Hazard Assessment/Job Safety Analysis (JSA)
Hazard assessment or job safety analysis (JSA) helps identify potential safety risks in the workplace and what measures should be taken to avoid these hazards.
2. Implementing controls at work stations
Implementing safety controls and devices to work stations based on the findings of your JSA will reduce the occurrence of workplace accidents. This includes built-in safety devices, such as a chemical eyewash station, or requiring employees to wear hard hats and protective eye wear on the job. This year alone, 78% of eye injuries were due to a lack of protective eye wear.
3. Provide proper safety training to employees.
View training as an investment. The better the training your employees receive, the less likely an incident will occur. Many employers forgo educating their workers on topics that could potential save them thousands in workers’ compensation claims and lawsuits.
Today there are more choices than ever when it comes to safety training. Many employers think the only option is the traditional classroom setting, but thanks to technology – online training is the quickest, easiest, cheapest and most environmentally conscious choice. Many online safety training companies offer their own tracking systems to alleviate the administrative burden from employers and some offer free courses (www.safetyskills.com) or trials. But always make sure that your training provider is IACET certified and has the proper credentials.
Whatever type of training is chosen, setting high standards of training completion on employees is crucial and any incidents of negligence by an employee should be deemed unacceptable. This ensures your financial security as a company, as well as the safety of all of your workers.
4. Staying current.
Keeping up with the latest guidelines and trends in safety is very time consuming, but necessary. OSHA sets the standard in safety. If an employer doesn’t have time for this task, finding a training provider that does is the best route to take.
It is also important to pay attention to any news coverage about emerging workplace safety issues. For instance, incidents of Heat Stress have become more and more common resulting in heat-related illness and death. Providing training on Heat Stress is a new trend that is becoming necessary, especially for those who work outdoors.
Besides training, all gear and equipment should be regularly maintenance and replaced when it becomes outdated or a potential hazard. This is another topic that has been in newsstands across the country due to the recent metro tragedy in Washington, D.C. It was reported that the metro train that crashed needed to be replaced for a newer model, which would have saved the lives of many.
5. Refresher courses.
Like any student who finishes a class, sometimes a refresher course is needed down the road. Issues in safety are constantly changing because our technology keeps advancing. This also means that with new advancements means new problems. Giving refresher courses every year is a great way to reduce the likelihood of workplace accidents.
Training programs are a necessary part of any organization to ensure employee safety. Unfortunately, this training can sometimes be costly and for nonprofit organizations it may interfere with the funds needed to support their mission. For nonprofits in this situation the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program is here.
This grant program was set in place to honor Susan Harwood, a woman who spent 17 years of her life as the director of Office of Risk Assessment in OSHA’s Health Standards Directorate. She spent her career developing OSHA standards that consequently saved the lives and reduced injuries of employees across the United States.
Any nonprofit organization that is not an agency of State or local government is eligible to receive funding, including community and faith-based organizations. But all applications are due Friday, July 24th, 2009 by 4:30 p.m. E.T.
This grant will cover safety training in:
Concrete Products
Construction
Emergency Preparedness
Excavation
General Industry
Landscaping
Lead
Safety and Health Management
Workplace Violence
To add bang to your buck – all recipients of the Susan Harwood Training Grant will also receive 20% off on all SafetySkills courses and have unlimited access to our free Basic Awareness Series to any number of employees. To receive these discounts use coupon code: shtgrant or contact us at (888) 844-3549.
With melamine-tainted milk continuing to be a problem in convenience stores in China, it brings a very important issue up for everyone – how safe are our supermarkets? The U.S. has previously experienced various health concerns with fruits, vegetables and even peanut butter, but do we ever think of how the safe practices of supermarket employees could potential harm us?
