Understanding the GHS and HAZCOM for safer workplaces

Posted on August 7, 2019 by

Workplaces with potentially harmful chemicals should stay in strict compliance with the latest HAZCOM guidelines.

A hand holds out a warning sign.

How does your workplace deal with chemical safety?

If your organization’s facilities contain potentially harmful chemicals, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Hazard Communication Standard is a major part of both compliance and safety operations within the workplace. Failure to keep up with HAZCOM standards could mean fines and other regulatory actions from OSHA, but on a more fundamental level, noncompliance also means potentially exposing employees to unnecessary risks. Therefore, you should take HAZCOM extremely seriously, from posting warning labels to educating team members on the meaning of the standardized pictograms. Continue reading →

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Communication Skills: Valuable for Every Employee

Posted on August 1, 2019 by
Employees listen to one another.

What does communication mean for employees in varied roles?

It’s hard to imagine a more universally relevant “soft skill” than communication. No matter the context, the ability to get ideas across is invaluable to doing business, helping ease the friction between stakeholders and ensure various parties stay happy and engaged. Whether in conversation, through electronic communication, on the phone or in any other context, it’s useful for people to be adept at making their points.

While communicating and collaborating are widely applicable values, they are commonly associated with certain employee roles far more than others. If you’re considering teaching communication skills to your employees, you may be dividing individuals into those who can use the lessons and those who can’t. Continue reading →

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Inspiring Great Employee Performance with Managerial Feedback

Posted on July 10, 2019 by

Giving feedback to employees is a concrete skill that managers can sharpen through training.

A manager reviews an employee.

Managers who give good feedback can improve organizations at all levels.

Managers have many roles in guiding their workplaces’ day-to-day operations and keeping employees on track, but one of the most impactful of these duties is providing one-on-one feedback to workers. Today’s workforce is made up of motivated and independent individuals, and giving helpful guidance to these professionals requires a focused and practiced approach. Instead of just assuming every manager is naturally good at providing feedback and inspiring positive change in coworkers, it can pay to invest in training for this specific topic. Continue reading →

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Stay Safe and Compliant with Video-Based Lockout/Tagout Training

Posted on July 3, 2019 by

Lockout/tagout procedures are essential parts of safety planning at any workplace involving powered machinery 

An employee uses a heavy machine on a shop floor.

Working on heavy machinery is risky without proper training.

The lockout/tagout procedures employees must follow when performing maintenance on powered machinery are some of the highest priority regulations affecting companies today. If your workers ever provide service for equipment, it’s imperative they understand the proper way to lock down the assets they’re maintaining, both for regulatory purposes and to keep them safe on the job.

The rules around lockout/tagout come from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and they apply to a huge selection of equipment. OSHA noted millions of workers service machinery as part of their everyday duties. While electricians, machine operators, craft workers and general laborers are some of the most common positions dealing with lockout/tagout needs, many more employees also have to comply with the regulations. Continue reading →

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Refresh Training to Ensure Compliance with EPA Guidelines

Posted on June 5, 2019 by

Complying with EPA regulations requires focus, dedication and training.

A hazardous chemical warning sign.

Is your facility on top of its requirements under EPA rules?

Companies dealing with potential pollutants in their daily operations are required to be careful, keeping the hazardous substances from damaging the nearby environment. Businesses working with petroleum products fall into this heavily regulated category, as do those that generate hazardous waste. If your organization is such a company, you should frequently check to ensure your continued compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.

The EPA runs multiple programs around the country designed to keep harmful materials out of the natural environment and to clean up already damaged areas. The agency’s report for the 2018 fiscal year noted it received commitments for the proper disposal, treatment or minimization of 540 million pounds of waste.

Getting into EPA compliance and staying there is a multi-step process involving strengthening many aspects of operations and oversight. Your employees are an important part of the equation, as simple lack of familiarity with EPA requirements could lead to inadvertent violations of the rules. By taking a look at a few prominent types of EPA-regulated workplaces, you can grasp the role and importance of employee education. Continue reading →

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