Any business owner should be familiar with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and their insistence that employers follow the Department of Labor's safety and health regulations and display the required workplace health and safety posters. While displaying the minimum amount of workplace safety health posters is by all means acceptable, there are a few more options for business owners to consider when making the most of workplace health and safety posters.
Keep in mind the well being of your employees as you decide how you can go above and beyond what is required by OSHA. Are there specific injuries that you see happening more frequently than they should? Is there any heavy machinery operated on a daily basis? Think about the following while you are examining your workplace safety posters:
1. Display posters that relate directly to the type of business you run.
2. Promote health related issues.
3. Build on your health and safety posters with presentations.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Add additional work safety posters that directly relate to your business' day-to-day operations
The required work safety posters are very generic and can be used in all types of businesses. But generic information won't help to keep your employees safe if they use power tools on a daily basis, come in contact with used needles or operate heavy machinery. Keep employees alerted to the procedures directly related to what they do.
I recommend: Business Know-How offers posters that concentrate on industrial truck and forklift safety, as well as posters with information on blood borne pathogens.
C&H Distributors provides posters that illustrate how to work in confined spaces and also how to handle flammable liquids. Both offer posters for many other situations as well.
Expand on health related issues affecting your employees with health safety posters
If you've noticed the same injury happening frequently among your employees, it might be time to post some information on how to prevent them. If improper lifting is causing your employees to injure themselves, consider posters on proper lifting. If your business has your employees outside in the hot sun for most of the work day, you might want to consider providing some warm weather tips.
I recommend: The
Compliance Poster Company has a heat illness poster, in addition to other health related posters, that can explain to your employees not only how to prevent heat related illnesses, but to recognize symptoms in other employees.
TurboErgo offers posters that detail the correct way to lift heavy objects and also how to stretch to build the muscles used in lifting heavy objects.
Incorporate presentations that expand on the information presented on the workplace safety posters
Really enforce the workplace safety message you are trying to get across by using methods other than posters. Use multimedia presentations to stress the information shown on your industrial safety posters. You can also use handouts to build upon the messages in your health safety posters.
I recommend: Order PowerPoint presentations from
Superfactory, who offer a variety of safety related presentations, such as hand power tool safety and respiratory protection.
Safety Video Direct has industry specific safety training videos that range from videos related to the food industry and agriculture to solid waste management.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Before you think about ordering or displaying additional health information posters, make sure your business meets the required federal and state requirements.
Related Resources from Business.com
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