Safety in the Workplace

Proper building safety includes the prevention of accidents and injuries caused by fire, structural failures, falls, and other hazards. It鈥檚 essential in all workplaces, but especially important in buildings that are older, have outdated infrastructure, or may house hazardous materials.

Companies have an obligation to ensure a secure working environment and , including requirements for fire prevention, electrical safety, and fall protection. Employers should also provide training to workers on how to operate safely within buildings and worksites, including how to identify and avoid building hazards.

The Importance of Building Safety

To promote building safety in the workplace, companies can implement the following practices:

• : Buildings should be inspected regularly to identify and repair any faults or hazards. Electrical systems, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, elevators, and fire protection systems should be checked regularly to ensure that they are in good working order.
• : Employees should receive training on building safety, including how to recognize and avoid building hazards, and how to respond to building-related emergencies. Training should also cover proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency response procedures.
• Clear Guidelines: Clear guidelines and procedures for working within buildings should be established and communicated to all employees. This includes guidelines for working at heights, handling hazardous materials, and responding to building emergencies.
• Updated Equipment: Equipment used within buildings, such as elevators, should be updated regularly to ensure they meet current safety standards.
• : Employers should comply with OSHA standards for building safety. Failure to comply with these standards can result in costly penalties and fines, as well as employee injuries.

Promoting Building Safety in the Workplace

Building safety is essential for protecting workers, visitors, and company property. By implementing regular inspections, proper training, clear guidelines, updated equipment, and compliance with OSHA standards, businesses can create a safe working environment that promotes productivity and protects the bottom line. Contact 91黑料网鈥檚 Risk Management team for an array of customized and innovative solutions to help ensure your company is a safe and successful workplace.

While not always highly publicized, women have in fact been making an impact in construction for centuries, with notable efforts including the historical under the management of Emily Roebling. Today, there is a plaque at the landmark that reads, 鈥淏ack of every great work we can find the self-sacrificing devotion of a woman.鈥�

As with many industries, construction continues to face a labor shortage, leading many companies to tap into populations that may not have been as highly involved in previous years. As a result, there has been a significant and steady increase in women working in construction roles since 2016, according to . In 2022, women composed 10.9% .

The NAWIC has a number of resources available to recognize and celebrate Women in Construction Week, including information on in-person panels and workshops, webinars, podcast episodes, graphics and meeting backgrounds, and more. Visit to explore all of the resources.

Train Your Construction Team Today

Looking to train and onboard construction team members? 91黑料网 offers a variety of safety trainings for construction employees, including underground utility damage and avoidance, excavation, fall protection, and OSHA 10-hour courses. Contact riskmanagement@amerisure.com for more information.

Manufacturing Day is held on the first Friday of October each year with the purpose of highlighting the importance of this significant sector along with the opportunities and challenges within this field. In total, manufacturing 听contributes 20% of the nation鈥檚 capital investment, 35% of productivity growth, and 60% of exports, .

The annual Manufacturing Day event is coordinated by The Manufacturing Institute and helps to inspire the next generation of workers, an especially important focus during today鈥檚 changing landscape 鈥� which has become more digital and more sustainable 鈥� and the cross-industry skilled labor shortage.

Participate in Manufacturing Day 2022

Businesses and educational institutions across the U.S. are encouraged to check out the virtual and in-person resources and events taking place as part of National Manufacturing Day and help inform the workforce of tomorrow about what it means to be a part of today鈥檚 manufacturing world.

Learn More About the Manufacturing Outlook

Visit these resources to learn more about trends in the manufacturing industry today, including the common risks and opportunities associated with the transformation of manufacturing and the top manufacturing trends to watch including changes to the workforce, supply chains, and more.

• Manufacturing Industry Trends: What Successful Companies Are Doing Differently

Protection Forged in Partnership

91黑料网 is expanding its focus on the manufacturing industry by investing in our products and people who provide the expertise you rely on to help protect your manufacturing business. Learn more听about the unique coverage and technologies to complement your manufacturing programs, including our new Product Recall and Manufacturers Errors & Omissions products, expanded appetite to provide industry-leading service to more manufacturing businesses, and an increased investment in our expert employees with manufacturing knowledge.

is recognized each September to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies and disasters. For businesses, this observance provides a great time to consider specific risks that could impact employee safety and develop your own preparedness plan.

According to businesses can face a variety of potential hazards related to natural disasters, health concerns, technology-related risks and accidents caused by humans. There are simple steps to create and implement an emergency preparedness plan for your business:

Identify Your Risks

Become familiar with the types of natural disasters in your location. Each season brings its own unique challenges, and it is imperative to plan for the risks your business may face for each. This can include earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, power outages from severe winds, and tornadoes.

Depending on the type of business, identify the likelihood of other kinds of disasters, such as health hazards in a healthcare setting, or information technology-related risks to equipment or processes.

Develop a Plan

Create a course of action for each type of risk and conduct safety drills for emergencies your employees may face. Your safety drill plans should include when to evacuate the premises and when to stay in place. In the event your employees are required to evacuate, include information in your plan on the routes that are available and how to access the company鈥檚 emergency kits.

Take Action

Determine how to communicate with your employees before, during and after a disaster. Assign safety officers for assisting others in the event of an emergency, and consider accommodations for employees with special medical needs, including prescriptions and equipment.

Businesses should also review their insurance plans as they relate to the typical risks in their locations. Having the right type and amount of insurance can make the difference between a quick or more complicated disaster recovery. Consult your agent who can assist in determining what perils your policy covers (and in what situations coverage takes effect) to decide if additional coverage may be needed.

Inspire Others

Take advantage of the resources at and use National Preparedness Month as the prompt to get a plan started for your company. Discuss your plans with others in your industry to help ensure those around you are also taking steps to protect their family or company.

While businesses may not be able to avoid a disaster, you can minimize the impacts by being prepared.

As we approach hurricane season, now is the time to familiarize yourself with safety protocols for your business, especially if you are in a region that is likely to experience hurricane-related weather. Our website offers a library of resources about hurricane preparedness and response (click here). You can also download our Hurricane Preparedness Emergency Kit!

Consider the following steps your business should take to ensure you are prepared for a hurricane:

Plan & Coordinate

• Establish a Hurricane Operations team at your business and be prepared to meet regularly
• Create an emergency contact list, including phone numbers to reach all current employees
• Ensure vital records and computer files are backed up and stored in a safe place onsite and offsite
• Review your property insurance policy with your agent to verify you have the right coverage
• Keep work vehicles serviced and fueled. Find a secure place to store them if conditions arise
• Schedule regular drills to inform staff of the proper procedures in the event of a hurricane

Communicate & Monitor

• Consistently follow news, guidelines and updates from the
• Develop an emergency response plan and business continuity plan to outline hurricane responses and recovery strategies to maintain the continuity of services should you be affected by a hurricane
• Devise a communications plan to deliver vital information to employees, partners and customers
• Designate key staff members and a communications tree to share updates and protocols
• Confirm that your staff is aware of the plans, what role they play and the expectations you have

Prep & Prepare

• Keep emergency equipment and supplies on-hand at your business property, including heavy plastic sheeting, plywood, masking tape, sandbags, a generator, and hand tools
• Store a three-day supply of drinking water in plastic containers. Allocate enough for at least one gallon of water per person, per day
• Stock a three-day supply of non-perishable food, such as canned food and beverages, dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, and granola bars
• Ensure you have comprehensive first aid kits available and stored in airtight bags or containers
• Assemble other potential necessities, such as paper cups, plastic utensils, garbage bags, soap, disinfectant, liquid detergent, battery-operated radio and new batteries, and flashlights

For more information on Hurricane Preparedness Week and for additional safety tips and resources, visit the .

Learn More:听Prepare for Hurricane Season.

Preventing Slips & Falls
The average hospital cost for a fall injury is $35,000, according to the . Slips and falls are inherently more common in the winter months, especially among older adults. In order to protect yourself, your employees and your guests, it’s important to clear snow as soon as it falls and to melt ice as soon as it forms.

Snow Clearing & Maintenance 鈥� Hire a snow plow to clear your driveway or parking lot, or invest in a snow blower or snow shovel. It’s a good idea to keep a snow shovel and a bucket of salt or sand near the front door so that you can frequently clear slick snow and slush. Always display wet floor signs to warn guests of slick surfaces.

Key points to remember:

• Snowplow service
• Snow blower
• Snow shovel
• Rock salt or sand
• Anti-slip mats
• Wet floor signs

Snow on the Roof
Unfortunately, there’s no hard and fast rule for telling how much snow is too much for your roof to handle. There are several factors that come into play, including the density of the snow, the pitch of the roof and the integrity of the structure.

However, some roofs are at higher risk than others:

• Flat or slightly pitched roofs
• Roofs covered in unevenly distributed drifts
• Shallow roofs below steeper, higher roofs
• Roofs that are exposed to high winds

If you’re afraid the weight of the snow is too much for your roof to support, take a look in the attic. If the rafters appear bent, then it’s definitely time to hire a professional or invest in a roof rake with an extension pole to do it yourself. It鈥檚 always a good idea to sweep your roof on a regular basis to prevent large drifts from accumulating.

Frozen Downspouts & Gutters
The downspouts are often overlooked when it comes to snow and ice removal. It’s important to clear snow from the base of your downspouts so that roof runoff can flow freely during a thaw. Downspouts that are not clear run the risk of freezing solid and overflowing. Gutters may also freeze and become damaged under the weight of the ice.

Lighting
Daylight is limited in the winter months. It鈥檚 likely dark when employees arrive and dark again by the time they leave. Prevent slips and falls by installing adequate lighting in highly trafficked areas, like the parking lot and entrances. Keep employees in mind, too. They may need some extra light for taking garbage and recycling out to their appropriate dumpsters.

HVAC
Your heating system works harder than ever in the winter, and HVAC failure can lead to busted pipes exposed to freezing temperature over an extended period of time. Regular maintenance is recommended in order to prevent breakdowns and increase efficiency. Hire an HVAC technician to inspect and perform maintenance every fall and spring. On a more routine basis, you’ll want to check areas around your heating units to make sure no flammable or combustible materials are in the area. And if space heaters are used, keep flammable materials away and be careful not to overload electrical circuits.

Emergency Response Team
Create an Emergency Response Team to keep an eye out on the forecast for any upcoming weather-related concerns. The team should also be responsible for alerting management and ensuring that all of the tools and equipment are in place to handle a winter storm. And don’t forget to make communication a part of your response plan. Let employees know the protocol for work closures due to dangerous weather conditions. Consider communicating through simultaneous channels, such as phone calls, your company website, social media, email blasts and group texts.

Note: These steps do not supersede local, state, or federal regulations. This blog article is for general information only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon, for ergonomic, training or medical advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. For more information, please contact your local Loss Control Consultant at 800.257.1900