Are You Getting Facilities Maintenance Services with Satisfactory Occupational Health and Workplace Safety Practices?
According to OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration US Dept. of Labor), the primary objective for workplace safety and health programs is to prevent injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, their families, and employers. These programs include a wide range of recommended practices that are crucial for different industries, especially for labor-intensive and high-risk services. Among such industries is facilities maintenance that essentially includes various cleaning and maintenance processes but the work sites and requirements can be perilous in nature.
The employees on the front-line of delivering facilities maintenance services can face a wide range of potential hazards including the risk of slipping and falling, use of harmful chemicals, working with equipment that may present a risk, and many more. Due to the potentially risky nature of these day-to-day operations, it is important that professional service providers ensure a safe working environment for their on-ground teams.
Since the employees of facilities maintenance companies are exposed to various workplace hazards that can lead to accidents, injuries, and illnesses, service providers must have a strong occupational health and workplace safety program in place to protect its workers and ensure that they are working in a safe and healthy environment. From a customer’s viewpoint, they should partner with a facilities maintenance company after assessing its safety policy and measures. Some of the key practices that promote occupational health and safety for their on-ground staff include:
Conducting a Job Hazard Analysis
It is essential to identify potential hazards and assess the risk associated with the tasks beforehand. A job hazard analysis is a systematic process that involves breaking down a job into specific tasks, identifying potential hazards, and implementing controls to mitigate or eliminate those hazards. By conducting this analysis, service providers can train their employees to identify and eliminate hazards that can cause accidents and injuries.
Providing Adequate Training
All facilities maintenance employees should receive adequate training to perform their jobs safely. The training should cover topics such as chemical safety, proper use of equipment, and safe lifting techniques. It is also essential to train employees on how to handle emergency situations such as fires, spills, and injuries.
Use Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
On-ground employees may be exposed to various hazardous substances, including chemicals, dust, and biological contaminants. Therefore, it is essential to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing to protect employees from exposure to these hazards. It is equally important to make sure that the PPE fits properly and is used correctly.
Other important safety elements to assess in a facilities maintenance service provider include the company culture that helps employees recognize and avoid hazards, open communications with supervisors to provide feedback on safety concerns, and employee recognition practices for those who prioritize safety in their work.
Diversified Maintenance is committed to implementing safe work practices that can help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. The Company has a detailed safety training program that includes a wide range of safety topics and instructions such as proper use of equipment, keeping tools and supplies in good working conditions, timely reporting of safety hazards to supervisors, inspecting equipment for defects and damages, and many more. To learn more about strong occupational health and workplace safety practices with a company-wide culture of safety in facilities maintenance, send a note to: info@diversifiedm.com
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