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Tips for New Small Businesses

2009-08-23T22:30:00.000+07:00

Save up as much money as possible before starting.All too often, people go into business without any savings, exclusively using loan money from friends, banks, or the SBA. They except to be able to start paying the loans back right away with their profits. What these business owners don't realize is that it can take months or years to make a profit. And once a lender discovers a business isn't as

INTRODUCTION: The Value of a Safety and Health Management System A Profit and Loss Statement

2009-08-23T12:25:00.000+07:00

INTRODUCTION: The Value of a Safety and Health Management System A Profit and Loss Statement As a small business owner, you are, by nature, a risk taker. You wager your business acumen against larger, perhaps more heavily financed corporate groups and other free-spirited, self-employed individuals like yourself. There is excitement and challenge in such a venture, but to succeed you

WORK SITE ANALYSIS

2009-08-23T12:24:00.001+07:00

WORK SITE ANALYSIS It is your responsibility to know what items or substances you have in your workplace that could hurt your workers. Work site analysis is a group of processes that helps you make sure that you know what you need to keep your workers safe. For help in getting started with these processes, you can call on your state on-site Consultation Program and have an experienced

MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT

2009-08-23T12:24:00.000+07:00

MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT ANDEMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT As the owner or manager of a small business, your attitude toward job safety and health will be reflected by your employees. If you are not interested in preventing employee injury and illness, your employees will probably not give safety and health much thought either. Therefore, it is essential

TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORS

2009-08-23T12:23:00.000+07:00

TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES, SUPERVISORSAND MANAGERS An effective accident prevention program requires proper job performance from everyone in the workplace. As an owner or manager, you must ensure that all employees know about the materials and equipment they work with, known hazards and how to control the hazards. Each employee needs to know

HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL

2007-07-22T12:23:00.005+07:00

HAZARD PREVENTION AND CONTROL Once you have identified your existing and potential hazards, you are ready to implement the systems that prevent or control those hazards. Your state Consultation Program can help you do this. Whenever possible, hazards should be eliminated. Sometimes that can be done through substitution of a less toxic material or engineering controls. When you cannot

INJURY/ILLNESS RECORDS

2007-07-22T12:22:00.002+07:00

INJURY/ILLNESS RECORDS Exam Rules for recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses affect 1.4 million establishments. Small businesses with 10 or fewer employees throughout the year are exempt from most of the requirements of the record keeping rules, as are a number of specific industries in the retail, service, finance, insurance and real estate sectors that are

EXPOSURE RECORDS AND OTHERS

2007-07-22T12:21:00.007+07:00

EXPOSURE RECORDS AND OTHERS In addition to injury/illness records, certain OSHA standards require records on the exposure of employees to toxic substances and hazardous exposures, physical examination reports and employment records. As you identify hazards, you will be able to determine whether these requirements apply to your workplace. Your records should be used in conjunction with your

EMPLOYER POSTING

2007-07-22T12:21:00.004+07:00

EMPLOYER POSTING Is the required Job Safety and Health Protection Poster displayed in a prominent location where all employees are likely to see it? Are emergency telephone numbers posted where they can be readily

RECORDKEEPING

2007-07-22T12:20:00.005+07:00

RECORD KEEPING Are occupational injuries or illnesses, except minor injuries requiring only first aid Are employee medical records and records of employee exposure to hazardous substances or harmful physical

SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM

2007-07-22T12:20:00.004+07:00

SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM Do you have an active safety and health program in operation that includes general safety and health program elements as well as the management of hazards specific to your work-site? Is

MEDICAL SERVICES AND FIRST AID

2007-07-22T12:19:00.003+07:00

MEDICAL SERVICES AND FIRST AID Is there a hospital, clinic, or infirmary for medical care near your workplace or is at least one employee on each shift currently qualified to render first aid? Have all

FIRE PROTECTION

2007-07-22T12:18:00.002+07:00

FIRE PROTECTION Is your local fire department familiar with your facility, its location and specific hazards? If you have a fire alarm system, is it certified as required and tested annually? Has the employer determined whether hazards that require the use of PPE (e.g., head, eye, face, hand, or foot protection) are present or are likely to be present? Are all work sites clean, sanitary and orderly? Are work surfaces kept dry and appropriate means taken to assure the surfaces are slip-resistant? Are aisles and passageways kept clear and marked as appropriate? Are wet surfaces covered with non-slip materials? Are holes in the

FLOOR AND WALL OPENINGS

2007-07-22T12:15:00.002+07:00

FLOOR AND WALL OPENINGS Are floor openings guarded by a cover, a guardrail, or equivalent on all sides (except at stairways or ladder entrances)? Are toeboards installed around the edges of permanent floor openings

STAIRS AND STAIRWAYS

2007-07-22T12:14:00.002+07:00

STAIRS AND STAIRWAYS Do standard stair rails or handrails on all stairways have at least four risers? Are all stairways at least 22 inches (55.88 centimeters) wide? Are signs posted, when appropriate, showing the elevated surface load capacity? Are surfaces that are elevated more than 30 inches (76.20 centimeters) provided with standard guardrails? Are all exits marked with an exit sign and illuminated by a reliable light source? Are the directions to exits, when not immediately apparent, marked with visible signs? Are doors that are required to serve as exits designed and constructed so that the path of exit travel is obvious and direct? Are windows that could be mistaken for exit doors made inaccessible by means of

HAND TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

2007-07-22T12:11:00.002+07:00

HAND TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Are all tools and equipment (both company and employee-owned) used at the workplace in good condition? Are hand tools, such as chisels, punches, etc., which develop mushroomed heads during

PORTABLE (POWER OPERATED) TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

2007-07-22T12:10:00.002+07:00

PORTABLE (POWER OPERATED) TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Are grinders, saws and similar equipment provided with appropriate safety guards? Are power tools used with proper shields, guards, or attachments, as recommended by

ABRASIVE WHEEL EQUIPMENT GRINDERS

2007-07-22T12:09:00.002+07:00

ABRASIVE WHEEL EQUIPMENT GRINDERS Is the work rest used and kept adjusted to within 1/8 inch (0.3175 centimeter) of the wheel? Is the adjustable tongue on the top side of the grinder used and kept adjusted to

POWER-ACTUATED TOOLS

2007-07-22T12:08:00.005+07:00

POWER-ACTUATED TOOLS Are employees who operate power-actuated tools trained in their use and required to carry a valid operator’s card? Is each power-actuated tool stored in its own locked container when not being

LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES

2007-07-22T12:08:00.004+07:00

LOCKOUT/TAG OUT PROCEDURES Is all machinery or equipment capable of movement required to be de-energized or disengaged and blocked or locked out during cleaning, servicing, adjusting, or setting up operations?

WELDING, CUTTING AND BRAZING

2007-07-22T12:07:00.002+07:00

WELDING, CUTTING AND BRAZING Are only authorized and trained personnel permitted to use welding, cutting, or brazing equipment? Does each operator have a copy of and follow the appropriate operating instructions?

COMPRESSORS AND COMPRESSED AIR

2007-07-22T12:06:00.002+07:00

COMPRESSORS AND COMPRESSED AIR Are compressors equipped with pressure relief valves and pressure gauges? Are compressor air intakes installed and equipped so as to ensure that only clean, uncontaminated air enters

COMPRESSORS/AIR RECEIVERS

2007-07-22T12:05:00.002+07:00

COMPRESSORS/AIR RECEIVERS Is every receiver equipped with a pressure gauge and one or more automatic, spring-loaded safety valves? Is the total relieving capacity of the safety valve able to prevent pressure in

COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS

2007-07-22T12:04:00.002+07:00

COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS Are cylinders with a water weight capacity over 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) equipped with a means to connect a valve protector device, or with a collar or recess to protect the valve? Are

HOIST AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT

2007-07-22T12:03:00.002+07:00

HOIST AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT Is each overhead electric hoist equipped with a limit device to stop the hook at its highest and lowest point of safe travel? Will each hoist automatically stop and hold any load up

INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS - FORKLIFTS

2007-07-22T12:02:00.002+07:00

INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS - FORKLIFTS Are employees properly trained in the use of the type of industrial truck they operate? Are only trained personnel allowed to operate industrial trucks? Is adequate ventilation provided before spraying operations are started? Is mechanical ventilation provided when spraying operations are performed in enclosed areas? Are confined spaces thoroughly emptied of any corrosive or hazardous substances, such as acids or caustics, before entry? Are all lines to a confined space that contain inert, toxic,

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS

2007-07-22T11:58:00.002+07:00

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS Are all work areas properly illuminated? Are employees instructed in proper first aid and other emergency procedures? Are

FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS

2007-07-22T11:57:00.002+07:00

FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS Are combustible scrap, debris and waste materials (oily rags, etc.) stored in covered metal receptacles and promptly removed from the work site? Is proper storage practiced to

HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

2007-07-22T11:56:00.002+07:00

HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL EXPOSURE Are employees aware of the potential hazards and trained in safe handling practices for situations involving various chemicals stored or used in the workplace such as acids, bases, caustics, epoxies, phenols, etc.? Is there a list of hazardous substances used in your workplace and an MSDS readily available for each hazardous substance used? Is there a current written exposure control plan for

ELECTRICAL

2007-07-22T11:55:00.004+07:00

ELECTRICAL Do you require compliance with OSHA standards for all contract electrical work? Are all employees required to report any obvious hazard to life or property in connection with electrical equipment or

NOISE

2007-07-22T11:54:00.002+07:00

NOISE Are there areas in the workplace where continuous noise levels exceed 85 decibels? Is there an ongoing preventive health program to educate employees in safe levels of noise, exposures, effects of noise on

FUELING

2007-07-22T11:53:00.002+07:00

FUELING Are employees prohibited from fueling an internal combustion engine with a flammable liquid while the engine is running? Are fueling operations performed to minimize spillage? When non portable water is piped through a facility, are outlets or taps posted to alert employees that the water is unsafe and not to be used for drinking, washing, or other personal use? Is there safe clearance for equipment through aisles and doorways? Are aisleways permanently marked and kept clear to allow unhindered passage? Do employees who operate vehicles on public thoroughfares have valid operator’s licenses? When seven or more employees are regularly transported in a van, bus, or truck, is

CONTROL OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

2007-07-22T11:50:00.002+07:00

CONTROL OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCESBY VENTILATION Is the volume and velocity of air in each exhaust system sufficient to gather the dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases to be controlled, and to convey them to a suitable point of

SANITIZING EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING

2007-07-22T11:49:00.002+07:00

SANITIZING EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING Is required personal protective clothing or equipment able to be cleaned and disinfected easily? Are employees prohibited from interchanging personal protective clothing or

TIRE INFLATION

2007-07-22T11:48:00.000+07:00

TIRE INFLATION Where tires are mounted and/or inflated on drop center wheels or on wheels with split rims and/or retainer rings, is a safe practice procedure posted and enforced? Does each tire inflation hose have a