Safety and Health matters to Local 400 members!
When an accident occurs in the workplace everyone likes to point out what the employee was doing wrong, as if somehow, we come into work with the attitude of “let’s see how bad I can injure myself today.” Time away from work while recovering from an injury is no picnic. That’s why Local 400 has developed this page to provide you with helpful tips to keep safety on your side.
Tip 1:
After completing numerous spot safety checks in grocery stores located in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, one thing stands out more than the rest. The safety covers on the film wrapping machines that are used in several departments throughout the store are often cut, cracked or covered in residue. The safety cover is often mistaken to protect the user’s hands from the heat when the film is melted down, but in reality it is there to prevent the user when sealing a package from breathing in the fumes from the burning film. In a time weighted average prolonged exposure to these fumes could cause cancer. So be sure to protect yourself and your coworkers. When you notice a safety cover that is worn let your manager know so they can put in an order. Why take the chance? Click here for a picture of what a film wrapping machine pad should NOT look like.
Tip 2: Accident Investigation Checklist
Remember the
Who What When Where How Why
Who:
- happened
- company property was damaged
- evidence was found
- was done to secure the accident scene
- was done to prevent the recurrence of the accident
- tool were being used
- was the employee told to do
- machine was involved
- operation was being performed
- instructions had been given
- precautions were necessary
- protective equipment shoul dhave been used
- did others do to contribute to the accident
- did witnesses see
- safety rules were lacking
- new safety rules or procedures are needed
- did the accident happen
- was it discovered
- was the accident reported
- did the eomployee begin the taks
- were the hazards pointed out to the eployee
- did the supervisor last check the eomployees progress
- did the accident happen
- was the employees supervisor when the accident occurred
- were co-workers when the accident occurred
- does this condition exist elsewhere in the facility
- is the evidence of the investigation going to be kept
- did the accident happen
- was the accident discovered
- were employees injured
- was the equipment damaged
- could the accident have been avoided
- could the supervisor have prevented the accident from happening
- could co-workers avoid similar accidents
