Workplace Safety Risk Management Key Terms

Knowing workplace safety risk management terminology helps organizations provide a safe work environment

Risk management is the process an organization takes to assess potential risks of injury to employees in the workplace, identifying what measures can reduce or eliminate those risks, implementing those measures into the operations of the organization, providing safety training and continually monitoring the program.

Resources to assist organizations with their workplace safety risk management program include OSHA Regulations; Health Hazard Evaluations; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluations; and Material Safety Data Sheets that are readily available should a situation occur.

 

Risk management

Workplace safety risk management involves the measures taken by an organization such as training, issuance of safety equipment and implementation of operating procedures to reduce the possibility of injury to employees.
Try: The Quantum Risk Management site offers newsletters on various risk management safety topics. You can get a better feel for the types of issues surrounding risk management by visiting the site.

OSHA Regulations

The Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 29 Part 1910 pertains to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Items addressed include the use and specifications of equipment such as ladders, scaffolding and man lifts; the issuance of personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, feet and respiratory system; noise exposure; planning for escape in the case of a fire; hazardous materials; fire protection, materials handling and storage and toxic and hazardous substances.
Try: Refer to the Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 29 Part 1910 for more information regarding OSHA standards.

Health Hazard Evaluations

Health Hazard Evaluations assess if there are potential chemical exposures or health hazards such as exposure to asbestos or other materials in the workplace that may be harmful to one's health.
Try: Contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for information on having a Health Hazard Evaluation conducted at your facility.

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluations

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluations (FACE) investigates fatal occupational injuries. FACE consists of two elements: in-house and state-based. In-house FACE involves states voluntarily notifying the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of work-related deaths due to causes such as machinery, electrocutions, falls in confined spaces and work zone fatalities, while state-based FACE involves agreements between state health or labor departments and NIOSH to work on monitoring and preventing fatalities.
Try: Contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for more information regarding the FACE program.

Workplace safety and health

Workplace safety and health involves addressing issues such as hazards and exposures that may cause injury or illness to employees. Examples of hazards and exposures that organizations have to address and protect their employees from include asbestos, chemicals, noise, hazardous materials and biohazardous materials. Depending on the type of work an individual performs, physical ailments that employees are susceptible to include carpal tunnel syndrome, heat stress, Lyme disease and musculoskeletal disorders.
Try: Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information relating to workplace safety and health.

Material Safety Data Sheets

Material Safety Data Sheets provide information such as manufacturers of a product, emergency phone numbers, hazardous ingredients contained in the product, physical and information about potential hazards and how to clean up any accidents. Having Material Safety Data Sheets onsite and available to employees enables them to respond appropriately should an incident occur with a chemical.
Try: Obtain Material Safety Data Sheets for products used by your organization from 3E or MSDSXchange.

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