Workplace safety begins with education and awareness for everyone involved. We watch for hazards or potentially dangerous situations but sometimes we become comfortable with our work routine. This is where signs, labels, and tags play an important role. They act as visual reminders to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe work practices. OSHA has created guidelines for safety signage with its 29 CFR 1910.145 rule. These rules cover all of the specific requirements that will help you comply with the law and protect your workers. Even after determining what signs you need, knowing where to place them can sometimes be confusing. Let's take a brief look at 4 helpful hints that will help you place your signs, labels, and tags.
1. Know when to use safety signs, labels, and tags.
Instruction Signs - should provide instruction or safety suggestions to employees. They should be placed wherever they can help a worker perform their duties safely.
Caution signs - are designed to warn employees of potential hazards or used as reminders against unsafe work practices.
Danger Signs - indicate an immediate danger. They require employees to take special precautions to protect themselves against this potential hazard.
3. Make sure the signs, labels, and tags are visible
OSHA requires that single-word signs like "Caution" should be readable from at least five feet away. Tucking a sign in the corner away from the hazard doesn't help anyone. The intended purpose of signs according to OSHA says they are to... "be used as a means to prevent accidental injury or illness to employees who are exposed to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions, equipment or operations which are out of the ordinary, unexpected or not readily apparent. Tags shall be used until the identified hazard is eliminated or the hazardous operation is completed." So, the purpose of signs, labels, and tags is to prevent accidents, warn, or make aware of hazards, or unsafe work practices. Be sure to post signs according to the requirements of their type as mentioned in point #2 above. This will help employees comply and protect themselves.
4. Ensure the sign, label or tag will not cause a hazard
As obvious as this may sound, it is a very important point to mention. Placing a sign where it can interfere with other warnings or even cause a hazard itself must be avoided at all costs. Other hazards signage can cause are cuts, scrapes, splinters, blind corners, and more because of the sharp corners or edges of the signage. Traffic areas can also be negatively affected when a sign blocks the view of an intersection where a forklift driver or pedestrian may be.
As mentioned above, reading the OSHA standard is important. We also wrote an article "What kind of safety signs do I need for my business?". Take a look at that article to get you pointed in the right direction.
MFASCO Health & Safety Signs for the Workplace to Protect Your Team
Safety signs do more than help businesses pass inspections. A single poster can stop injuries and lawsuits, but seemingly simple concepts like placement, size, and design play a huge role in this prevention. Below are options for signs and to-the-point articles, so you can get the most out of your posters in just a few minutes.
Safety Signs serve very specific and very important tasks. They alert us to danger, warn us of potential hazards, and caution us to be safe. With the right signage and proper procedure, many workplace accidents and injuries can be avoided. The key is finding the right signs for your workplace.
What does OSHA require in workplace signage?
OSHA has three main classifications of signs to be used in the workplace: Danger, Warning, and Caution. Each sign is used for a specific purpose and each comes with its own severity level.
Danger: Danger signs are used in areas with the highest level of risk. OSHA states that Danger signs indicate an immediate danger and special precautions are required to avoid serious injury or even loss of life. These signs are only to be used in the most severe of cases. OSHA requires that Danger signs be white with red or black lettering or diagrams.
Warning: Warning signs are typically used in areas where potential hazards are not quite as immediate or severe as those found in areas requiring danger signs. While the potential for serious injury or death may occur, the danger is less imminent than in those areas that require danger signs. OSHA requires that these signs be on an orange or white background with black lettering or diagrams.
Caution: The Last of the three main classifications is Caution. Caution signs are used to highlight areas of potential concern that could result in minor to moderate injury. While the possibility of catastrophic injury or death is not present, these signs provide notice to remain safe in the area. OSHA requires these signs to have a yellow or white background with black lettering or a diagram.
Importance of what safety signs can do in the workplace.
Safety signs in the workplace help keep workers safe and working, but they can serve different purposes as well. While safety is paramount, signs can also work as a guide to navigate the working environment. Notice signs, for instance, share important information and guidelines to follow. They can instruct those present that hearing protection is required or the need for hard hats and eye protection. Signs can aid in fire safety or provide directions to customers, clients, or delivery people. Finally, signs can help to bridge a language barrier. Signs with graphics as well as text are very common in the workplace and they allow those who cannot speak the language to understand the signs' intended meaning.
Some important things to consider
Learn what signs might be appropriate for the workplace. Contact a reputable retailer with any questions or concerns.
Place all signs in the necessary areas visible to workers without causing an impediment.
Make sure all employees know the proper procedures and guidelines and most importantly follow them.
Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal a significant number of workplace injuries each year. Having readily available, top-rated first-aid kits enables an immediate response to a workplace accident.
Investing in top-rated, OSHA-compliant first-aid kits goes beyond just checking a box. These kits elevate your workplace safety culture by showcasing your commitment to employee well-being and nurturing a sense of security.
The Importance of OSHA Compliance and First-Aid Kits
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal agency, tasked with ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for all employees. OSHA achieves this by setting and enforcing comprehensive workplace safety standards. One of these standards concerns the availability and contents of first-aid kits.
OSHA regulations require employers to provide "medical and first-aid services" that are "adequate for the number of employees and the type of work being performed." While the specific contents of a first-aid kit aren't rigidly mandated, OSHA does outline general guidelines. These typically include essential supplies like bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and eye wash stations. More importantly, OSHA emphasizes the need for these kits to be readily available throughout the workplace.
Non-compliance with OSHA’s first aid kit requirements can lead to hefty fines and penalties, depending on the severity of the violation. But more importantly, it exposes your employees to unnecessary risks.
MFASCO Workplace First Aid Kits for Workplace Compliance
MFASCO offers a variety of workplace first-aid kits designed to meet OSHA standards. Our construction first aid kit contains all of the necessary supplies to meet the new Z308.1-2021 ANSI/OSHA Workplace first aid kit standard for a class A first aid kit; perfect for your construction job site. We've assembled and arranged the first aid supplies in a 4-panel clear bag to make it easier for you to find the supplies you need when minor emergencies happen.
Additional Compliance: Some kits might even include extras like biohazard clean-up kits or personal protective equipment (PPE) to address potential bloodborne pathogens. OSHA Complete Compliance First Aid Kit Red Bag
Choosing the Right First-Aid Kit for Your Jobsite
Every workplace and job site is unique with different safety risks and safety needs. The key to maximizing job site safety is tailoring your first-aid kit selection to the specific needs and potential hazards of your job site environment.
Office environments might benefit from a smaller kit stocked with basic supplies like bandages, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers. Construction sites with a higher risk of cuts, burns, and sprains would require a more comprehensive kit, potentially including eye wash stations, splints, and insect bite treatments.
Beyond Compliance: The Benefits of Top-Rated First-Aid Kits
Proactive Approach: Investing in top-rated first-aid kits signifies a proactive approach to workplace safety, and sends a message that employee health is a priority.
Faster Response Times: Easy-to-access kits ensure faster response times in case of minor emergencies, minimizing downtime and potential complications.
High-Quality Supplies: Top-rated kits often contain higher-quality supplies with longer shelf lives, ensuring effectiveness when needed.
Ease of Use: Clear labeling and easy-to-follow instructions make first-aid kits accessible to everyone, regardless of language proficiency.
When choosing first-aid kits, prioritize essential supplies for common job site injuries, ensure easy access with strategic placement throughout the workplace, and opt for clear labeling and durable, weatherproof containers for universal usability and long-lasting effectiveness.
Preventing cumulative trauma disorder begins with understanding what it is and how it occurs. Known as CTD, this disorder happens when excessive wear to the joints, muscles, and tendons occurs over time. The micro-injuries happen over and over, slowly wounding the worker. Eventually, enough injury has taken place, symptoms like swelling, aches, and pain begin to appear. Improper ergonomic body positioning and repetitive job tasks are the most common causes of cumulative trauma injuries. It isn't just assembly or production workers who are at risk, office workers are also exposed to these types of injuries. In order to reduce or eliminate cumulative trauma disorder in the workplace, employers and employees should evaluate their job tasks and identify potential risks. The four most common factors that contribute to these injuries are:
Over flexion or extension (bending)
Unnatural body positioning
Repetitive movement
Strain or force applied during the task
The good news is all of these risks can be reduced. If you stand at a workstation assembling parts or if you are seated at a desk typing, pay close attention to the following points. Some of them are simple and can be applied immediately. Others may require some engineering or modification to the way the task is completed.
Pay attention to posture
Adjust the height of your workstation to reduce over-extending arms or back
Move monitors or other visual tools so your head and neck are positioned in a neutral state
Take short breaks to stretch and de-stress the body.
Use ergonomically designed tools to promote proper body positioning during the task
Use braces and supports to help limit over-flexion or overextension in the body
Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Using the tips above and incorporating simple changes to the workplace are all contributors to preventing cumulative trauma disorders. Raising the height of a chair or workstation offers surprising results. Bringing the work task closer to the worker's body is another common fix. While not the first choice, even protective gear and ergonomic supports can help reduce further injury.
As always, talk with your doctor about your work task and the risks you encounter. Also, consider adopting a healthy lifestyle. It can't hurt. If your company has a safety representative, talk with them about any concerns you may have with your workstation and work together to make improvements. Happy and healthy employees are generally more productive and preventing cumulative trauma injuries should be a common goal.
MFASCO Health & Safety CTD Prevention, Protection, and Resources
Many jobs demand repetitive movements for hours, and the human body eventually wears down. This means prioritizing the health and safety of your team members is critical for long-term success. Since recovery from CTD often requires weeks or months of not doing the job that caused the injury, prevention is the only meaningful approach to CTD. Help your team and help your numbers with this protective gear and list of additional information.
Bright Orange Color is Perfect for First Responders
Exceptional Windlass System
Great Addition to Any Bleeding Control Or Trauma Kits
Sold Individually
Add to a List
This combat application tourniquet (CAT) is the original tourniquet used by the military and first responders to stop blood flow during medical emergencies. CAT Tourniquet, generation 7 combines a durable windlass system with a patented free-moving internal band that provides better pressure to extremities to greatly reduce the blood flow. It also features NAR's signature Red Tip Technology® with helpful visual clues during application.
The bright orange is the preferred color for emergency medical personnel and first responders. Sold Each.
Accidents happen in the workplace every day. Having a first aid kit that is stocked and ready to use. Most of us will have an old first aid kit that has not been restocked in ages so today we are providing 3 examples of a first aid reorder list. Regardless of the box or container you are using, these first aid reorder checklists will help you update and restock your kit in no time.
Reorder List #1 - Basic First Aid Kit List OSHA uses the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recommended list as a minimum example which includes:
The ANSI requirement offers a great starting point for any first aid kit. The ANSI Z308.1=2009 minimum required items are:
(1) First Aid Guide
(1) Absorbent Compress 4" X 8" minimum
(16) 1 X 3 Adhesive Bandages
(1) Adhesive Tape 2.5 yard roll
(10) Antiseptic Treatment Applications 0.9 Grams each
Reorder List #3 - Basic Outdoor First Aid Kit Reorder List This is a basic outdoor first aid kit contents list you can easily refill. We have the complete Outdoor Kit refill here.
6 antibiotic ointment
6-antiseptic towelettes
6-alcohol pads
6-hand sanitizer packets
3-sting x pads
20 plastic bandages
10-cloth bandages
4-xlarge bandages
4-knuckle bandages
4 fingertip bandages
6 gauze pads 2'' x 2''
6-gauze pads 3'' x 3''
6-gauze pads 4'' x 4''
2-oval eye pads
Electrolyte Tablets Packet
Sunscreen Packet
Lip Guard Packet
Sting Relief Packet
Diphen Tablet Packet
Ivy Cleanse Towelette
Bug X Towelettes
Cool Jel Packet
More Custom Reorder Lists
If you want to create your own custom reorder list, MFASCO Health & Safety offers some great refill tools including:
Make A Kit- (create your own custom first aid kit online with this state-of-the-art tool)
ReStockKit (a visual reorder list for industrial first aid kits)
Reorder Lists - This is where all saved lists are stored. You can create a custom Reorder List by adding individual items to a saved list you create. You must be signed in to use this feature.
Refill This Kit (All of the first aid kits we make include a fast and easy-to-use reorder list)
MFASCO Health & Safety Tools Make First Aid Reorder Lists Fast and Simple
Most people have enough on their plate already, so updating first aid kits has to be a streamlined process. The alternative is the task gets pushed off, and eventually an accident turns into a catastrophic situation. MFASCO doesn’t just provide health and safety products; we offer easy-to-use services that make tasks like first aid reorders simple and cost-effective. That way you can spend more time on other tasks knowing you’re prepared and safe.
No workplace first aid program should be without a comprehensive training program. It isn't enough to hang a first aid kit on the wall and let everyone know it is there. If you're trying to figure out how to get a program started or improve the one you have, OSHA offers a guide to best practices of a workplace first aid program as a helpful resource. In this fourth article on workplace first aid, we focus on the basic elements of a comprehensive first-aid training program including teaching methods, being prepared, assessment, responding, and refresher courses.
Workplace First Aid Teaching Methods
Everyone learns best by hearing, seeing, and doing. Putting the knowledge and skills learned from a comprehensive first aid training program into practice is critical. Reading a book and taking a test does not address what it will be like in real life. Including knowledge and skills practice in training will ensure a well-rounded learning experience. Trainees should learn about acute injury and illness as well as the correct response through using visual aids and actually practice those newly learned skills with training partners. As always, a good course book and resource materials will help trainees retain information. Allowing ample time for training and discussion helps promote confidence for all participants. Training should not only emphasize skills training and confidence-building but also quick response to any first aid situation.
Being Prepared to Respond
Being ready to respond is one of the most important aspects of a comprehensive workplace first aid training program. Not only are we to find ways to prevent accidents from happening but when they do occur, we must be ready to act quickly. The workplace first aid program should include coordinating a response with the local EMS. They should know you are organized and prepared to respond while they are on their way. Keeping a current list of phone numbers for all local emergency response agencies available for everyone is important. Each first aid responder should also understand the legal aspects of giving care. Check with your state legislation's Good Samaritan Law which deals with the liability issues that may be of concern. Training to respond also includes knowing the effects of stress, fear, and panic and how they affect response performance. Lastly, being prepared to respond includes understanding the importance of practicing universal precautions for all responses that deal with bodily fluids. This will help prepare the responder to be an effective resource in case of a first aid emergency.
Assessing the scene & victim
Workplace first aid training should teach the responder to be aware of the safety hazards in the environment where the accident has occurred. Running into a place where live electrical wires or other life-threatening hazards still exist will only cause more injuries. Determining how many are injured and who needs care first are all part of assessment. Calling for help and notifying emergency authorities is also included as part of a proper emergency response training procedure. Assessment continues to take place throughout the emergency response. The responder is constantly monitoring the environment to determine whether to move the victim to a safer area, preventing additional injuries.
Responding to Emergencies
A comprehensive first aid training program should be designed to address the needs of that specific worksite. Further training may be needed if or when changes are made to work processes or the environment. Responding to victims always includes calling for help, checking for responsiveness, maintaining an open airway, performing CPR if necessary, using an AED, recognizing signs of shock, monitoring changes in responsiveness, controlling bleeding, and watching for other medical complications including stroke, heart attack, pain, impaled objects, pregnancy complications, seizures and more. This is where professional training from a reputable organization is valuable.
Refresher Courses to maintain skills and knowledge
Workplace first aid training will only remain effective when there are regular refresher courses offered. Annual certification and regular skill and drill runs are recommended. With the support of all workers and management, first aid training adds another layer of health and safety to the workplace.