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 it's 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 you determine what signs you need, knowing where to place them can sometimes be a little confusing. Let's take a brief look at 4 helpful hints that will help you place your signs, labels, and tags.
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 work place accidents and injuries can be avoided. The key is finding the right signs for your work place.
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 a 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 those areas that require danger signs. OSHA requires that these signs be 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 have a yellow or white background with black lettering or diagram.
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 work station offer surprising results. Bringing the work task closer to the workers 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.
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.
The ANSI requirement offers a great starting point for any first aid kit. The ANSI Z308.1=2009 minimum required items are:
ANSI also recommends supplies like these:
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 First Aid 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)
First Aid Kit Refills (we offer complete refills for many of our 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)
First Aid Products & Accessories MFASCO's Make a Kit ToolComplete First Aid Kit Refill Packs Reorder Lists for First Aid Kits
Additional Resources for Reordering First Aid Kits & Supplies How to Inspect First Aid Kits Top 8 First Aid Kit Types What is in a First Aid Kit? Essential First Aid Kit Supply List