Fall injuries are extremely prevalent in the workplace and one of the most frequently cited OSHA violations, and yet ladders are still used incorrectly on a far-too-regular basis. Being a safety manager is already one of the toughest jobs out there, facing the daily challenge of balancing a team getting the job done quickly and getting the job done safely. How are environmental health and safety professionals supposed to engage their teams about fall protection and ladder safety when they have heard the same spiel dozens or even hundreds of times before? Luckily, the internet is a wonderful place filled with resources ready to help out busy EHS professionals.
[su_heading size=”18″ align=”left”]NIOSH Ladder Safety App[/su_heading]
These days, people are already attached to their phones. Why not equip them with a little bit of safety power? Available on Google Play and the App Store, the NIOSH Ladder Safety App advises on how to set up a ladder using visual and auditory cues. It also comes fully equipped with reference materials, safety guidelines, checklists, and more.
[su_heading size=”18″ align=”left”]Online Health & Safety Trainings[/su_heading]
There are some wonderful online health and safety trainings out there, and it is not a far stretch of the imagination to find free ladder safety training modules. The American Ladder Institute offers a small library of free trainings that cover several kinds of ladders and ladder safety that would be an excellent introductory or refresher course for employees. If you are looking for an online learning system that’s a bit more in-depth, stay tuned for updates on TriMedia University.
[su_heading size=”18″ align=”left”]Online fresh Toolbox Safety Discussions[/su_heading]
Sick of the same-old-same-old toolbox discussions every morning? A quick Google search can dig up dozens of sites that offer outlines for toolbox discussions you might consider implementing into your daily routine. Who knows, your team might thank you for hearing, “We’re going to try something a little different today.” We happened upon a Stepladder Safety Toolbox Talk from Alliance that comes complete with true/false questions, diagrams, and tons of facts – a great example to start brainstorming your next toolbox talk.
[su_heading size=”18″ align=”left”]OSHA Stop Falls Poster[/su_heading]
Looking for a more passive and persistent message to broadcast? OSHA has some great resources available on their website, including this Stop Falls poster. The simple yet powerful message is something that will resonate with workers every time they pass by. It also includes a subtle reminder for employers: “Plan ahead to get the job done safely. Provide the right equipment. Train everyone to use the equipment safely.” Sound advice, if you ask us.
[su_heading size=”18″ align=”left”]Ladder Safety Infographics[/su_heading]
Infographics are still running ramped around the internet and are extremely easy to pass along to your team in emails. They provide bite-sized pieces of information in a visual way, making it the perfect vessel for busy crews and leaders. We were not convinced safety infographics were easy to come by, but another Google search proved us wrong yet again. Creative Safety Publishing has a great collection of infographics, including this one on Ladder Safety.
These are just a few of the free online resources at your disposal to take a break from the norm. Also be sure to visit OSHA’s National Safety Stand Down website for some great resources from participants and join in on the conversation on Twitter using #StandDown4Safety.
What creative solutions do you use to communicate fall prevention information to your teams? Let us know in the comments section!