Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/666889
26 PalletCentral • March-April 2016 palletcentral.com workplaces are not static environments. Whenever new equipment, substances or procedures are introduced, changes may be needed and retraining will also be required. Hazard recognition requires a team approach: supervisors, experienced employees and also new workers should be involved. Top management must also buy into the process, and commit the resources necessary (personnel and monetary) to ensure that identified hazards that require engineering fixes can be addressed in a timely manner. If an audit identifies problems, and they have been addressed before OSHA shows up, no citations will be issued for the previously identified conditions. Remember, once you start down the road to hazard identification, you can't "back up." Knowledge of the hazards identified in your audits will be imputed to management, and uncorrected conditions that violate the law can be cited as willful violations. A proactive, ongoing process to identifying and addressing hazards is a core element of SHMP, whereas failure to recognize hazards is a common root cause of workplace incidents. Safety and health management programs that are based on hazard identification and elimination can save both dollars and lives. PC Adele L. Abrams is an attorney and safety professional who represents companies in litigation with OSHA and also provides safety training and consultation. The Law Office of Adele L. Abrams PC has three offices: Beltsville, MD; Denver, CO; and Charleston, WV. Adele can be reached at 301-595-3520 or www.safety-law.com. SAFETY The employer should also consider how employees, contractors and visitors could be harmed, and it is helpful to ask employees what they consider hazardous.