1. Safety Orientation

2. Introduction
This program is designed to help employees recognize and prevent common hazards in the workplace. This program is not a comprehensive training program for each topic covered. Its purpose is to provide an accurate, but brief, overview of the various topics discussed which are listed below:
Safety Attitude
Slips, Trips and Falls
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Back Safety
Personal Protective
Equipment
Hazardous Chemicals
Electrical Safety
Fire Safety
First Aid

3. Safety Attitude:
A positive safety attitude is evident by the behavior of the employee. Recognizing hazards before they occur and taking steps to eliminate those hazards is a good indicator of a positive safety attitude. Employees with positive safety attitudes generally display work behaviors and characteristics such as:
Alertness to their surroundings and the ability to identify hazards and ways to prevent them. They are focused on the task at hand;
Following safety rules and procedures even if it takes a little longer; and
Taking personal responsibility to ensure their safety as well as their co-workers.

4. Safety Attitude:
Employees with a negative safety attitude can often be identified by their work behaviors and work ethic. Some of these behaviors include:
Complacency with work tasks;
Taking unnecessary and unsafe short cuts;
Being distracted by their surroundings and not paying close enough attention to detail;
Not following safety rules and procedures; and
Working while fatigued. They may make
poor choices or a wrong move that could result in injury to themselves or others.

5. Slips, Trips and Falls:
Slips, trips and falls are the most common source of injury in the workplace, but are also the easiest hazards to prevent.
SLIPS - Slips are caused predominately by wet surfaces due to spills.
Not all slips are caused by the surface, but may be caused by employee’s shoes. Employees should wear slip resistant shoes whenever possible, especially when working in areas prone to be wet.
Marking and cleaning up spills immediately will prevent some workplace injuries.

6. Slips, Trips and Falls:
TRIPS - The causes of trips are easily identifiable.
Some are listed below:
An object obstructing the view of an individual’s path;
Hard to see walkways due to poor lighting;
Clutter in the walkway;
Wrinkled carpet;
Uncovered cables crossing the path; and
Uneven walkways (usually in doorways).

7. Slips, Trips and Falls:
Ways to prevent common causes of trips include:
Removing obstacles from walking path;
Keeping work areas well lit. Replacing burned out light bulbs immediately;
Rerouting or properly covering exposed cables that cross pathways; and
Straightening, repairing or removing flooring that is loose.

8. Slips, Trips and Falls:
FALLS - One risks falling when working at any elevation.
Falls can also be the result of slips and trips. There are several things in the workplace that can result in a fall:
Ladders that are damaged, used incorrectly or are on uneven ground;
The improper use of scaffolding; and
Climbing an object without fall protection.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent falling.
Know the correct use of fall prevention equipment;
Never use a ladder or scaffold improperly; and
Repair or discard any defective equipment.

9. Musculoskeletal Disorders:
Musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs, are illnesses which gradually damage muscles, tendons and nerves in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck and back. No job is exempt from the risk of MSDs. Whether it is construction, cashiering, mechanic, lifters, keyboarders or other employment, Musculoskeletal Disorders are commonly caused by:
Repetitive motions;
Awkward working positions;
Long periods of time in one position; and
Use of steady force.

10. Musculoskeletal Disorders:
Many companies use ergonomics to help prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders. Ergonomics is the science of designing and arranging items and equipment people use, so the person and items work together efficiently and safely. Some of the ways employees can help minimize Musculoskeletal Disorders are:
Avoid repetitive motions;
Alternate positions frequently;
Take regular breaks;
Use a power tool instead of a manual tool;
Keep wrists straight rather than bent or flexed; and
Adjust chairs for comfort and good posture.

11. Back Safety:
To minimize the possibility of back injury, you need to practice safe and correct lifting and carrying techniques. Here are some safety guidelines.
Plan Ahead - Before lifting an object, know where it will be placed and clear the path of any obstacles. If lifting with another person, agree on the plan before hand.
Check the Weight - Before you lift or carry an object, check its weight. Pick up a corner or push the object lightly. If the object is too heavy, get help or use a mechanical device. Never lift anything unless you are sure you can do so safely.

12. Back Safety: Lifting the Load –
Stand close to the object with your feet shoulder width apart. This will provide a solid base for lifting.
Keep the back straight and bend at the knees. Never use the back to lift.
Tighten the abdominal muscles. Doing so will help the back stay in a good lifting position and help keep from straining the back.
Lift the object close to the body. This keeps the body stabilized while lifting.
Lift with your legs. The leg muscles are much stronger than the back. Lift straight up, moving slowly. When turning, move your feet. Never twist or turn the back when lifting or carrying a load.

13. Back Safety: Carrying the Load –
Keep the back straight or slightly arched;
Walk slowly keeping the load close to your body;
Use your feet to change directions. Avoid twisting the back;
Avoid leaning over; and
Keep object close to your body and avoid lifting over your head.

14. Back Safety: Setting the Load Down
Stand as close as possible to where you want to set the object;
Squat down to lower the object using your legs. Don’t bend at the waist;
Keep your head up and avoid twisting your body while setting the object down; and
Only release the object when it is located where you want it. To avoid injury don’t release your grip until the object is secured.
Always work with another person when lifting a
heavy object.
Use special equipment whenever possible to move items.

15. Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is an important defense against job-related hazards.
OSHA requires employers to provide employees with the proper PPE needed. It is important for PPE:
To fit properly;
To provide the correct protection;
To be comfortable enough employees will use it and be able to perform the job; and
To be worn properly.
There are many types of PPE. It is important to select the proper PPE necessary to protect employees from specific job hazards.

16. Personal Protective Equipment
Gloves protect the hands from spills, cuts, chemicals and electrical shock. Each hazard requires gloves made from different materials:
cotton fabric for abrasion hazards;
leather for burn hazards;
rubber, neoprene, vinyl or latex for contact with hazardous chemicals & pathogens;
metal mesh for cutting hazards: and
specialty insulated gloves for electrical shock hazards.
Hard hats protect the head from falling objects and bumps. Employees should never wear a metal hard hat when working
with electricity.

17. Personal Protective Equipment
Safety glasses and goggles prevent flying objects, splashes and ultraviolet radiation from damaging the eyes.
Protective clothing, such as aprons, protects employees from chemical spills, heat and sparks.
Boots and safety shoes prevent foot injuries from falling objects, punctures, wet floors, electrical shock and heat.
Ear plugs help protect the ears from high, intense and loud noises.
Respirators protect employees from inhaling harmful dusts, gases and chemical mists.

18. Personal Protective Equipment
PPE must always be properly maintained to ensure continued protection.
Always check PPE for damage before and after it is used.
Clean the PPE before it is put away.
Dispose of any single use PPE in the proper place.
Avoid storing PPE in a place that could damage it due to heat, light, moisture, etc.

19. Hazardous Chemicals
Chemical exposure may contribute to or cause many serious health problems and many chemicals are also serious safety hazards. Employees have a right to understand the hazards and the identities of the chemicals to which they are exposed. The following steps are necessary to ensure the safety of all employees:
A list of all hazardous chemicals must be kept in the workplace or at the jobsite and must be kept current;
Safety Data Sheets must be obtained for each hazardous chemical. The Safety Data Sheet is a standardized, 16-section, detailed information bulletin prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a chemical which describes the chemical;
Each chemical must be properly labeled;

20. Hazardous Chemicals
A written hazard communication program covering the list of chemicals, use of labels, Safety Data Sheets and employee training must be established and implemented;
Chemical hazard information must be communicated to all employees; and
Equipment and training concerning protective measures to prevent exposure to chemicals and reduce the risk of working with hazardous chemicals, must be provided.

21. Hazardous Chemicals When dealing with chemicals employees should:
take training seriously and pay attention;
read labels and Safety Data Sheets;
know where to find the Safety Data Sheets;
use appropriate PPE;
know correct emergency procedures; and
use safe work habits.
For consumer products such as window cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and dishwashing liquid, when used in the same manner and with the same duration and frequency that a normal household consumer would use them at home, employees should follow the safety guidelines printed on the container.

22. Electrical Safety
Many workers are unaware of the potential electrical hazards present in their work environment. A variety of possible solutions may be implemented to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury associated with electrical work. To manage electricity safely:
Examine all cords and plugs routinely. Do not use damaged equipment and report damaged equipment to your supervisor.
Report all shocks immediately to your supervisor – even tingles.
Never work around electricity when you or your surroundings are wet.

23. Electrical Safety
Keep cords away from heat and water. Don’t run cords across walkways, under rugs or through doorways.
Don’t use damaged outlets or adapters that let you plug extra cords into an outlet.
Don’t use any electrical device that blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, shocks or appears damaged.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using electrical equipment.

24. Fire Safety
Fire hazards are present everywhere. Prevention is the best defense against this hazard. Your employer is required to have a fire prevention plan that, at a minimum, includes:
A list of major fire hazards, proper handling and storage procedures, potential fire sources & their control and the type of equipment needed to control each major hazard;
Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste material;
Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment to prevent the accidental ignition of combustible materials;

25. Fire Safety
The name or job title of employees responsible for maintenance on equipment used to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires; and
The name or job title of employees responsible for control of fuel source hazards.
You should know how to use the fire alarm
installed in your workplace, as well as the
locations of all extinguishers.

26. Fire Safety Different classes of fires:
Class A fires are the most common. They usually ignite from wood, paper, rubber, plastic or cloth;
Class B fires are caused by flammable liquids, gases and grease;
Class C fires start from electrical current;
Class D fires involve flammable metals including sodium, titanium, magnesium, potassium and lithium; and
Class K fires are a sub-category of Class B fires and typically burn at a higher temperature Involves cooking and vegetable oils, grease and fats.

27. Fire Safety Different fires require different extinguishing agents.
Water - use on Class A only, removes heat
Dry Chemical - use on A, B or C, inhibits chemical reaction
Wet Chemical - developed specifically for use on Class K fires. Extinguishes fire by forming soapy foam blanket over burning liquid and cooling temps to below its ignition point Can sometimes be used on Class B and C fires.
Carbon Dioxide – use on B or C, removes oxygen from the fire. Ineffective on Class A fires because the fire can continue to smolder and possibly reignite. Also the high-pressure discharge can cause the burning materials to scatter with a Class A fire.
Halogenated or Clean Agent – used mainly on Class C fires, but can also be used on Class A and B fires, as well. These types of extinguishers also remove the oxygen from the fire.

28. Fire Safety Metl-X – use on D
Foam – use on Class A and B fires only. There are different types of Foam Extinguishers and you need to be aware of which type you are using and its proper use and limitations. Foam holds down the vapors and is mostly for professional use.
During a fire emergency you should remember the four A's:
- Activate the fire alarm or contact 911;
- Assist others in exiting the building;
- Attempt to extinguish; and
- Assemble in a predetermined location outside of the building.

29. Fire Safety Only attempt to extinguish a fire when:
The fire is small and contained;
You are safe from toxic smoke;
You have a means of escape; and
Your instincts tell you it is OK.
You must know how to use an extinguisher before attempting to extinguish a fire. Make sure you are using the correct extinguisher or it could actually spread the fire. Use the PASS system:
Pull the pin by the handle;
Aim the hose of the extinguisher at the base of the fire;
Squeeze the trigger; and
Sweep from side to side.

30. First Aid
First aid is limited care for an illness or injury until trained medical attention can arrive. Not all injuries require higher levels of treatment.
Be prepared:
Know the locations of all first aid kits;
Know the location of the nearest eye wash and emergency shower; and
Know who is CPR certified in your department.
The “3 P's” of first aid:
Preserve life;
Prevent injury; and
Promote recovery.

31. First Aid Know what to do in an emergency. Call for medical help.
Know the phone number to be contacted.
Know the type of injury.
Know the location of victim.
Check to see if victim is breathing.
If necessary, move victim from danger.
Report every incident to your employer. The accident will then be investigated to help prevent it from happening again.

32. Conclusion
You should always have a positive safety attitude and promote safety in your workplace.
Maintain a clean work environment to prevent slips, trips and falls.
Always wear the proper PPE required by your employer.
Follow all your employer's safety rules and procedures.
Always pay close attention to safety training.
Ask your supervisor, if you have any questions about equipment or procedures.
This program was a brief introduction to a variety of workplace subjects. Your employer will provide in-depth safety training on these and other significant hazards in your workplace,
as necessary.