We have a year’s worth of focus points for you, whether you need topics for your safety committee meetings or you simply want to up your workplace safety game.
What follows is only the very top of the iceberg. Visit saif. com/safety for a library of resources, webinars, and classroom training.
SAIF is Oregons not-for-profit workers compensation insurance company. By emphasizing workplace safety, we have been taking care of injured workers, assisting people in returning to work, and lowering rates since 1914. To make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work, we work with our partners.
JANUARY
| Plan your year
Taking stock of your safety and health program at the beginning of the year is a great idea. Is your safety committee organized, does it meet frequently to discuss pertinent issues, and is it effective at removing hazards and assisting employees in staying safe?
Our safety talking points provide timely and pertinent topics for safety committee meetings, such as heat safety, emergency preparedness, and quitting smoking.
FEBRUARY | Focus on workers’ mental health
Job stress can lead to poor health and even injury. Find out what causes job stress and how to deal with it. Recognize the symptoms of ongoing stress and the effects it may have on your staff and business.
Explore these resources to learn how to change your organization to promote a psychologically healthy workplace.
A healthy employee is less likely to be injured. Visit saif. com/twh to learn more about how to promote employee wellbeing.
MARCH | Prevent falls in Ladder Safety Month
When working at a height, whether it be to change a lightbulb, reach items on a high shelf, or paint a building, ladders are the “go-to” tool. Selecting the appropriate ladder for the task is only the first step.
You can reduce the hazards by using these best practices. Along with a list of what not to do, you’ll find a wealth of information on how to inspect, set up, use, transport, store, and maintain your ladder.
APRIL | Stay safe in the kitchen
These fundamental rules could prevent common injuries like muscle strains, cuts, and burns whether you’re a seasoned chef or working your first job in a commercial kitchen.
MAY | Work comfortably and safely
It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money to improve the ergonomics in your office. Learn how to adjust your keyboard, mouse, monitor, office chair, and more. You can also get advice on good posture and injury avoidance.
JUNE | Protect your workers from heat, dehydration
When the weather is too hot, workers can suffer. Heat-related illnesses can be avoided by gradually exposing oneself to the heat, using a buddy system, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking frequent breaks.
Encourage wearing appropriate clothing and sunscreen that blocks UV rays to lessen exposure to the sun. Test your knowledge with our sun safety quiz. Browse more resources here.
JULY | Prepare for wildfire smoke
Risky smoke spreads far beyond the fire lines, endangering residents and businesses. Learn how you and your employees can be better prepared.
AUGUST | Use the right tool for the job: PPE
Protecting yourself or your workers shouldn’t be an afterthought. Hard hats, safety glasses, and respirators are examples of personal protective equipment that helps reduce exposure to illnesses and injuries.
Be ready for emergencies both at work and at home in September.
There is no better time than the present to begin emergency planning. Make sure your family, home, and place of business are prepared for whatever may come because you never know when a disaster may strike.
OCTOBER | Control the spread of infectious disease
Infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, the common cold, or the flu, are a constant workplace concern. You can take action to manage infection and lessen the likelihood that your staff will become ill.
Some of our recommendations include encouraging good hand hygiene, frequently wiping down surfaces, and wearing the appropriate PPE. For more, see our infectious disease resources.
NOVEMBER | Winter is coming. Make a plan and reduce cold-weather injuries.
Due to the icy and slippery conditions, slips, trips, and falls increase during the winter. Having an effective plan for communicating with employees during bad weather, setting up a snow/ice mitigation team, and teaching staff about appropriate footwear are all ways to prevent injuries.
DECEMBER | 10 ways to reduce slips, trips, and falls
The second-leading cause of accidental deaths after motor vehicles is slips, trips, and falls. Here are some tips for avoiding trips, slips, and falls at work:
…
Workplace safety meeting topics
- Building security. …
- Lifting heavy objects. …
- Reducing slips. …
- Stacking. …
- Equipment. …
- Stress and burnout. …
- Heat exhaustion. …
- Fire safety.
10 Quick and Easy Safety Meeting Topic Ideas
Follow The Latest Safety Procedures
You must be familiar with the new safety procedures and safety topics for work related to the change, whether your company updates safety procedures or just purchases new equipment.
For example, just in October 2020, (OSHA) issued temporary guidance on enforcement of initial and annual fit-testing requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard for Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). Enforcement discretion for this specific protocol is limited to healthcare personnel or other workers engaged in high- or very high-exposure-risk activities, but it’s important that every employee will receive all the safety updates and explanations regarding new regulations.
TIP: Ensure you comprehend the new protocol completely and seek clarification by asking questions. You can receive training updates instantly through a mobile training app, and your manager can design a quiz to make sure you comprehend the changes.
There are workplace safety and handling guidelines in place to keep your employees safe, particularly when using heavy machinery. The use of each tool and machine must be done in accordance with the instructions; taking shortcuts will only result in injury and are not worth the few seconds they may save. Be sure to use the appropriate tool in the appropriate manner.
It is your moral and legal responsibility, as an employer or employee manager, to ensure that the working environment is safe and that each employee has received the appropriate training before beginning their actual work. Because of this, spending the time and money on a thorough workplace safety training program can help you avoid churn, sick days, and medical insurance costs in the long run, saving you a lot of money and gray hair.
Research from Toronto’s Institute for Work & Health shows that workers who had been at a job for a month or less had three times the risk of suffering a lost-time injury compared to those who had been at a job for over a year.
Additionally, a lack of experience can lead to a new worker not fully understanding or evaluating risks while on the clock, thus putting new employees and those around them at additional risk.
Follow through on your responsibilities to make the workplace safe, or you run the risk of expensive lawsuits, high turnover, and a damaged reputation. (I know this is a little harsh, but workplace safety is not something to take lightly. ).
Taking regular breaks is not just required by OSHA but it’s just common sense too. The entire reason that OSHA included the regular breaks is common sense, when workers are tired, they’re more prone to incidents because awareness of their surroundings is hampered by exhaustion. Taking breaks on a regular schedule helps keep employees fresh and alert.
With the help of an employee scheduling app, you can automate reminders to your staff to take breaks, with suggestions like stretching, getting some fresh air, drinking some water, and more.
Set & Follow Emergency Protocols
Emergencies, such as fires, floods, or tornadoes, don’t always make themselves known. Therefore, you must be ready for anything that could compromise the safety of your business, your employees, and your clients in your area. When it comes to workplace safety, emergency procedures are a no-brainer.
Therefore, have procedures in place if an emergency should happen:
To put it another way, it is your responsibility as an employer to determine anything that could expose your staff to it and to establish a clear procedure for what to do in the event of an incident.
Customize your protocols to these procedures since most categories have OSHA-certified guidelines that are typically consistent across industries. Create digital checklists for your staff based on the risks that have been identified, such as:
TIP: It’s been demonstrated that employees who go through a checklist upon arriving at a job site or before using equipment significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents or injuries. And when that checklist is easily and immediately accessible on their mobile phone, the likelihood that they will refer to the checklist rises sharply.
Boost Workplace Safety with a Digital Checklist App
Workplace accidents, burnout, health issues, and more have all been associated with job stress, according to the American Physiology Association. Employers must take action to stop stress from affecting workers’ well-being and productivity. An EAP (Employee Assistance Program) can be highly beneficial.
To create a secure work environment and simple reporting options, you must identify any risks and threats that your employees may be exposed to (both physically and emotionally).
TIP: Read our article on reducing stress at work to keep your team motivated and productive.
JULY | Prepare for wildfire smoke
When working at a height, whether it be to change a lightbulb, reach items on a high shelf, or paint a building, ladders are the “go-to” tool. Selecting the appropriate ladder for the task is only the first step.
These fundamental rules could prevent common injuries like muscle strains, cuts, and burns whether you’re a seasoned chef or working your first job in a commercial kitchen.
Infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, the common cold, or the flu, are a constant workplace concern. You can take action to manage infection and lessen the likelihood that your staff will become ill.
It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money to improve the ergonomics in your office. Learn how to adjust your keyboard, mouse, monitor, office chair, and more. You can also get advice on good posture and injury avoidance.
FAQ
What is the best topic for safety meeting?
- Incident/Accident Investigation.
- Drugs on The Job.
- Workplace Violence.
- First Aid.
- Fire Safety.
- Worker Fatigue.
What are the 10 rules for workplace safety?
- Be Aware Of Your Surroundings. …
- Keep Correct Posture To Protect Your Back and Neck. …
- Take Regular Breaks. …
- Use Tools And Machines Properly. …
- Keep Emergency Exits Easily Accessible. …
- Report Unsafe Conditions To Your Supervisor. …
- Use Mechanical Aids Whenever Possible. …
- Stay Sober.
What’s a good safety topic for work?
- Ergonomic and Workplace Stress. …
- Slipping, Tripping, and Falling. …
- Drug or Alcohol Abuse on the Job. …
- Workplace Violence. …
- Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) …
- Electrical and Fire Safety. …
- Reporting Hazards and Incidents. …
- Basic First Aid Training.
What are the 5 things that should be discussed by a safety committee?
- OSHA Compliance. OSHA regulations are essential for developing safety programs, managing the workforce, and preventing accidents.
- Hazard Assessment. …
- Safety Training. …
- Return-to-Work Policies. …
- Safety Program Improvement.
