Now, More than Ever, Safety Matters
Now that over 38 states are allowing some businesses to open if they can operate with strict social-distancing measures, one of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) most significant provisions, Section 5(a)(1), is at the forefront of every employer’s reopening plan. Also known as the General Duties Clause, this provision requires that employers “Shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees …” While immediate concerns address COVID-19, employers have an ongoing challenge to provide their workers a safe work environment free of recognized hazards.
Environmental Standards offers customized training, safety audit program development and emergency response health & safety oversight. Our staff of industry experts will take your organization to the highest level of safety.
Customized Training
It may sound like a cliché, but your company really is only as safe as the most unsafe employee. Safety training is absolutely necessary. But whether the training is conducted internally or through outside vendors, the liability always belongs to the employer.
The training experts at Environmental Standards know that adults learn largely by doing and will retain more knowledge when the subject matter is interesting and relevant. With that in mind, Environmental Standards’ health and safety staff will visit your site and review your internal programs, processes, and information provided, and will then shape that information into a training program that is specific to your operations. By incorporating relevant material into the program, your employees will be trained on work hazards they actually experience on a daily basis. The information delivered in the classroom is not only interactive and specific to your needs, but is delivered by an instructor with 20 years of training development experience.
Safety Audits
One of the more efficient methods for testing the integrity of your health and safety programs is through a third-party audit. From the office to the field, Environmental Standards’ Safety Auditors will conduct a thorough inspection of your site, focusing on safety hazards that present a real or potential hazard. Questionable behavior can be addressed “on the spot,” and a full report, including photos and corrective actions, is typically delivered within 24 hours.
Although audits typically occur on site, we are now able to conduct remote audits as well. In this time of social distancing, Environmental Standards has implemented new methodology that allows us to conduct audits remotely, and we have executed remote audits for several clients already.
Program Development
In virtually every industry, there are safety, health, and environmental regulations required to conduct business. Many companies have individuals and entire departments that focus primarily on developing and implementing safety programs to meet stringent OSHA, US EPA, and US DOT requirements.
Environmental Standards’ health and safety professionals have assisted clients throughout the United States to meet and exceed their regulatory requirements. From the initial program draft to implementation and enforcement, our professionals will guide you through the tedious process of compliance. In addition to helping clients meet regulatory compliance, we can also help achieve compliance with voluntary programs such as PICS and ISNetworld. Businesses with comprehensive and enforceable safety programs experience less lost-time injuries and fewer workers’ compensation claims.
Emergency Response Health & Safety Oversight
Transporters, manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies have something in common; many of their employees take on the role of emergency responders to their own accidents. Safety is never as critical as when your employees are involved in an unforeseen emergency. Environmental Standards provides on-site incident command and third-party oversight to your personnel so they can focus their attention on the issues at hand. Our emergency responders are trained and certified by the NFPA, IAFF, PEMA, and OSHA.
For a complete list of our environmental, health and safety (EHS) services Click here or contact Shaun Gilday, Senior Advisor/Principal, or Cody Dye, GSP, EHS Specialist.