According to the National Safety Council, nearly 13,000 workers are injured every day in America. For those in charge of handling employee safety, the task of creating a safe work environment looks significantly different today than it did just a few months ago. The most pressing items include worker exposure, job safety analyses, chemical management systems, best management practices, and core building infrastructure. An Environmental Health & Safety Gap Analysis can help you assess your company’s current Safety Program to determine areas of weakness or non-compliance. Let’s dive into some of the most recent issues which may make your current Health & Safety Program out of date.
Reduced Workforce
Many companies are experiencing a reduction in workforce and/or a higher rate of employees working from home, resulting in fewer employees available to perform daily “on-the-job” tasks. For facilities and certain functions that require daily or weekly attention, this may mean that routine job tasks are modified to be performed by a smaller number of workers. The workers remaining on-site may be taking on more risky tasks than they did previously or tasks they could be better trained for, resulting in the need for revised job safety analyses (JSAs). The JSA is a procedure which identifies potential hazards during each step of a job process and recommends the safest way to complete the job including property hazard controls, reducing the risk of injury to the worker(s).
New Worker Training
Given the reduced workforce as stated above, effective and timely training for new workers is key to creating a safer and more productive business environment. Many of our clients who are experiencing a slowdown in production are taking this opportunity to beef up their worker training and have requested internal seminars led by expert AEI staff. Please reach out to your account manager if you’d like to learn more about the current training modules AEI offers or if you would like to request a specific in-house training module for your employees. Some of the most recent requested topics have included keeping in compliance given regulatory delays, climate risk consulting, and reopening for business after COVID-19.
Company Buy-In
Of course, an Environmental Health & Safety Program doesn’t operate on its own. Buy-in for these safety programs needs to come from the top down in support of policy, training and culture. AEI’s Health & Safety Gap Analysis considers your company’s objectives given the history of the company and what you hope to achieve in the future. Items we ask from top management include defining the primary objectives of a Health & Safety Gap Analysis; identifying current strengths, weaknesses and opportunities; and determining what level of management support is realistic in achieving your Health & Safety goals. We understand our clients are leaders-and as leaders, we will help you define a clear strategy going forward to ensure the entire company is on board. Our Gap Analyses include actionable objectives with a psychosocial approach centered around the importance of workplace safety and how everyone is a part of a better solution.
How We Stand Apart From The Crowd
AEI’s Health & Safety Team is lead by industry veterans with as much as 25 years’ experience that includes analytical chemistry, hazardous waste characterization, and occupational hygiene.
We have full-service consulting capabilities with a dedicated project team management approach. Our internal structure is client-focused with dedication to a “Health and Safety First” culture that our professionals – from our Founder and CEO to all employees – can integrate into their professional and personal lives. Furthermore, part of AEI’s corporate mission is to provide creative and cost-effective environmental and engineering consulting solutions which empower our clients to strategically navigate complex business risk. Our Gap Analysis services will help you execute a successful Environmental Health & Safety Program by optimizing workflow and improving visibility into your company’s daily operations.