Safety seminars: Know what topics to address

Aug 1, 1998 12:00 PM, Dr. STEPHENIE SLAHOR

Keeping company employees safe on the job requires meeting safety precautions imposed by law and insurance companies, but it also means helping them learn ways to protect themselves and to cope with emergencies. Lunch-time seminars and other meetings can be effective ways to communicate such knowledge to employees. To find effective speakers to lead seminars, inquire at your county's health and safety departments, your hospital's public relations department, law enforcement agencies and fire departments. Also, check with regional representatives of companies that make safety equipment. Here are some topics that speakers might take up. - Crime prevention. Law enforcement representatives can lecture on subjects such as: safety in automobiles and parking lots; safety at home (and for children home alone); company security; and computer security. - Equipment safety. If your facility maintains equipment, knowing how to operate that equipment is not only the responsibility of operators, but also of anyone who might have to turn it off in an emergency. Especially in the case of industrial equipment such as forklifts, carrier belts, etc., everyone should be familiar with the simple steps of operation (how to turn it on/off, emergency switches and steering). For those whose job duties require use of the equipment, there should be reviews of safe operation and how to do safety checks. - Electrical safety. Also, if your facility maintains equipment, employees need to know how to operate equipment safely to avoid electric shock. They should also know how to rescue a victim of electrocution. First aid for burns should also be a part of this seminar. Your local electric company, hospital or American Red Cross can help with a speaker. - First aid. American Red Cross instructors can teach employees beginning, intermediate and advanced first aid. Such courses do not require a large outlay of time or resources, but can be very effective in emergencies when immediate, temporary care must be rendered by fellow employees. Any fire department will have instructors in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and mouth-to-mouth/artificial resuscitation. - Fire extinguishers. The fire department can send a speaker to teach the ways fire extinguishers work. If you have the space, you can schedule a demonstration of how to use a fire extinguisher. - Chemical safety. If your site houses potentially dangerous chemicals or materials, all employees must know how to handle such substances and how to give first aid in case of poisoning or injury from such substances. There should also be instruction in evacuating routes from areas affected by poisonous/hazardous substances or gases. - Protective equipment. Some job sites require protective equipment. If necessary, employees should learn the importance of equipment like safety goggles/glasses, gloves, shoes, protective clothing and hard hats. One benefit of such seminars is that not only do employees learn the topic, but they also become more safety conscious and aware of hazards. They are then more likely to report hazards, think about ways to prevent accidents and crime, and work toward eliminating the causes of accidents on the job.

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