WORKPLACE SAFETY CHECKLIST

Below is a workplace safety checklist developed by Stanford University.  A high percentage of jobs in West Virginia involve the mining, manufacturing and construction industries. Unfortunately, work injuries are common in these industries.  Going over this checklist before starting the days work will help prevent unnecessary injuries.

 YES     NO
____    ____   1. Is the area in order and clean?
____    ____   2. Are exits accessible and free of obstacles?
____    ____   3. Are storage areas in a secured place?
____    ____   4. Are there proper warning signs and tags posted?

TRAINING

____    ____   1. Are basic safety trainings provided to new employees?
____    ____   2. Are job-specific trainings given to employees regularly?
____    ____   3. Are personnel familiar with MSDS?
____    ____   4. Are employees familiar with emergency evacuation plan?
____    ____   5. Are training materials/documents up to date and accessible?

SAFE LIFTING

____    ____   1. Are safe lifting training techniques provided?
____    ____      a. testing load
____    ____      b. Avoiding heavy loads
____    ____      c. Bending knees when lifting
____    ____      d. Firming up abdominals when lifting
____    ____      e. Avoid twisting

ERGONOMICS

____    ____   1. Are workers provided with proper ergonomics, adequate breaks and some activities?

FIRE PREVENTION

____    ____   1. Are emergency exit signs well lighted?
____    ____   2. Are fire extinguishers/alarms located visibly and accessibly?
____    ____   3. Are manual stairway doors kept closed?
____    ____   4. Are 18” vertical clearance below sprinkler heads maintained?
____    ____   5. Are annual inspections of fire extinguishers maintained?
____    ____   6. Are aisles and stairways clear and free of obstruction?

EARTHQUAKE

____    ____   1. Are cabinets, shelves, and storages over four feet tall secured?
____    ____   2. Does shelve have seismic restraints?
____    ____   3. Are portable machines secured against movement?
____    ____   4. Are heavy equipments secured to withstand accelerations?
____    ____   5. Are storages of heavy & large objects located on lower areas?
____    ____   6. Are the locations of valuable and sensitive equipments secured (ie. computer disks, glass, instruments)?
____    ____   7. Are files or equipments in the storage area filed orderly?
____    ____   8. Are storage cabinets of hazardous materials equipped with latch  mechanism?

EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

____    ____   1. Is it clean and in good condition?
____    ____   2. Are electrical cords in good condition with proper grounding?
____    ____   3. Ensure that extension cords are used only as temporary, equipped with circuit breaker and multiple connectors
____    ____   4. Ensure that combustibles materials are kept away
____    ____   5. Is there enough ventilation?
____    ____   6. Are switches and emergency stop mechanism working properly?
____    ____   7. Are machine guards in place and working properly?
____    ____   8. Are PPE available to employees whenever necessary?

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

____    ____   1. Are hazardous containers properly labelled?
____    ____   2. Are non hazardous containers properly labelled?
____    ____   3. Are there secondary containers provided for liquid chemicals?
____    ____   4. Ensure that sinks are clear and away of stored hazardous materials
____    ____   5. Ensure that there is a proper segregations of solid and chemicals
____    ____   6. Are chemical containers sealed properly?
____    ____   7. Ensure that 10 gallons or more of flammable liquids are properly stored
____    ____   8. Ensure that hazard communication training are completed by your employees
____    ____   9. Are MSDS and chemical inventory lists accessible?

HAZARDOUS WASTE

____    ____   1. Are waste containers inspected regularly and closed tightly?
____    ____   2. Are containers labelled properly (ie. date of accumulation, physical state,  full chemical names and other hazardous properties)?
____    ____   3. Ensure that wastes are not to be stored after 9 months
____    ____   4. Ensure that wastes stored more than 8 months had been reported for  waste pick-up
____    ____   5. No other wastes are to be used for red bags but infectious wastes

Contact a West Virginia work injury attorney

If you have been injured at work in West Virginia you may be entitled to worker’s compensation and possibly compensation for pain, suffering and lost wages.  If you would like a free case evaluation, call the West Virginia workplace injury law firm of West Law Offices toll free at 1-877-943-9378.