Last updated on January 24, 2019
Workplace safety is a serious issue that affects your bottom line. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that direct workers’ compensation claims cost US employers $1 billion each week. Unfortunately, in many companies, safety training and education begins and ends with a dusty bookshelf full of “safety manuals” and brightly colored “Safety First!” posters in the break room.
Don’t be that employer! Use ComplianceTrac to train employees, build company safety plans, and prepare for OSHA inspections/audits.
Total Cost of Workplace Injuries Is Higher Than You Think
Workers’ compensation cost is just one part of the equation. Additional direct and indirect costs from workplace injuries include:
- Lost productivity – When a skilled employee is off the job, the whole team is less effective.
- Overtime costs – The workload doesn’t decrease when workers are out, so you may have to pay overtime to meet production goals.
- Bad publicity – News media accounts of unsafe working conditions hurt a company’s reputation.
- Legal costs – In limited circumstances, employees can sue for damages following a workplace injury.
- Repairs – Equipment damaged during an accident may need repair or replacement.
- Fines and Penalties – OSHA initial penalties in enforcement cases can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
Workplace safety regulations protect both employers and employees. It can even give your small business a recruiting edge.
Be Proactive with ComplianceTrac
The only good workplace accident is the one that didn’t happen, so be proactive. ComplianceTrac is an online OSHA management and training system available to Sharps Compliance customers.
- Training: ComplianceTrac’s online training videos are available 24/7 and typically allow employees to train in less than an hour and receive certification.
- OSHA Safety Plans: Use the online plan builder to create your own OSHA-required safety plans.
- Internal Safety Audits: ComplianceTrac’s online safety audit tool helps you identify and correct deficiencies before they cause an injury.
- SDS and Chemical Inventory List: ComplianceTrac’s SDS database allows you to compile your required SDS sheets while automatically generating the required companion chemical inventory either by location or by creating a single list for your entire organization.
OSHA rarely calls ahead. Inspectors can show up any time, usually with no advance notice because “it is a crime for OSHA employees to give unauthorized advance notice of an inspection.” According to OSHA, there are only a few circumstances where an employer will receive advance notification.
- In cases of apparent imminent danger, to try to get management to fix the condition immediately.
- When the inspection must be after regular business hours or when special preparations are necessary.
- If management and worker representatives are not likely to be on-site unless they have advance notice.
- In other circumstances where the OSHA Area Director thinks a more complete inspection would result, such as in a fatality investigation.
Learn more about OSHA inspections in this fact sheet.
Since you will rarely receive advance notice, it’s important to be ready at all times. Internal safety audits using ComplianceTRAC help management and staff work together as a team to correct problems and maintain the highest levels of safety and regulatory compliance.
Using ComplianceTrac to Prepare for OSHA Safety Audits
Use the system to test your office’s compliance with our OSHA audits. Areas covered include:
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Regulated medical waste
- Accident prevention signs and tags
- Regulated medical waste
- HIPAA
- Respiratory Protection
When you begin a new inspection, the system asks you to supply a unique name for the inspection and choose the type of audit. You’ll then work through a series of surveys, each with its own group of questions. Answer each question and even upload photographs in real time. At the end, ComplianceTrac generates a report that highlights any areas that were found to be “not in compliance.” Use this report to assign corrective actions to specific individuals and departments and set due dates.
Contact us to learn more about how ComplianceTrac can help keep your workplace safe and OSHA-compliant.