April 28 is World Safety and Health at Work Day, as declared by ILO (International Labour Organization). It’s a perfect time to think about your company’s safety program and review the protections currently in place.

Every year, more than 2.3 million people around the world die from work-related injuries and illnesses. In the US, 4,836 workers were killed on the job in 2015*— on average, more than 93 a week or more than 13 deaths every day.

It’s crucial not only to have safety plans in place at the work site, but to educate your workforce on the importance of following those plans and using the protections put in place. Injury prevention should be part of the culture at every landscape company, and it needs to be reinforced regularly.

Be sure that your foremen and managers are talking about safety at each team meeting. Remind employees that the safety rules are not a punishment or an extra job—the rules are in place for their benefit.

There are some requirements by OSHA and other government agencies to have safety plans in print, available for review. Taking the time to review your compliance will keep your workforce safe but could also save your business money in costly fines for not fulfilling the record-keeping requirements.

Set aside a few hours for an internal safety review. Evaluate your current safety plan and identify any weaknesses, and work with your staff to fill in the gaps.

*Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, 2015

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Designs by Sundown is the people's choice for use of color
Southern Chapter Day of Service supports landscape education
How secure is your business?
Raising the bar with a hired gun