It’s something that you probably don’t want to think about
very often, but it’s an issue that needs to be addressed just the same: What
will you do if an incident occurs that jeopardizes the safety of your
co-workers?
Steve Bernstein is the managing partner for the Tampa office
of Fisher & Phillips LLP, which employs 240 attorneys nationwide. He has
coached numerous clients on how to deal with workplace safety issues — from
chemical spills to fires, natural disasters and violence in the workplace.
Bernstein says the ability to respond effectively begins with
having a well-scripted plan for incident reaction as well as preventive steps
that comply with Occupational Health and Safety Administration guidelines.
“It starts with a cultural perspective,” Bernstein says. “If
you don’t have a plan in place to demonstrate your commitment to safety from
the top down, you’re not likely to get it done. Some of our clients make the
mistake of going from A to C — in other words, going right to front-line
supervision and equipping them with enough information to get by. I have other
clients and businesses that have a dedicated safety manager with responsibility
for safety compliance.
“That’s great, but those things in a vacuum aren’t going to
get you where you want to go, unless you have a commitment demonstrated from
the upper echelons of the organization. From the CEO on down, that commitment
needs to be there and ideally it needs to be demonstrated to employees through
vehicles of communication.”
You need to piece together a compliance and response plan that
fits the needs of your business, but there are some elements that need to be in
any business safety plan.