How COVID-19 Changed Occupational Health and Safety Protocols Everywhere

Image source: osha.gov

Occupational health and safety protocols are essential for ensuring that workers are safe while performing their duties. These protocols can include safety training, emergency planning, and hazard identification. Employers can help protect their workers from potential injuries or illnesses by following these protocols.

When COVID-19 hit, health and safety experts were forced to revise health and safety procedures for everyone. For this post, Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, talks about how health and safety protocols have changed since January 2020.

A change in protocols

As happens with significant societal change, occupational health and safety protocols were forced to change to account for COVID-19. As a result, work environments are now much safer than they used to be.

The most significant change to health and safety protocols was banning certain dangerous materials. Before COVID-19, several hazardous materials, like asbestos, were not allowed in work environments.

As such, asbestos is now banned from all workplaces under federal law. In addition, many other materials are now considered hazardous to health. It's important to be aware of these changes.

Image source: empowernetworkers.com 

More regulations were also put into place following COVID-19, especially surrounding manufacturing. For example, welding regularly exposes a worker to fumes and radiation. All welding shops must now have proper ventilation and respiratory equipment for their employees.

Workers benefit from these new health and safety protocols, but where does that leave one if they don't work in a factory? The good news is that many of the rules regarding manufacturing will change lives for the better across societies, explains Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP.

Bookmark this page for more insights on occupational health and safety protocols from Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

The importance of fall prevention training in the workplace

Image source: atlinjurylawyers.com

Workplace injuries are often the result of employer negligence. The most frequently cited violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards is fall protection. Occupational falls and other injuries can be prevented by ensuring that proper training is given to all workers who may face occupational falls and reviewing fall risks periodically.

Fall prevention training applies to every workplace as any surface can cause individuals to fall and slip. Among the most frequent causes of slips and falls is the lack of traction between the surface of the floor and a person's foot. Some types of footwear provide good traction while others lack the grip one needs to walk without slipping, shares Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP.

It's integral for employers to hold fall protection training to provide employees the proper knowledge to face the common occupational health and safety issue. Along with adequate fall protection and prevention training, employers must also provide employees working in hazardous environments with personal protective equipment to decrease the occurrence of falls and slips in the workplace. Fall prevention training and guidelines on tasks that involve scaffolding, roofing work, and ladders are available online.

Image source: safetyandhealthmagazine.com

For Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, conducting safety inspection and hazard assessment are other important steps employers need to take to address the occupational health and safety concern. In addition, some employers can opt to develop solutions that are specific to their workplace issues and tailor-fit training appropriate for their work environment. These steps are especially integral in workplaces where certain hazards are present in one's line of work.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, has been greatly involved in the field of occupational health and safety. His expertise lies in biological safety, occupational safety and health, environmental health services, and infectious disease epidemiology. Head over to this page for related posts.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.