Maintenance Technology September 2017 - 28

PLANT SAFETY MATTERS
Left. Stairs, by nature, can present
significant STF hazards, especially for
new workers and visitors to a site.
Below. Well-placed, highly visible signs
keep workers and visitors aware of
workplace hazards.

of any changes to those policies.
■ 5S fundamentals. 5S is a Japanese
methodology that increases
efficiency and effectiveness based
on organization. In short, items are
organized such that they are readily
available. Fortunately, a site can
incorporate aspects of this methodology in its STF planning efforts,
even if the operation doesn't have a
5S culture. Providing easy access to
and set locations for first aid, spillcontainment kits, and emergencyrescue devices will reduce reaction
time and could ultimately save a life.

Bottom line

that a lower pipe protrudes next to
a particular machine. Well-placed,
highly-visible signage is an effective
way to communicate to those who
aren't familiar with the facility and a
reminder for everyday occupants.

Planning
While much can be done on the front
end to minimize the risk of workplace
accidents, including STFs, it's just as
important that a site have a plan in
place for dealing with them in case
they occur. A comprehensive safety
program should include these essential
elements:
■ Written plan. Many sites require
visitors to watch a video, read a
safety-procedure handout, and
sign a compliance agreement
before they enter the facility. The
safety procedures typically include
expectations for what a visitor

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MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY

should and should not do and how
to react in case of an emergency,
among other factors. Safety,
specifically reacting to an incident,
is one area where there should be
no second guessing or absence of a
plan. For swift and flawless execution of a plan, however, there has
to actually be a plan. Furthermore,
it should be formalized in writing,
regularly communicated to workers,
and made available to them for
reference.
■ Safety meetings. Regular safety
meetings and communication form
the foundation of a successful safety
program. Whether meetings are
held in a conference-room or over
coffee in a break area on the plant
floor, regularly communicating with
teams of personnel regarding your
site's safety plan will ensure that they
understand policies and are notified

One of the most difficult challenges
in protecting facility occupants from
slips, trips, and falls is that a hazard
can present itself at any time and in
any place. And it could manifest in
many ways, including, among other
things, as a leaking pipe, a frayed
fall-protection harness, even a pothole
in the plant parking lot.
The bottom line is that it's an
employer's responsibility to provide
safe working conditions and minimize risk by regularly analyzing
the workplace to identify hazards
and areas of concern. In addition,
once hazards have been identified,
it's crucial for them to be addressed
properly, and that safety procedures be
made available and workers well versed
in their use. MT
The information in this article was
provided by Sean Barbeau, QSSP. Based
in Texas, Barbeau is an industrialand safety-product specialist with
Motion Industries (Birmingham, AL).
For information on a wide range of
industrial-safety topics, including more
details on STFs, visit MotionIndustries.
com and MiSafetySpecialist.com.
SEPTEMBER 2017

http://www.MiSafetySpecialist.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maintenance Technology September 2017