Workplace health and safety

by Sally Bouorm | December 1, 2010 3:58 pm

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By Norm Kramer

Many pool and spa companies think of health and safety requirements as something they have to do, simply because it’s mandated and they could potentially be punished for not following through. However, in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries and illness, creating a healthy and safe workplace makes good business sense.

Health and safety programs have the potential to greatly impact the overall success of a business. Statistics show employee absenteeism caused by illness and disability cost Canadians $16 billion annually. When you consider the added benefits of integrating health and safety into everyday business practices—reduced workplace incidents and insurance/lost-time claims, fewer employee absences, decreased staff turnover, improved productivity and an enhanced company reputation and client loyalty—the business case for safety becomes pretty clear.

A prime example

One company that has learned how to make health and safety a business advantage is The Pool Shoppe in Hamilton, Ont. The company (featured in the December 2009 edition of Pool and Spa Marketing) has embraced health and safety and successfully integrated it into its everyday business practices.

This attitude towards health and safety wasn’t always the case. Ten years ago, the store received a visit from the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) after an incident involving a young worker, who, while filling up chlorine jugs, had spilled some of the chemical on the floor. She used a paper towel to clean up the spill and tossed it in a garbage bag. Later on, when she opened the garbage bag to throw more items in, the vapours from the chlorine overwhelmed her; she fell to the floor and was taken to the hospital.

“The incident really was an eye-opening experience for us,” says Dana Simpson, general manager, retail division of The Pool Shoppe. “Until we got the visit from the MOL, we thought we were doing things right. But after receiving our orders, we realized how much more we could do to make our workplace safer.”

Step 1: Start at the top

The Pool Shoppe learned that making health and safety a priority needs to start with senior management. Senior managers who show a willingness to commit, develop and participate in their health and safety program show they are serious about ensuring the well-being of their staff members. They’re also the ones who can drive health and safety practices into their business operations. Establishing health and safety as a core value also helps staff buy in to the program and empowers them to be proactive participants in the creation of a positive health and safety culture.

“Our biggest belief is that attitude reflects leadership,” Simpson says. “If people feel they have someone they can trust—not someone who will slough away their concerns—they will stick to the program. Knowing every concern is a valid one, and that it will get taken care of, is a great way to engage staff and keep two-way communication going about health and safety.”

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Creating a culture of health and safety starts the moment employees step into the building. For instance, new employees of The Pool Shoppe participate in a two-hour health and safety orientation before they begin to work for the store. Health and safety training is provided by a technician, but managers and teams are also involved. After the training is complete, new employees have the opportunity to practice safety procedures specific to their job with their manager and other team members.

“The first thing we do in our orientation is a safety meeting. They come into the boardroom and watch a video that shows what can happen if you don’t practice safety. We want to show people that when you’re not trained, it can be very dangerous not just for you, but for others as well,” Simpson explains.

Making sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities is also crucial to making workplaces safe. Encouraging due diligence through health and safety best practices and procedures, along with training, sets the expectation that a safe workplace should be the norm.

“Working in a place that values health, safety and well-being sets an example for people not just when they work here, but when they leave,” Simpson adds. “For example, one of our university students recently left and said, ‘I hope that when I go out into the real world my future employer will have it together like you’.”

Step 2: Invest in people

Taking the time to invest in health and safety pays off. One study showed that for every dollar an employer spent on the health, safety and well-being of its employees, it would generate a return ranging from $1.50 to $6.15. Investing in health and safety can benefit pool and spa companies in many different ways, including:

• increased productivity;
• improved staff morale;
• fewer workplace accidents;
• higher staff retention and better recruitment;
• a workplace that is adaptable to business disruptions;
• enhanced company brand; and
• reduced insurance costs.

All of the above examples show how business benefits and health and safety go hand in hand. Engaging staff in the development of a safety program will empower them to do their part to make sure a program is a success. If proper safeguards and hazard controls are in place, employees will be able to perform work more safely and productively. Making better use of resources also means a company can become more efficient, which will help it adapt to the changing economic climate of the pool and spa market. For example, an organized work environment not only reduces clutter and tripping hazards, employees can find tools and equipment faster, saving valuable time.

Simpson adds that having a solid program helped The Pool Shoppe ride out last year’s recession. At a time when many companies shifted their focus from health and safety, and were looking for higher productivity with fewer resources, The Pool Shoppe maintained its safety focus and thrived.

“We never stopped practicing health and safety during the recession,” Simpson says. “You can’t compromise on it regardless of the economic climate.”

Step 3: Develop an action plan

When the MOL visited The Pool Shoppe 10 years ago, the inspector quizzed staff about the store’s then non-existent Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) and issued a number of orders to bring the store into compliance. Orders included Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training, installing an eyewash fountain and demonstrating proper storage practices. The MOL also outlined an action plan and deadlines for the shop to ensure timely compliance. The action plan included forming a JHSC with certified staff and developing health and safety protocols to address hazards common to the pool and spa industry such as:

Chemicals

A worker can be exposed to these hazards in a solid, liquid or gas form. In the pool industry, workers will be exposed to chemicals such as chlorine and need to take extra precautions when handling these types of materials. Exposure to these substances can lead to breathing problems, skin irritations and illnesses. To prevent exposure, workers need to be trained in WHMIS, which includes knowledge of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), proper labelling, control measures and emergency procedures. It is important for workers to know what to do if they are exposed to chemicals. This includes knowing proper first aid measures, such as flushing out chemicals using an eyewash fountain, as well as how to safely clean up after a spill.

Inadequate ventilation

To ensure their safety, workers need to work in an environment that provides adequate ventilation, which includes having a fan that draws vapours away from a worker’s breathing zone or moving chemical handling operations outdoors where there is improved natural ventilation. Workers also need to be trained on how to store chemicals, which can be done by reviewing with them the specific information found in the handling and storage section of the product’s MSDS.

Heat stress

Workers should also be trained to identify and treat symptoms of heat stress and exposure from working outside too long. Symptoms of heat-related disorders range from red, bumpy skin to painful cramps to fainting. Controls to reduce this risk include:

• scheduling strenuous jobs during cooler times of the day;
• providing cool drinking water; and
• encouraging staff to drink several times every hour.

Workers should be trained to identify signs and symptoms in fellow workers, as people often do not notice their own symptoms. For more information, see the MOL’s Heat Stress Guidelines.

Falls

This type of hazard can occur when a worker is carrying materials, slips on spilled liquids, trips on exposed nails/cables or falls into a pit during the installation of a pool.  Workers need to be aware of these hazards in order to ensure controls are put in place. For example, where there is the risk of falling into a pit, a barrier should be provided at the top of the excavation wall.

Lifting

Using improper lifting techniques to move parts and equipment can lead to serious injuries. Whether loading/unloading a truck or moving a heavy piece of equipment, workers need to identify the task, understand its risk factors and practice safe techniques. For example, workers should ask for assistance when lifting heavy materials and, while lifting, keep their backs as straight as possible using their leg muscles to lift. They should also ensure work areas are safe by clearing a path and making sure any lifting devices work properly.

Equipment

Making sure equipment is certified and in good condition is critical to worker safety. It is also important to ensure that safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, are inspected monthly to make sure they will operate in an emergency. Employers should identify specific types of personal protective equipment (PPE) required for every task they perform and make sure equipment use by employees is mandatory.

Step 4: Focus on continuous improvement

Once The Pool Shoppe established new health and safety policies and procedures to make their workplace safer, they started to build on it.

“It took us a while to see the benefits of health and safety,” says Simpson. “Once you have it, there’s a sense of professionalism and people begin to see that you’ve got it together. Yes, it’s an investment, but once you have the structure in place, you repeat and add on to it so that it stays current and relevant.”

A recent example of this was Bill 168, the new Ontario workplace violence and harassment bill that became law on June 15, 2010. The store prepared for the new law months in advance by researching various scenarios their staff may encounter while working at the store or at a worksite, such as dealing with irate customers and road rage. In response, the store developed policies and procedures to comply with the new law and make sure their staff remained safe at all times. Reporting, investigating and dealing with violent incidents are now an integral part of their safety program.

Investing in health and safety is not a one-off proposition. It’s not about developing a great program and walking away from it a few months later. It requires a commitment in order for it to be truly successful. Health and safety programs need to be sustainable, while reflecting the priorities of the organization. When it’s fully integrated into everyday business practices, pool and spa companies will see the benefits reflected in staff engagement and enhanced business processes.

“This year has been by far the best year ever in terms of staff morale,” Simpson says. “People enjoy working here and we’ve been fortunate to have a high retention rate. People have embraced the program and that’s affected safety, as there have been fewer workplace incidents. We’re working well as a team and that shows in the success of our business.”

One thing Simpson has learned in her journey is that health and safety never ends. “It’s not something you put on hold; you make it part of your routine so that it becomes a natural part of your business.” She adds that there are no secrets or shortcuts to making health and safety a business advantage, just hard work and a commitment to staff to create as healthy a work environment as possible.

“Nobody is perfect and sometimes things will happen. But I encourage staff to do their part by taking responsibility of their personal well-being and being honest when things don’t go right.”

Health and safety: A competitive advantage

As evidenced by The Pool Shoppe example, health and safety is a journey—one that does not happen overnight. However, once a commitment is made to ensure the health and safety of their employees, companies will flourish and prosper. The variety of safety programs are nothing new, but when pool and spa industry employers embrace them, they can use it as part of their competitive advantage and ensure the health and well-being of both their employees and business.

 

Norm Kramer is a Canadian registered safety professional with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. He has been a health and safety consultant for more than 15 years and has effectively assisted many service sector businesses in developing and implementing health and safety programs. Kramer can be contacted at nkramer@ossa.com[3].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/workplace-health-and-safety/

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