Workplace Safety

by Sally Bouorm | June 1, 2011 1:54 pm

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By Connie Sue Centrella

In the pool and spa business, the summer months naturally bring a bigger workload and boosted labour force. While this time of year promises increased revenue, it can not come at the expense of risk reduction. A healthy bottom line is significantly affected by exposure to risk—and workplace safety is the single most important element that puts a business in jeopardy.

A busier summer schedule, coupled with bringing in new part-time staff to fill the gaps, can place business owners at serious potential risk. Every day, workers are vulnerable to easily preventable work-related injuries. It is the primary responsibility of all employers to protect their workforce from injury and illness on the job wherever possible.

Unique industry, unique challenges

Of course, in the pool and spa business, owners must contend with a unique set of hazards. They might have construction crews trying to complete a new pool installation, repairmen working on electrical motor and lighting failures or service professionals handling dangerous chemicals. Each scenario poses its own distinct safety challenges; in order to build a strong, safe work environment, the entire team must work together to avoid mishaps and injury.

It is therefore essential for all pool and spa companies to organize a carefully crafted safety plan. While each business has a distinct culture and method of doing things, there are certain elements all workplace safety plans must comprise. A written document outlining the plan should be integrated into the culture of daily management and understood by all employees. The basics of an effective workplace safety plan include four key elements: management commitment and employee involvement, workplace analysis, hazard prevention and education.

Management commitment and employee involvement

For a workplace safety program to be effective, the employer and employees must work together, with a strong commitment to the plan and involvement at all levels. This partnership requires the development of a written safety policy, safety training for new employees and part-timers, and regularly scheduled meetings that reinforce safety issues.

Employers must invest the time, effort and money needed to educate their entire team; this will protect both the employees and the company itself. An increased accident history increases insurance costs, which has a direct impact on a company’s profitability.

Workplace analysis

All pool and spa professionals encounter an array of potential hazards in and around the workplace. Putting together a team of employees to analyze and identify all potential safety risks is the first step to establishing a level of protection.

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This analysis should include a review of past exposures or accidents. Construction site accidents have plagued the industry over the years. Sump pumps with damaged or inadequate electrical cords have caused electrocutions, while trip-and-fall accidents near excavated holes have resulted in broken backs, legs and arms (or worse). Lifting heavy bags of sand, cement, tile and Marcite have often resulted in severe back injuries.

If an accident has occurred in the workplace, what changes were made in the aftermath? Have the issues that caused it been addressed? Bringing a pair of ‘fresh eyes’ to the worksite to evaluate the situation can be helpful. Pool professionals are so engaged and focused on trying to get the work done, they may not be aware of accidents just waiting to happen. There have been numerous tragedies within the pool industry (e.g. chemical accidents, electrocutions, gas heater malfunctions, excavation disasters, etc.) caused solely by this type of negligence in the workplace.

Workplace analyses should not be limited to construction and service businesses. While these environments are obviously risky, retail store employees are also subject to daily chemical hazards that can jeopardize a business.

Hazard prevention

Implementing a preventative maintenance plan for all equipment—from backhoes and forklifts in the field to electrical shortages in the office—can help curb and prevent workplace hazards. Ensure correction methods are in place and repairs are made immediately to any malfunctioning or broken equipment.

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The written safety plan should also address the medical procedures required if an accident or illness develops, including who to contact and who is responsible for making decisions in emergency situations. Also take time to walk around the workplace on a regular basis to keep an eye out for any potential hazards.

Education

Safety training is central to the health and well-being of each and every employee. Supervisors, managers and even part-time workers must understand the safety issues at play in the work environment. Supply each employee with a detailed job description and make it clear to all staff who is authorized and trained to do particular tasks. Regular safety sessions to review job skills and hazard awareness should also be held regularly, in which a complete review of chemical safety procedures (with an emphasis on handling hazardous materials) should be conducted.

Make safety a priority

Keeping the workplace safe should be the first priority for any business owner, particularly in the pool and spa sector. A safe environment will contribute to a healthy future for the individual businesses and for the industry. Pool and spa professionals have a responsibility to their employees to train, protect and alert them to any potential hazard, and properly care for them should an accident occur. It makes good business sense to get a safety plan in place today.

The author invites comments through an online threaded discussion. What are some of the elements you, as a pool professional, have implemented into your workplace safety plan? What areas of your business do you focus on to prevent workplace injuries? E-mail your experiences, thoughts and suggestions on how to make the workplace safer to ccentrella@keiseruniversity.edu[4].

A SAFETY-SPECIFIC REVIEW FOR POOL AND SPA PROFESSIONALS

Chemicals ● Where possible, keep chemicals separated from other compounds, especially fuel, petroleum products, solvents, paints, thinners, pesticides and lubricants. ● Read all chemical labels carefully and understand dilution methods. Be sure to read, review and maintain Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals. ● Keep service trucks clean and free of chemical residue. If more than one chemical is being transported, divide the truck into sections, keeping acids away from chlorine products. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can also be used to create a barrier between chemicals in the truck bed. Vehicles ● Inspect all vehicles regularly and promptly clean any dirt, debris, residue, oil, grease and soap buildup in the truck bed, which can be both unsightly and dangerous. At least once a week, remove all containers and equipment and thoroughly hose out the truck bed. ● Make sure tires have good treads and are properly inflated. ● Test all lights regularly (e.g. brake and signal lights, trailer taillights). ● Keep the windows clean and windshield wipers functioning properly. ● Secure construction truck piping and other materials to prevent them from falling out while driving. Job sites ● Mark empty holes with safety or barrier tape. Failure to include this type of warning is a major liability issue. ● Watch for exposed rebar, tie wires and nails during pool formation. ● Take care when using gunite nozzles, as the high pressure can throw off one’s balance and cause injury. Gunite or shotcrete hoses can also become clogged if the wrong mixture is used, so be sure to include mandatory training for everyone working with this equipment. ● Identify all utilities on the job site and contact local authorities to mark existing gas and electrical lines. ● Provide plenty of drinking water and ice coolers to crews working in the heat.

 

Connie Gibson Centrella, MBA, is professor and program director for the online Aquatic Engineering Degree Program at Keiser University eCampus, as well as director of education for Team Horner and a member of the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) Education Committee. She is also a sustainability officer, having been certified in the principles of green and sustainable business practices. Centrella, five-time recipient of the Evelyn C. Keiser Teaching Excellence Award, is celebrating more than 40 years in the pool and spa industry.

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

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