| In certain industries, each employer must | | | | he will then set up or modify existing |
| create a safety and health program known as | | | | training programs to provide adequate |
| "A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction," | | | | personal protection for those concerned |
| or AWAIR, program, as required by Minnesota | | | | workers. Each job location is unique and |
| Statute § 182.653 subd. 8. An AWAIR | | | | dynamic, so site supervisors should check |
| program must be in writing and there are five | | | | worksites daily for compliance with the |
| key points that it must address: 1. How the | | | | safety program implemented. A Site Safety |
| program will be implemented and then | | | | Checklist is an easy way to do this. Because |
| maintained by managers, supervisors, and | | | | there is a danger of procedures becoming |
| employees. 2. How new or existing hazards, | | | | routine, and therefore lax, random |
| conditions and operations will be identified, | | | | inspections and reviews should also be |
| analyzed, and then controlled. 3. The method | | | | carried out regularly. Accidents are not |
| for communicating the plan to all employees | | | | completely avoidable, however. Site |
| that might be affected by work-related | | | | supervisors should investigate all accidents |
| hazards and controls. 4. How, in the event of | | | | or near-miss events that occur. Although |
| a workplace accident, the incident will be | | | | dangerous, these events will help the |
| investigated and then what corrective action | | | | supervisor, as well as the safety director, |
| will take place. 5. The type of enforcement | | | | rework the health and safety program to |
| that will be used for safe work rules and | | | | provide a safer working environment. |
| practices. Since workplace environments are | | | | Workplace safety should be critically |
| constantly changing and new employees are | | | | important to a company. Employees are one of |
| hired, the AWAIR program must be reviewed and | | | | the most important parts of a business, so |
| analyzed for effectiveness at least annually. | | | | keeping them safe and informed about |
| If workplace safety is a real concern to an | | | | potential risks and consequences should be a |
| employer, this task will not be difficult. | | | | primary concern. Not only do accidents at |
| Regardless of the job, employee safety should | | | | work affect human lives, but also can affect |
| be reinforced constantly to keep employees at | | | | workers' compensation costs, training |
| a high level of performance. A healthy | | | | expenses, productivity, and insurance rates. |
| workplace for all employees should be a | | | | Violation of health and safety rules should |
| primary concern for any company, and should | | | | be disciplined, while compliance to the rules |
| be supported by company policy. To always | | | | should be rewarded. The key to a successful |
| reduce the number of accidents and injuries | | | | safety program such as an AWAIR, is a clear |
| at a jobsite should always be a goal. A safe | | | | set of goals and objectives for safety and |
| work environment is not an individual job, | | | | health at the workplace. These goals should |
| however. It requires cooperation between an | | | | be understandable, informative, and enforced |
| employee, his/her co-workers, and management. | | | | throughout the company in order to prevent |
| While employees are the group that is most | | | | accidents and preserve life. Not only will a |
| directly affected by a safety program, the | | | | company benefit from preventing these things, |
| managers and supervisors are the ones who are | | | | but the employees will have a higher level of |
| responsible for creating and enforcing the | | | | performance knowing how safe their work |
| program. Many companies will have a safety | | | | environment is, and how much the management |
| director who is responsible for organizing a | | | | is concerned with their safety. |
| program such as AWAIR. Individual employees | | | | |
| will report concerns to their supervisors. | | | | The Minnesota twin cities law firm of |
| All the supervisors and managers of the | | | | Schwebel Goetz and Sieben can provide a |
| company, who are responsible for health and | | | | construction accident lawyer or attorney to |
| safety at each specific worksite, will then | | | | Minneapolis MN construction injury victims. |
| report any concerns to the safety director. S | | | | |