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