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