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A Recipe for Safety Success

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What is your recipe for safety?

What is a functioning safety and health system? Let’s compare this system to a system used in the foodservice industry.

How does a foodservice operation assure a food menu item is served consistently and safely?

“When I meet with restaurant operators to help them with food cost control and profit help, my first question is if they have written recipes.” – Chef Lonnie Varisco: Business Development Manager for Performance Foodservice in the Greater New Orleans Area

A standardized recipe produces a specific quality and quantity of food for a specific restaurant. That recipe is unique to the restaurant and the creative ideas of the person who created the dish. 

Once that standardized recipe is created it will become one of the most powerful documents in a foodservice operation.

  • Recipes are used for training back of the house staff.
  • Recipes provide consistency in the production of menu items.
  • Recipes provide food cost control.
  • Recipes provide knowledge for front of the house staff as a sales tool and to help consumers with dietary concerns and allergies.
  • Recipes should be handed out to each back of the house line cook in a booklet specific to their station.

The measured ingredients in a recipe not only produce consistent food but control your food cost and profit. Recipes reduce waste because a cook is prepping exactly what is needed to produce the menu items.

Recipes provide portion control which is a major factor in food cost control and profit.

Studies show that incorporating food safety instructions in recipe directions improves food safety behaviors.

For readers whose hobby is cooking, the last situation you want is to make someone ill or sick from eating food that was not prepared safely.

According to Pennstate Extension website, a division of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Pennsylvania State University, here are the Key Food Safety Instructions For Recipes:

Here are the instructions:

  1. Start with clean countertops and equipment.
  2. Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. Dry with a single-use paper towel.
  3. If fresh fruits, vegetables, or herbs are included as ingredients, place an asterisk (*) after each item in the ingredient list and use one or all the following as applicable:
  4. Gently rub fresh fruits and vegetables under cold, running water. 
  5. Scrub firm produce with a clean vegetable brush. 
  6. Prepare as directed.
  7. Prewashed, packaged items do not require further washing.
  8. Gently rinse fresh herbs under cold, running water.

For the part time chefs in the kitchen, checkout the website link:

https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-internal-temperatures

So, why not apply the same concept to your safety and health program?

Applying Recipes to Safety

As with any successful recipe it must have steps that are in a certain order.

Here is simple recipe for your safety representative/competent person in charge of your safety and health program: 

  1. Recognize and identify the hazard and/or hazardous condition.
  1. Instruct workers, management and client of the hazard exposure and the hazardous condition.
  1. Decide if the hazard hazardous condition can be eliminated.
  1. If the exposure cannot be eliminated what type of exposure control will be implemented.
  1. Select the control: engineering, administrative, or PPE or a good selection of all.
  1. Apply the control.

Let’s review each step. 

Step 1: Recognizing the Hazard

The ability to recognize and identify a hazard and/or a hazardous condition is a necessary first step. Like a proven recipe this step has to be done.

What does it take to be able to perform this first step? A trained and educated field safety representative/competent person. Recognizing and identifying hazards comes with training and education and experience.

Hazard recognition can be accomplished thru a series of tools. Establishing a pre job assessment of work is necessary. A well thought out job safety analysis or a job hazard analysis should be implemented.

Step 2: Instruction

The word instruct: What is the definition of instruct? “To direct to do something; order, to teach (someone) how to do (something), and to furnish with information.”

Communication is key. Not only having the ability to communicate to workers but also upper management. Again, the risk assessment (JSA or JHA) must have a key component that revolves around communication.

Step 3: Decide if the Exposure Can Be Eliminated

Elimination in this context is the total removal of the hazard to cause any harm at all. An example of elimination would be doing work on the ground instead of in an elevated situation. There by eliminating the fall to lower level hazard.

Step 4: Select a Control Measure

Select a control measure that will put a barrier between the worker and the hazardous exposure. The hierarchy of safety controls is represented by the following categories:

  1. Engineering Control
  2. Administrative Control
  3. Personal Protective Equipment Control

OSHA defines these controls as follows:

  • Engineering Controls: Consist of substitution, isolation, ventilation and equipment modification. Example: reducing the risk of a hazardous dust by using a vacuum system.
  • Administrative Controls: Consist of risk assessments, inspections, audits, training, and education. Example: Having workers attend an OSHA Outreach class that discusses hazard exposure. 
  • Personal Protective Equipment Control: Consist of any piece of equipment that a worker will wear on their body. PPE is required when a separate hazard assessment determines the hazard and the type of PPE that will be appropriate for the reduction of an exposure. For example selecting the appropriate goggle to prevent a chemical splash to the eyes.

Step 5: Application of the Control Measure or a Combination of Controls.

Put these controls in place in a timely manner. Educate workers on how and why these controls will be used.

In order for a safety and health workplace to be successful, a sound process, like a good recipe, will give the organization consistency and uniformity.

How Safety Can Land Industrial Contractors Bigger Jobs

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If bigger jobs is the goal, industrial contractors need to be aware of the importance of their safety personnel. Safety professionals play a vital role in any industrial contracting business, and it is crucial to find the right people for the job.

In this blog, we will discuss how you can find the best safety personnel for your business, and how to manage them effectively.

The importance of safety personnel in the industrial contracting industry

Safety personnel are essential in any industrial contracting business, such as construction, mining, or manufacturing. They are responsible for ensuring the safety of employees and customers, as well as preventing accidents and injuries.

Without proper safety personnel in place, industrial contractors could face a variety of problems. For example, if an accident were to occur, the company would be liable for any damages or injuries sustained. This could result in lawsuits, which could bankrupt the business.

In addition, if safety protocols are not followed, it could lead to OSHA violations. These fines can be very costly, and can damage the reputation of the company. It is important to avoid these problems by having a good process for finding and managing quality safety professionals.

This can be a challenge, but there are ways to make it easier by following a process.

How to find the best safety personnel for your business

When looking for safety personnel, it is important to consider the specific needs of your business.

Some factors you will need to take into account include:

  • The size of your business
  • The type of work you do
  • The type of industry you work in
  • The geographical area you operate in

This information will determine the type of safety personnel you need, and it will also help you narrow down your search.

Once you have a good understanding of your needs, you can start looking for candidates. The best way to find qualified candidates is by using a professional safety recruiting agency. A good recruiting agency will already have a database of qualified candidates and will be able to match the right person with the right job quickly.

The alternative is to post a job ad online and screen potential employees yourself. This can be a good way to attract candidates who are already interested in working in the industrial contracting industry. However, the screening process can be time-consuming and you may not have the resources to properly vet each candidate.

For tips on screening safety professionals, read our blog on important skills to look out for here.

How to manage safety personnel for optimal performance

Once you have found the right safety personnel for your business, it is important to manage them effectively to ensure they are performing at their best and the project continues smoothly.

There are a few key things you can do to manage safety personnel effectively:

  • Set clear expectations
  • Communicate regularly
  • Provide training and development opportunities
  • Monitor performance closely

If you are managing temporary safety personnel, that comes with additional challenges, including:

  • Ensuring the safety professional is adequately trained
  • Ensure logistics are in place
  • Making sure the safety professional understands the project scope
  • Coordinating communication between the safety professional and other project stakeholders

ResponsAble Safety Staffing assigns a project manager to each client specifically for this reason. We are able to provide support and guidance to ensure the success of your project so you can focus on your business.

Common mistakes to avoid in managing safety projects

There are a few common mistakes that companies make when managing safety projects:

  • Not having a clear plan or budget
  • Hiring warm bodies instead of experienced and vetted workers
  • Ignoring interpersonal conflicts
  • Not communicating regularly

As an example, we’ve seen how ignoring interpersonal conflict can lead to disaster. If there is a personality clash between the safety manager and the project manager, it can quickly escalate and result in disruptions on the job site. This can ultimately lead to accidents and injuries due to distractions.

It is important to avoid these mistakes by being proactive and thoughtful about your safety project from start to finish.

The bottom line

Landing bigger industrial contracting jobs requires having quality safety personnel in place. The best way to find and manage safety personnel is by following a process that includes working with a professional safety staffing agency and setting clear expectations. By doing this, you can avoid common mistakes and ensure your safety project is a success.

If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you with your safety staffing needs, contact us today. ResponsAble can provide qualified safety personnel for your next job, including safety technicians, confined space attendants, heavy laborers, hole/fire watch, and more.

For more information on how to find and manage safety personnel for your business, check out our blog.

10 Expectations to Improve Safe Working Conditions and Behaviors

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Let us start with a definition:

Merriam Webster’s definition of expectation:

The act or state of expecting: ANTICIPATION in expectation of what would happen

A few years ago, a group of friends traveled to New York City to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square. They arrived a few days early to tour and explore one of the most iconic cities in the world. As any New York City visit would have it, they ended up using the subway to get around the city. After their first subway ride, the group exited into the subway terminal trying to figure out which line would take them to Little Italy for lunch. They found themselves at the crossroads of subways. While trying to figure out which train to catch, a little lady who was pushing a janitorial cart noticed that they were confused. She approached them asking this question “Hey guys, you need some help?” Of course, she could tell they did. Then without request from the new city visitors she said, “Tell me where you want to go, and I will tell you how to get there.”

Expectations: You have them. I have them. Your workers have them. Your employer has them. Your family has them. Your client has them. McDonalds has them. (They tell us every day that we are going to love it)

Everyone has expectations.

How do we realize what those expectations are?

Communicate them.

Expectations are a two way street. The process is a simple model:

  • Establish a focus on an idea or task
  • Discover possibilities of achieving the idea or task
  • Establish a plan of action
  • Discuss barriers
  • Debrief

As Stephen Covey states “start with the end in mind,” in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

When expectations are set, discussed, and agreed to, we can expect a higher level of achievement.

Across most industrial and construction industries, employers struggle to convince workers to work safe.

However, the best performers have certain traits that seem to accomplish what other organizations cannot.

What sets them apart? The way they approach expectations.

Let us look at 10 expectations that when applied on a consistent basis result in improving safe behaviors and safe working conditions.

Expectation # 1: Safety is not a priority; it is a value.

Get rid of safety first statements and set the expectation that safe work is an established value in the operation. Give employees the right to stop work and encourage the use of this rule. Make sure upper management has established a value statement and they support it. Raise the bar to “stop work obligation.”

Expectation # 2: Employers and workers are to work together.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, the first element of a safety and health system is the implementation of a complementary relationship between employers and workers. Set the expectation that all workers are assured of the relationship.

Expectation # 3: Hazardous conditions and acts are to be reported and communicated.

Establish a proactive system of looking for unsafe acts and conditions. When these potential injury-creating circumstances are discovered, give the worker the process and the permission to announce it and a means to correct it.

Expectation # 5: Communicate and explain the scope of the job and the required outcome.

Communication is a simple model. It involves the sender, the message, the receiver, and the feedback. Set an expectation that each part of this model is effectively implemented.

Expectation # 6: Give positive feedback as well as recommendations for improvement.

Do not just point out the negative. Give equal feedback. Balance the positive feedback with any required improvements.

Expectation # 7: Give respect and encourage engagement.

Build trust by giving respect and encouraging engagement. Learn how to ask a good question. Stay away from always asking closed-ended questions. Ask the following question: “How can we do this job safer?”

Expectation # 8: Confirm honest care for the worker and their families.

“No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care” Theodore Roosevelt. That is, it. Set an expectation of respect and trust.

Expectation # 9: Discuss the hazards associated with the job.

Are workers knowledgeable of the hazards associated with their job? Keep this OSHA regulation front and foremost: 29 CFR 1926.21 (b)(2) “The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.”

Keep improving on the risk assessment. Have a good hazard discussion using a job safety analysis process. Then at the end of the job ask the following questions: What did we do right? How can we improve? Did anyone get hurt?

Expectation # 10: Do not assume that someone else is in charge of your safety.

“Your brother’s keeper.” The phrase is quite common in the workforce. But what does it mean if the employee does not know how to do it? Set clear expectations on how to implement that agreement. Teach hazards and controls. Do not assume that workers know how to “be your brother’s keeper.”

A couple of add-ons:

Start by repeating your company’s vision of safety. What is in it for me? Tough question, but one that needs to be answered. Work on that culture that drives safety because it is the right thing to do.

Create a model for safety leadership. Define what really good safety leaders know, do and care about.

Let us close with a few favorite quotes that belong in this article.

“A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations.” ~ Patricia Neal

“Checking the results of a decision against its expectations shows executives what their strengths are, where they need to improve, and where they lack knowledge or information.” ~ Peter Drucker

President John F. Kennedy challenged all Americans with the following expectation: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Improving Project Safety with ResponsAble

Struggling to find qualified safety professionals for a contracted or direct hire position? As expert safety recruiters, we help you get the job done. ResponsAble is the safety recruiting company that helps you find the right people with the necessary skills to effectively and safely complete the job. Big or small, temporary or permanent. For more information, please submit a contact form here.

4 Safety Professional Skills Critical for Project Success

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As a business specializing in sourcing safety staff, we are pretty good at identifying a prospective employee’s hard skills, practical experience and formal education. A resume, a few interviews and some reference checks provide substantial insight into basic competency for a given safety professional.

The real challenge in sourcing employees who possess the total package of Safety Professional skills is evaluating their soft skills competencies.

89% of respondents to a 2019 LinkedIn Global Talent Trends survey reported that bad hires were a result of lacking soft skills.

Our experience in maintaining a high level of client satisfaction with safety staff echoes the LinkedIn survey results. Problems on projects regarding the Safety Professional’s skills are rarely related to a lack of core safety skills competency, but nearly always tied to a break down in the soft skill arena.

It is common for an industrial or commercial project requiring safety support to include a variety of trades and associated contractors working the job at the same time. The Safety Professional’s skills that have the greatest impact on project success are those that influence the many contractors in a positive way; effectively maintaining a safe workplace while minimizing conflicts and tension.

4 Safety Professional Skills Critical for Project Success

1. Communication

Communication skills lay the foundation for all the other soft skills. Active listening and the ability to articulate concepts clearly are critical to a Safety Professional’s success in effectively collaborating with other employees on a job site. We strongly recommend a substantial portion of the evaluation of prospective Safety Professionals for your project include both their ability to actively listen and their ability to verbalize abstract concepts.

2. Collaboration

Safety Professional Soft Skills must include the ability to effectively collaborate. Few things will turn a job south faster than a “lone wolf” Safety Professional who develops a combative relationship with your tradesman or supervision on site. Evaluating a candidate’s disposition for effective collaboration can be tricky as everyone is putting on their best face for an interview process. Role playing through example situations and looking for longevity in prior assignments are two helpful techniques.

3. Creativity

Creativity is necessary when it comes to effective problem solving. A deficiency of creativity in Safety Professional skills often results in rigidity; the stiff law enforcer rather than the security and safety consultant. All interviews should include specific questioning and role play to allow a candidate to demonstrate their ability to see obstacles and devise creative responses in real time.

4. Adaptability

For the sake of this post, adaptability is synonymous with flexibility. Adaptability and flexibility describe a Safety Professional’s skill with being able to effectively apply their knowledge through changing circumstances and remaining engaged. While creativity is more of an innate capability; adaptability is more of a “want to” criteria. An effective Safety Professional will have a service mentality that demonstrates that they want to provide quality support no matter the circumstances or challenges. Past performance is the best indicator of how flexible an employee is likely to be in the future so careful review of past work roles and feedback from references can be helpful assessing a candidates adaptability for your project.

Why Pay Attention to Soft Skills for Safety Professionals?

The 4 Safety Professional Skills Critical for Project Success described here often end up falling in priority as project start dates compress the hiring timeline. Hiring managers often feel they need the basic hard skills most so may be willing to make an offer to a candidate without thorough vetting for the soft skills.

Don’t do it…

The best way to evaluate a Safety Professional skill set is through personal experience on the job. The next best way is to include specific questioning, roles plays and criteria for measuring critical soft skills throughout your hiring process.

Elevate the priority of the soft skills described to improve your project safety and reduce turnover resulting from bad hires.

ResponsAble’s Safety Staffing Services

Struggling to find qualified safety professionals for a contracted or direct hire position? As expert safety recruiters, we help you get the job done. ResponsAble is the safety recruiting company that helps you find the right people with the necessary skills to effectively and safely complete the job. Big or small, temporary or permanent. For more information, please submit a contact form here.

4 Reasons for Accident Prevention on Your Jobsite

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accident prevention

Safety is what we do. We work to match companies to safety professionals after getting to know the unique needs of our clients.

In our experience it’s been proven that employing high quality safety professionals is the best accident prevention. Besides the tragic outcome of an injury, illness, or even death, accidents have a huge impact on your business. It is in your best interest to make sure that the people working for you are well-trained and experienced so that an accident doesn’t happen on your watch.

Why? Here’s four reasons. 

  1. Protect life and health. The most obvious reason is that preventing destruction of life and health is our primary concern as safety specialists. This is a moral obligation for the health and well-being of our employees. In fact, we believe that failing to take precautions to predict accidents and occupational injuries or illnesses makes management morally responsible for those accidents. If a potential problem or threat exists, and no action steps are taken to prevent an accident, the outcome will fall on you.
  2. Prevent downtime. The second reason for preventing accidents is because accidents and occupational illnesses limit efficiency and productivity because of downtime. This is an indirect cost from an accident, but a very costly one. Replacement labor can cost your company time and resources, along with possible sick pay, repairing damaged equipment, or even OSHA fines.
  3. Protect your reputation. The third reason for preventing accidents is because accidents and occupational illnesses can produce far-reaching social harm to your reputation. Word gets around when accidents happen and it always paints a negative picture of a company in the public eye. We’ve always said that your clients will only think as much of you as they think of your safety personnel. Sending unprepared employees to a job will hurt your reputation because you will be sending them the wrong message about your company. With the right safety staff, you can send a message that says “We take safety and the lives our employees seriously! We do our best in everything.”
  4. Prevent OSHA violations. The fourth reason for preventing accidents is because state and federal legislation mandates management responsibility to provide a safe workplace, so his is a legal requirement. OSHA violations could cost you thousands of dollars a day. Even the most unintentional violation can cause serious harm to your company.

We believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to go for accident prevention. The lives of your employees, your reputation, and your bottom line are all at stake, but they will be in good hands with ResponsAble safety professionals on site. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Our Promise to You: Safety Staffing on Demand

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Safety Staffing on Demand

ResponsAble Safety Staffing delivers a promise to our clients- we provide experienced employees on demand. What exactly does this mean for you and how do we operate to deliver this promise? In this blog, we lay out our promise to you and reveal our secret weapon that allows us to keep up our end of the deal.

Our Promise to You

  • Reliable, worry-free, and affordable staffing
  • The ability to ramp up jobs quickly, only when you need it
  • A ready pool of trained and reliable safety personnel
  • Higher quality people and a work force with more experience

Unlike other staffing agencies, we are 100% focused on Safety Staffing. This means our staff are better screened, better trained, and more experienced. For you, this means fewer hassles, a truly professional image, and most importantly, a safer job site. We are ready and able to supply safety positions on demand. Because we only staff safety personnel, our people are reliable, capable, and dependable.

We work to match people to companies and we are your safety connection. We’ve been doing this long enough to understand that every company culture, open position, and project has unique needs. For this reason, we are able to truly customize our approach.

ResponsAble is ready and able to supply safety positions on demand for

  • Temporary ramp up for quick turnarounds
  • Safety professionals for expansion projects
  • Interim safety positions

Our Secret Weapon

We have a secret weapon that allows us to supply trained personnel to you on demand: it’s our continuously growing database. We don’t wait for the next job to come up to start hiring. Instead, we recruit around the clock, all year long to ensure that our database of quality employees is growing- so that you can grow. This ongoing stream of talent allows us to supply experienced employees on demand.

As one of the few agencies in the country that specializes in industrial safety staffing, we can provide a level of thoroughness, personal attention, and training that no regular staffing agency, or safety consultancy can provide. For you, this means you look better to your clients, you have fewer on site hassles, and your team is safer so they can go home to their families at the end of the day. Contact us at 225-753-1909 to ramp up your next job more quickly and with less hassle.