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Recently Worker-Trainers from the Tony Mazzocchi Center trained 95 employees (both management and Union) from Theta-Pro2Serve Management Company (TPMC) at the former Uranium, Enrichment Plant in Piketon, Ohio in Systems of Safety Hazard Mapping.
In Hazard Mapping, workers make valuable contributions to health and safety based on their collective skills, experience, and know-how. A Hazard Map is a visual representation of the workplace where there are hazards that could cause injuries or illness. The Hazard Mapping process can be used to identify risks in an entire area, building, job classification, or process. For example these maps might target physical hazards, frequency of exposure, level of exposure, a specific chemical or agent, or workers most likely to be exposed. These hazards are assigned a category color code and a level of hazard from 1 (low hazard) to 4 (very high hazard).
In the classrooms 18 maps were created detailing hazards at a loading dock, HVAC room, office areas, and even behind a liquor store in Piketon. Many hazards have not only been identified and mapped out but many hazards have been eliminated that may not have been had it not been for the Systems of Safety Hazard Mapping Process. Hazards already eliminated include: trip hazards, machine guarding hazards, chemical storage hazards, unsecured shelving, a lack of GFCI on electrical outlets hazard, housekeeping, improperly stored combustibles, improper tools, and ergonomic hazards.
Currently the Hazard Mapping process is being evaluated for ways of incorporating as a tool into the formal hazard review process, however one department has already taken the ball and ran with it. The Records Management and Document Control Dept. has created hazard maps of their work areas and have displayed their maps at the entrances for others entering to be aware of hazards that may exist.
If you are looking for ways to improve Health and Safety at your workplace I highly recommend the Tony Mazzocchi Center’s 8 Hour Systems of Safety Hazard Mapping Project training. It’s a simple process to identify, alert, fix, track, and trend hazards in the workplace. For us, it has been a great success story.
Submitted by Mike Horton, Local 1-689.