Able Staffing

Safety First Program

"One of the primary objectives of ABLE, LLC is to provide a safe and healthy working environment for each of our employees.  Controlling the work environment and the actions of employees can help to prevent injuries.

Employee safety is to be the first consideration in the operation of this business.  Management has committed to provide all mechanical and physical facilities to attain the highest standards of personnel safety and health.  Safe practices on the part of the workers must be part of all operations.  Employees must understand their personal responsibility for the prevention of injures on and off the job.  All injuries can and should be prevented

We will maintain a safety and health program that conforms to the best practices for similar businesses.  To succeed, the program must represent the proper attitudes toward injury and illness prevention on the part of both supervisors and employees.  Cooperation in all safety and health matters is required.  Only through such cooperation, can a safety program be established and preserved.

Our objective is a safety and health program that will reduce the number of injuries and illnesses to an absolute minimum.

We have taken the responsibility of leadership in the safety and health program, for its effectiveness and improvement, and for the training and safeguards required to ensure safe conditions.  In turn, we ask each employee to accept the responsibility for whole hearted, genuine cooperation with all aspects of the safety and health program, including compliance with all rules and regulations, and for continuously practicing safety while performing his or her job."

 Rodney Lemons

CEO of Able Staffing, LLC

 

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Safety rules and safe work practices are designed as a preventive tool to ensure your safety.  They are only as effective as your willingness to cooperate.  These guidelines are NOT optional.

• Know the safe work practices of your job assignment. Your supervisor will provide this information to you

• If you are unsure of any job task you are asked to perform, notify your supervisor and ask for instructions

• If you are asked to perform duties other than those specified by your assignment, contact your supervisor.

• Under no circumstances will alcohol, inhalants, illegal drugs, or controlled substances be permitted on the job. Anyone known to be under the influence of any of these substances will not be permitted to work and may be terminated.

• Pay attention to your work and your surroundings. Avoid horseplay and be alert to moving equipment and all machinery.

• Report any unsafe conditions immediately to your supervisor.

• If you observe another employee engaged in an unsafe act, notify your supervisor.

• Report any accident or injury that resulted from your job related duties to your supervisor and seek first aid/medical attention. The injury shall be reported to your supervisor no later than the end of the shift on which you suffered the injury.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE

• The area supervisor will inform you of the locations of emergency exits as well as evacuation assembly points.

• In the event of an emergency, follow the instructions of your supervisor. You are not to use fire extinguishers or other fire fighting equipment, nor are you to become involved in rescue operations unless you have been trained to do so.

SAFE LIFTING PRACTICES

• Always assess the object before lifting it. Make sure the load is stable and balanced. Carefully and slowly apply force against the object to determine its weight. If it is too heavy, get help!

• Plan a route that is free of tripping and slipping hazards. Ensure that the planned route allows for easy travel.

• Follow approved lifting techniques, i.e. face the load, make sure your feet are on level firm ground, bend your knees, grasp the load securely and raise the load keeping your back as straight as possible.

• Use leg muscles to lift the load, never use the back.

• Keep the load close to your body.

• Never lift while your body is twisted, especially the lower back, and don’t twist your body when moving objects that you have already lifted. Pivot your feet and turn your entire body in the direction of movement.

• Do not block your vision with the load, especially while moving.

• Do not lift more than 40 pounds without permission from your supervisor.

PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

Many times there are conditions present in the workplace that require the use of personal protection equipment, i.e. hard hats, safety glasses, etc. When such conditions exist at your job assignment you will be informed of the type of personal protection equipment required, and how to use and care for it. In most cases the personal protection equipment will be provided for you, and it is your responsibility to use it. Examples of personal protection equipment you may be required to use are as follows.

• Hard Hats- provide protection form overhead hazards.

• Safety Glasses/Goggles- provide protection from airborne particles, sparks, and some liquid splashes.

• Safety Shoes- provide protection from objects falling on feet and sharp objects penetrating shoe soles.

• Hearing Protection-provides protection from high-level noise exposure.

• Gloves- depending on the type of glove, provides protection from harmful liquids, heat, surface contact hazards, or a combination of the preceding.

• Boots and Aprons- provide protection from wet environments.

• Dust Masks- provide protection from nuisance dust exposure. Employees will not be permitted to engage in tasks requiring negative pressure or positive pressure respirators without permission from this office.

• Welding Hoods- provide protection to the eyes from welding arc. Only ANSI approved welding hoods that meet tint requirements shall be used.

TOOLS

• Always use the correct tool for the task being performed.

• Do not attempt to use any tool that you are unfamiliar with until you have received instructions and authorization.

• Do not use damaged tools.

• When using hand held electrical tools, make sure there are no signs of physical damage to the tool body; always check to see that the cord is not damaged and the plug has no exposed wiring or missing prongs.

• Wear safety glasses or goggles when using any tool that could produce airborne particles, chips, etc.

• Your supervisor will provide you with instructions on the safe operation of all equipment and machinery. You will also be informed about the operation of all safety devices and equipment guards. Do not operate any equipment until you have received these instructions.

• Never attempt to tamper with or bypass any machine safety device or guard.

• Do not operate any machinery that has broken, defective, or missing safety devices or guards. Notify your supervisor immediately if such conditions exist.

• Never assume the power is off to any piece of equipment. Your supervisor will inform you of your restrictions as an affected employee under the company’s Lockout/Tag out Program.

• Never place any part of your body into the point of operation of any machine.

• Do not attempt to perform maintenance or service on any equipment unless you have been trained to do so.

• Do not wear loose clothing, rings, and jewelry or allow hair to dangle when operating machinery.

• Always wear required personal protection equipment when operating machinery or equipment.

MOBILE POWERED EQUIPMENT

• Do not operate any forklift devices, pallet jacks, tractors, or mobile powered machinery unless you have received certified training, and have been instructed to do so by your supervisor.

WORKING FROM ELEVATIONS AND IN EXCAVATIONS  

• Employees are prohibited from elevated working areas without prior approval from their supervisor.  If you are approved to work in an elevated area above 6 feet in height full perimeter protection or personal fall protection devices must be used, there are no exceptions.

• Examples of elevated work include roofing, high-rise construction, window washing above the first floor, exterior construction or maintenance above the first floor, etc.

• Employees are prohibited from working in or around excavations that exceed 4 feet in depth without prior approval from their supervisor, there are no exceptions.

• If you are asked to work in an excavation or from an elevation and you do not have prior approval, contact the office immediately.

Hazardous Substances

Hazardous substances come in many forms. They can be flammable gases or liquids, caustics, pressurized gases, fuels, fumes, etc. You will receive information pertaining to all hazardous substances in your work area from the area supervisor. If you are not provided this information before you start work or do not understand this information, notify the office immediately. The information you will be provided will address the following:

• Health and physical hazards associated with hazardous substances/chemicals in the workplace.

• Methods to protect yourself from exposure to the hazardous substances/chemicals.

• How to detect the presence or release of hazardous substance/chemicals.

• How to use the customer’s container labeling program as well as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for hazardous substances/chemicals.

• Remember that you have the right to read the MSDS for hazardous substances/chemicals in your work area. This information sheet will provide physical property information as well as precautionary information.

• All of this information will be contained in the company’s Hazard Communication Program.

OFFICE SAFETY

Office areas present their own safety hazards.  Office workers may be hurt if they slip, trip, or fall, or they may suffer back injuries, etc.  They may be seriously injured if they do not know how to get out of the building during a fire of something other emergency.  In effort to protect you from injury, the following rules have been developed:

• Never run in the office.

• Do not stand on swivel chairs, folding chairs, etc., to reach high shelves.  If an object must be obtained from a high shelf obtain a step stool or folding ladder appropriate for the task.

• Arrange office space to avoid tripping hazards, such as telephone cords or computer cables.

• Leave desk, file or cabinet drawers/doors firmly closed when not in use, and only open a single drawer of a file cabinet at a time.

• Remember to lift things carefully and to use proper lifting techniques, i.e. bend the knees, keep the back straight, lift with the legs, etc.

• If an object is too heavy or awkward to lift/move safely ask for help, and never carry and object that blocks your view.

• When going up or down stairs always have one hand free to hold on to the handrail.

• Use only equipment you have been trained to operate, and report any equipment that is not operating properly.

• Use staplers and paper cutters with care.  Never overload or force them.  Paper cutters should be left closed and latched when not in use.  Handle scissors and sharpened pencils carefully.

• Know the emergency procedures, i.e. emergency evacuation, fire safety, etc., where you work.

• If you are required to use chemical products such as copier toner or whiteboard cleaners, know the hazards of the product.  Ask to see the product Material Safety Data Sheet if you are unsure of the hazards.

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY

• All operators of Company motor vehicles must practice defensive driving when operating those vehicles.

• All operators of Company vehicles must have appropriate valid driver’s licenses.

• The Certificate of Insurance coverage and other required documents, along with Company accident forms should be carried in all Company owned vehicles.

• All drivers of Company motor vehicles must be familiar with and abide by state, federal and local traffic regulations.

• Seat belts must be worn at all times by occupants of Company vehicles and personal cars used on Company business.

• Equipment on all Company motor vehicles must conform to state, federal, and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

• Picking up hitchhikers is prohibited.

• Any automotive accident involving a company owned, rendered or leased vehicles, major or minor, must be reported as soon as possible to the supervisor, and required Company, federal, and state accident forms must be completed.

• Vehicles equipped with catalytic converters should not be driven onto grassy spots or an area where gas accumulations are possible, since the extremely hot converter can create a fire hazard.

• A driver should make it a habit to look around the vehicle for potential hazards before each use.

• Driving at the maximum posted speed limit can be too fast for safety in some situations.  The driver of a Company vehicle should use good judgment and proceed at a pace suitable to conditions of the vehicle, the road, the traffic and the weather.

• Smoking is prohibited near a vehicle being refueled.

• Do not carry loose items such as hard hats, books, etc., on the rear package tray of passenger car.

• No gasoline or diesel fuel should be added to the fuel tank of a motor vehicle while the engine is running.  If a servicing unit equipped with an engine is used to fuel the vehicles, the engine of that unit should be shut off unless its power is needed to deliver the fuel.