ANAD prepares for Stage 2

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- The depot took on the Occupational Safety and Health Association Challenge last year and the installation is poised to move into Stage 2.

According to OSHA, Stage 1 of the challenge requires the organization to "assess, learn and develop." Throughout the 10 months the depot has worked through this phase, the Safety Office and the Special Projects Office have worked together to rewrite the installation's safety regulation, ANAD 385-1.

The new regulation is intended to be more specific, user-friendly and sustainable. Once the document is approved by depot and union officials, employees will be able to view the new regulation, which will be stored in each work center's Go-to Resource book.

"They will be able to look and see what's in 385-1," said Steve Cain from the Special Projects Office. "It explains the safety procedures better than the previous version."

For example, according to Cain, the new document spells out the steps employees must take when repairs involve confined spaces. The previous version of 385-1 left some uncertainties regarding the responsibilities for confined spaces work. The updated version spells everything out in detail.

"There are a lot of new regulations which will come out of the update to 385-1," said Shrene Woods, who served as a union representative throughout Stage 1.

The improved safety regulation is still being reviewed, but, once it is approved the Special Projects Office is ready to proceed to Stage 2.

Stage 2 will entail much more employee involvement, but many employees may not notice much of a difference, since the Special Projects Office, knowing the future requirements, increased employee involvement during Stage 1.

For example, according to Tommy Dulaney, the Special Projects team focused on setting up documents for safety meetings in Stage 1 and throughout Stage 2 they will turn their attention to ensuring the meetings take place.

The office will be looking for more employee involvement throughout Stage 2. They want to see more job hazard analyses written, covering every process within the work center with the possibility for an injury or illness.

The team also wants to see more employees reminding each other and visitors to the shop of the proper safety precautions to take when entering the work areas.

"We are basically trying to get employees to have a culture change," said Cain. "They are going to have to take on the roles of safety professionals in their shops."

According to Dulaney, some of this has already begun to be seen throughout the industrial area.

"I'm already seeing culture changes with employees in the shops requiring people to wear personal protective equipment," he said.

Scotty Arrington, the chief of the Special Projects Office, said employees can expect more training in Stage 2. This training will focus on the purpose of the PPE employees must wear and the safety data sheets available to describe hazardous material.

"The training will also have continuous improvements," said Arrington. "Training will be reviewed and looked at for improvements."

The first continuous improvement check has recently been completed - employees took an OSHA Challenge survey to gauge their view of the safety and health program here.

Over 1,000 employees responded to the survey.

"This allows us to bring employees in and get their input on the safety program," said Arrington.

The desired end result of the culture change is a workforce which doesn't need the Safety Office to tell them something is wrong. Issues and unsafe working conditions will be identified by the employees themselves and suggestions made to improve safety in every work area.

"We want something sustainable to help the employees go home safely every day," said Cain.

Arrington said he would like to see employees in each work area wearing PPE without being reminded of the rules.

"The employee has to put safety first," said Arrington. "Not rely on the Safety representative to come by."

Benefits of participating in the OSHA Challenge:

• Increased focus on worker safety and health at all levels of the Challenge participant's organization.

• Increased worker involvement in safety and health issues.

• Increased chances of being contracted by a company due to having an effective safety and health management program (also known as "preferred bidders status").

• Increased profitability by providing better leverage for negotiating liability insurance and Workers' Compensation premiums.

• Improved and/or revised safety and health policies and procedures.

• Creation of a collaborative and positive relationship with OSHA.