Promoting occupational safety and health at your facility extends far beyond the provision of personal protective equipment.  To assist you, OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has published  Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program which will provide a good overview of what your program should cover.

As the presentation indicates, awareness is key to a good occupational safety program.  Employers must ensure that employees are aware of the hazards associated with the products and processes they are using.  Provision of access to product MSDS' is a part of this requirement.  Guidance on How to Read a Generic MSDS  is also available.

You will find a Safety Topic included in each publication of Refinisher News. In addition, OSHA has produced a video which provides insight into their policies around inspection. If you’ve never experienced an OSHA inspection, this video will help you to be prepared. A link to the video can be found here.

Additional helpful links from OSHA and the U.S. EPA:
General Guidance from OSHA
Respiratory Protection Program Template (EPA)
Health and Safety Management Best Practices Checklist (EPA)
Auto Refinish General Shop Best Practices (EPA)
Workplace Poster Requirements

EnviroSafe™, our vendor partner, routinely provides a Safety Topic in a reproducible poster format to assist you in raising the level of awareness at your worksite.  Check this page periodically for updates.

Safety & Environmental Alerts
Avoiding Eye & Skin Injuries
Compressed Air and Gas Safety
Electric & Air Powered Tools
Emergency Procedures
Emergency Review
Fire Prevention Tips
Handling Chemical Spills & Leaks
Personal Protection Equipment
Preventing Back Injuries
Understanding Container and HMIS Labels
Understanding the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)