Act now, before someone gets hurt | Gwinnett Business Journal

by Cliff Ennico

When it comes to your employees? safety, take heed because even one lawsuit can put you out of business.

Question: My small business has grown and our office space hasn?t kept up. People are working two to a cubicle, and there are piles of boxes in the aisles and against walls. I?m concerned about workplace safety, but I don?t know if my company is big enough to comply with federal OSHA rules. What should we be doing to protect our employees?

Answer: A lot of small business owners are afraid of OSHA, the government agency charged with regulating workplace safety. And rightly so ? the OSHA rules are complex, and if an OSHA audit uncovers safety issues, the penalties can range from a warning to fines in the tens of thousands of dollars. Follow these tips:

• Confirm your business is in compliance with Georgia?s workers? comp insurance laws.
• Talk with an insurance broker to assess your coverage.
• Download a free OSHA poster to post in a conspicuous place.
• Contact your local OSHA office about training and educating your staff.
• Ask your trade or professional association about OSHA?s Alliance Program or Partnership Program.
• Use a common sense approach to de-clutter or redesign your work environment.
• Meet monthly to give employees a safe forum to tell you about safety hazards.

If you learn of a potential hazard, fix it that very day (or as soon as you can get a contractor on site), even if you feel the hazard isn?t serious enough to warrant immediate attention. Encourage your employees to speak up about perceived safety hazards so the OSHA inspectors won?t have to.

Attorney Clifford R. Ennico is a nationally syndicated columnist and author. This excerpt from a previously published column is no substitute for legal, tax or financial advice, which can be furnished only by a qualified professional licensed in your state.

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Source: http://gbj.com/2012/11/08/act-now-before-someone-gets-hurt/

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