Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley and Client Technology Coordinator, Brenda Khalil, discuss safety tips from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA, to protect workers during the holiday season.

Show Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alyssa Burley

Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brenda Khalil⁠⁠

Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jadyn Brandt

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “News Room News” by Spence

TRANSCRIPT

Alyssa Burley: Welcome back everyone. My guest is Brenda Khalil, Client Technology Coordinator with Rancho Mesa.

Today, we’re going to discuss safety tips from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – better known as OSHA – to protect workers during the holiday season.

Brenda, welcome to the show.

Brenda Khalil: Good morning Alyssa, thanks for having me.

AB: Well, the start of the holiday season means shopping is ramping up, along with other industries. And, for many businesses and organizations, the holiday season means higher consumer demand and an uptick in business.

To deal with the increase in demand, employers may be hiring new or seasonal workers, bringing in additional volunteers, or expanding their hours. And, despite these changes, safety should still remain a top priority.

Now, OSHA has shared a list of nine safety tips that employers should implement for the holiday season.

Brenda, will you talk us through each of these safety tips, starting with number one?

BK: Of course. So, OSHA’s first tip for the holiday season is to: Train workers on safe practices in the language they speak and understand.

This can include basic safety policies, PPE requirements, or industry-specific safety trainings. So it’s equally important to communicate these policies clearly and effectively. And employers should regularly remind their workers of safe practices in meetings and give trainings when needed.

AB: Right, and Rancho Mesa’s SafetyOne platform has plenty of toolbox talks and trainings that are appropriate for construction, landscape and tree care, home health care, non-profits, and office workers. And, most of them are available in both English and Spanish. And these resources can be used to help teams approach these busy months with safety as their priority.

Now, what can you tell us about the second holiday safety tip?

BK: Well, OSHA’s second safety tip is to: Provide hands-on training for young and new workers on properly using equipment.

That includes thorough explanations on all tasks they will perform. And this is especially important if a worker will be operating equipment in a warehouse or sent out on deliveries.

AB: Good point. Speaking of delivery and warehouse workers, tell us about tip number three.

BK: Well, tip number three recommends: Delivery and warehouse workers should wear bright, visible clothing.

Longer, holiday hours could mean more employees will work late nights or early mornings. And for some people, that could mean part or all of their shifts are done in the dark. So, be sure all workers are wearing the proper clothing and safety gear so that they are visible in all conditions.

AB: Right, and bright colors and reflective vests are definitely recommended for all employees, especially if they’re working in those overnight hours.

So Brenda, what was the fourth safety tip on OSHA’s list?

BK: Well, the fourth safety tip is to: Prevent injuries by properly stacking materials and making sure workers stand clear when doors are opened for unloading.

The holiday season often means more heavy lifting as well. And stocking inventory or loading and unloading delivery trucks can be dangerous if employees are unaware of proper lifting and handling techniques. So, workers should be trained on these proper techniques before handling heavy items.

AB: Right, and proper lifting techniques are very important to help protect the body.

And Rancho Mesa offers an “ABLE Lift Protocol” training through our RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™. It breaks down the proper way to lift without straining your back. I literally think about this training every time I need to lift something whether I’m in the office or at home, it’s that good.

Alright, what can you tell us about OSHA’s fifth holiday safety tip?

BK: Sure. The fifth safety tip is to: Create a detailed and flexible staffing plan to help reduce workplace reduce stress.

And workers may experience heightened stress due to the increased workloads and tight deadlines, so it’s important to be mindful of your employees wellbeing, and avoid overworking employees during the holidays. And keeping a detailed schedule will also help avoid any confusion on busy and unusual days.

AB: That’s definitely an important one to remember. There can be a lot of added stress during the holidays with increased workloads but also an increase in personal commitments like parties, dinner with relatives all of that can add to the stress of the season.

So let’s move on to OSHA’s sixth holiday safety tip.

BK: The sixth tip is: When large crowds are expected, prepare an emergency plan.

The holiday season means many businesses will hire more staff and they may experience an increase in visitors. So, whether you are a landscaper at a shopping mall or providing meals and health services to the community, larger crowds bring unique safety hazards, from crowd control to fire or medical emergencies. Which is why it’s important to have a clear and well-communicated emergency plan in place to deal with these situations.

AB: Absolutely. And having an emergency plan that your employees understand can save a life in case something goes wrong.

And the seventh safety tip is related to having an emergency plan, what can you tell us about that one?

BK: That’s correct. The seventh OSHA safety tip is to: Make sure entrance and exit location signs are visible.

And this goes hand-in-hand with your emergency plan. You’ll want to use clear signage to mark first aid stations, emergency exits and evacuation routes. A communication system—like an intercom—should also be put in place to quickly convey information in place of emergency.

AB: That’s a good point about communication, it’s definitely a necessity when creating an emergency plan.

Alright, we’re getting close to the end of the list. Brenda, what can you say about OSHA’s eighth safety tip?

BK: The eighth holiday safety tip is to: Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

So, create a clear and accessible reporting process, and be sure all employees are made aware of that process at the start of their employment. And if an issue is reported, act on it promptly. Staying aware of and prepared for any potential hazards or health problems can be a huge benefit to you and your team in the long run.

AB: Right, it’s worth it to respond to issues early on rather than ignore them until they become a more serious problem.

Now, what’s the final tip on OSHA’s list of holiday safety tips?

BK: The final tip from OSHA is to: Remember that seasonal workers have the same rights as full-time workers.

During this time, many businesses may hire seasonal workers to meet increased demand. But it is important to remember that seasonal workers are entitled to the same rights and protections as permanent employees. So seasonal workers should not be excluded from safety trainings or benefits, and should be treated the same as full-time workers.

AB: These are all really important tips to remember as we go into the busy holiday season. Proper safety training, emergency preparedness and fostering a climate of safety can help keep businesses and organizations running smoothly through the holidays.

So Brenda, if listeners have questions about OSHA’s tips for worker safety during the holidays, what’s the best way to get in contact with you?

BK: As always, clients can contact me at bkhalil@ranchomesa.com or call me directly at (619) 486-6562.

AB: All right, well Brenda, thank you for joining me in StudioOne™.

BK: Thanks for having me!