From the
Keeping Your Employees Safe
By Jim Hieb
Chief Executive Officer Natural Stone Institute
We’ve been talking this year about ways the Natural Stone Institute helps our members do the following:
- Get recognized
- Connect with buyers and suppliers
- Make more money
- Streamline operations
- Access key information
- Build a network of industry colleagues and key connections
- Keep employees safe
Last time, I highlighted several ways to utilize your membership to “get recognized.” Now it’s time to talk employee safety
For many years NSI has been a leader in safety training because of the leadership of our safety committee and the quarry safety committee.
Their combined efforts have produced training documents, toolbox talks, and webinars for many topics, including general safety, slab handling, silicosis prevention, inspection checklists, job hazard analysis, and installation safety.
I could write volumes about these vast resources, but I want to highlight two elements:
NEW EMPLOYEES
We know that 75% of stone industry injuries come during the first year of employment. I strongly encourage you to utilize the sample training program for new employees resources that can be found on the NSI website.
SILICOSIS PREVENTION
Our technical module Silicosis: An Industry Guide to Awareness and Prevention states it best:
Protecting the workplace and employees from respirable crystalline silica and silicosis should be one of the most important objectives of every company in the natural stone industry.
There is no cure for silicosis. But with the proper equipment, training, vigilance, and continual monitoring, you and your shop can be free of the dangers of the most common occupational lung disease in the world.
Every company can achieve the highest levels of worker safety by demanding, training, implementing, and enforcing the existing accurate and safe manufacturing, fabrication, and installation practices required to prevent diseases caused by dust exposure.
Every employer can take the following action items:
- Embrace Training: The Natural Stone Institute offers a variety of online resources that can be incorporated into your company’s training program. Take advantage of our silica safety training certificate.
- Monitor Employee Exposure: Employ RCS (respirable crystalline silica) monitoring services to determine the risk levels for specific employees, jobs, and areas within your shop so you can best focus training and resources to improve safety. Testing options include free OSHA On-Site Consultation services or paid third party testing by industrial hygiene and safety companies. This first step can help you determine where employee training, increased housekeeping efforts, or additional dust prevention equipment is needed.
- Partner with Suppliers: Learn from your equipment and tooling suppliers about technological advances (including regular air monitoring, safer cutting options, air filtration, and available PPE) to help keep your employees safe. Explore all options and opportunities to minimize RCS exposure for employees.
The NSI is also working on rededicating its silicosis-safety resources as part of an industry-wide effort for education and prevention. You'll be seeing more details soon.
You’ve heard me say before that “membership is a great investment in your business and your people!” Honor your people by putting their safety first. Take advantage of the resources available to you.
My very best!
Jim
The information herein is provided by the Natural Stone Institute as a general summary for use in job site toolbox talks and is provided to augment and not substitute for or replace required training under any applicable local, state or federal workplace statute, law or regulation. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure this content is consistent with job site requirements and applicable statutes, laws or regulations prior to use and make any required additions or changes.