In partnership with L&I’s Small Business Outreach Team, the Edmonds Chamber is here to help understand requirements and learn about the many tools and resources available from L&I.
How the Chamber Can Help
- Provide 1-on-1 consultations with Chamber staff to help navigate and communicate with L&I
- Up-to-date workplace posters required for L&I compliance (stop by the Chamber office or order them HERE)
- Trainings with information specific to our region’s small businesses
- L&I Top 10 Health & Safety Violations Workshop | WATCH THE VIDEO
- Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | 7:30am – 9am | WATCH THE VIDEO
- Thursday, March 23, 2023 | Time TBD
The 7 Most Common L&I Safety and Health Violations
From Oct. 2020 – Sept. 2021 | Excluding Construction & Agriculture
Create a Workplace Safety Program
An APP will help you prevent costly workplace injuries and keep workers working. Your unique APP is based on the hazards you have identified in your workplace and the safety methods you’ve chosen to manage those hazards.
An Accident Prevention Program (APP) is the foundation of your overall safety and health program and will help you document and organize your safety procedures. All employers are required to create and follow an APP and keep it up to date, but your business may also need other safety programs based on your workplace hazards. For example, if you have hazardous chemicals, you will need a Hazard Communication Program.
An effective safety program engages workers and ensures they are properly trained, participate in safety meetings or committees, and share their ideas and concerns to improve workplace safety.
Accident Prevention Program (APP)
Get helpful tools and samples to help you create and maintain your required APP.
Other Safety Programs
Browse the list of required safety programs that may apply to your business.
Identify your training needs
Depending on the hazards in your workplace, see what training requirements apply.
Hold safety meetings
Do you need to hold safety meetings or have a safety committee? Find the requirements that apply to your business and resources to help you get organized.
All employers in Washington are required to provide a safe workplace for their employees. Whether you’re a large or small employer, finding and fixing hazards helps you create that safe workplace.
Finding and fixing workplace hazards reduces the risk for injuries and illness, which decreases direct and indirect costs to your business. It is also the foundation for your required safety programs, starting with an Accident Prevention Program (APP).
You can use the information on L&I’s GET STARTED WITH SAFETY & HEALTH to help you find and fix hazards on your own. L&I also provides no-cost, professional safety and health consultants if you need more help.
The Hazard Communication rule requires you —the employer — to inform and train your employees about hazardous chemicals in your workplace.
The Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication (GHS) is an international approach to hazard communication which provides standardized requirements for container labeling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). It provides a common approach to classifying chemicals and communicating information on their hazards. (See a sample SDS for bleach here)
In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information about the identities and hazards of the chemicals must be available and understandable to workers. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information.
Your Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication (GHS) must have:
- Written Hazard Communication Plan (fill-in-the-blank templates here)
- Safety training on all hazardous materials with documentation that employees received training.
- Have a designated, accessible place where the Safety Data Sheets are kept.
- SDS’s often come with orders of hazardous chemicals. If you don’t receive one request it from the manufacturer.
- Ensure all hazardous chemicals are labeled to OSHA standards:
- The Hazard Communication rule requires that all workplace containers of hazardous chemicals, including pesticides, be labeled, tagged or marked with at least the following information:
- Product identifier
- Signal word
- Hazard statement(s)
- Pictogram(s)
- The Hazard Communication rule requires that all workplace containers of hazardous chemicals, including pesticides, be labeled, tagged or marked with at least the following information:
Label Sample SDS Station Example
Want More info? Here’s the full “Employer’s Guide to the Hazard Communication Rule“.
We found the checklist on pg. 3 particularly helpful.
This provides an established method of communicating and evaluating safety and health issues brought up by you or your employees in your workplace.
Worker participation on safety committees or in safety meetings can strengthen your safety culture and help you prevent costly workplace injuries.
Rules
If your company falls under general industry safety requirements (i.e, not construction or agriculture), follow the criteria in WAC 296-800-130 and learn which requirements apply to you:
For a PDF of tips for Safety Meetings and a template for tracking them, follow this link:
SAFETY COMMITTEES & MEETINGS PDF
Depending on the hazards in your workplace, workers may need to use personal protective equipment (PPE). Personal protective equipment is worn to protect the eyes, face, head, body, arms, hands, legs, and feet from hazards.
Before PPE is used, employers must:
- conduct a PPE assessment to identify hazards,
- determine what PPE is appropriate, and
- provide training to ensure correct use and maintenance.
PPE must be addressed in your required Accident Prevention Program.
Examples of PPE include the following:
- Hardhats.
- Eye protection and face shields.
- Noise & Hearing protection.
- Respirators.
- High-visibility vests and ballistic vests.
- Fall protection systems.
- Protective gloves.
- Chaps.
- Steel-toe shoes and safety boots.
A Respiratory Protection Program is required for respirator use.
For more details, including specific requirements, videos, training and prevention visit L&I’s PPE Page
OSHA’s COVID-19 Safety and Health Topics page provides specific information about protecting workers from Covid-19 during the ongoing outbreak.
You must make sure first-aid supplies are readily available.
You must make sure first-aid supplies at your workplace are appropriate to:
- Your occupational setting.
- The response time of your emergency medical services.
You must make sure that first-aid supplies are:
- Easily accessible to all your employees.
- Stored in containers that protect them from damage, deterioration, or contamination. Containers must be clearly marked, not locked, and may be sealed.
- Able to be moved to the location of an injured or acutely ill worker.
Note: First-Aid kits from your local retailer or safety supplier should be adequate for most non-industrial employers.
To ensure you provide appropriate safety and first-aid supplies, we encourage you schedule an appointment with an L&I Safety Consultant. They’re free, confidential and help you avoid costly injuries or fines. Request a Safety Consultant Here
Thinking of a doing some improvements or repairs to your workspace?
Building owners and construction contractors both share responsibility for asbestos testing when doing work on the building.
Get an asbestos survey performed by an AHERA certified building inspector prior to any construction, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition project regardless of the age of the building. Find an AHERA certified building inspector HERE (choose: Program- Asbestos Fiber Analysis / Location- USA. Those are the only 2 fields you need to enter)
For all the details on dealing with Asbestos: L&I ASBESTOS
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On Video