Training
The KSA model for safety education is accomplished in three phases: instruction, training, and evaluation to ensure employees have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to work safe on the job.
Employees must instructed on OSHA regulations, company safety policies, programs, procedures, and how to avoid unsafe conditions. They must be trained on how to properly use and maintain tools, equipment, and machinery. Finally, they must be evaluated by a competent person and certified as competent to use equipment and perform procedures.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers are held accountable by OSHA to develop a suitable safety training program. It's important to know that OSHA will ALWAYS inspect the safety training program during an OSHA inspection.
- Train workers in the work zone to recognize hazards associated with the use of the equipment and any related duties that they are assigned to perform.
- Ensure crane operators are qualified or certified according to OSHA standards.
- Ensure signal person meets qualification requirements according to OSHA standards.
- Instruct workers in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.
- Ensure qualified operators and riggers have been trained on rigging safety, such as:
- know the weight [of load] the rigging is expected to support
- know the capacity of the strength of the rigging (type and method of use)
- retain the load – know which hitches work best for certain types of loads
- control the load – know which hitches provide good load control and where the center of gravity of the load is
Description of Accident
Employees were dismantling grain spouts at a grain elevator. Sections of the spout were connected by collars. A ten foot section of a spout weighing 600 pounds was being pulled through a vent hole by a 5-ton winch. As the spout was being pulled through the opening to the outside, the spout became wedged at the point where the collar was to pass through. Several employees used pry bars to free the collar which was under tension. The spout popped out of the vent striking and killing an employee who was standing beside the spout. Employer provided but did not require use of hard hats.
Inspection Results
As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued two citations alleging serious violations. The employee should have been able to recognize that this situation was hazardous. Additionally, the investigation revealed that this employee was not wearing personal protective equipment in this hazardous situation. Had he been wearing a hard hat this death might have been prevented.
What would you recommend?
Recommendations
Employees must be instructed in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions. They must also be instructed in the regulations applicable to the work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury [29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2)].
For more information on OSHA training requirements see OSHA Pub 2254, Training Requirements in OSHA Standards, and OSHAcademy course 701 Introduction to OSHA Training.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-7. According to the KSA model, successful safety education improves _____.
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