Developing A Policy for Material Handling Safety
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Material handling magazine offers a guide for writing an employee safety policy
Dewitt, NY - The Third Quarter 2010 issue of The MHEDA Journal (http://www.themhedajournal.org), the leading online magazine for the forklift, storage and handling, and general material handling equipment industries, features an article from Rudy Cuevas, corporate safety administrator at Associated Material Handling in Addison, Illinois, about writing a safety policy for a material handling distributorship. The Third Quarter issue was mailed to subscribers on July 15 and is now accessible online at www.TheMhedaJournal.org.
"Employees are often in dangerous or physically demanding situations where attention to safety is critically important," Cuevas writes. "With the cost of Workers" Compensation today, it's essential even for small businesses to have policies in place to mandate safe behavior by employees. And if it's not in writing, people don't take it seriously."
Among the issues to consider in developing a policy are its purpose, scope, roles and responsibilities, training, actions and necessary documentation. Some areas where safety policies may be useful include personal protective equipment, service technician equipment, fleet safety, accident investigation, hazard communication and lockout/tagout. Enforcing the policy is the most important part. Cuevas writes that "it looks worse to have a policy and not enforce it than to not have a policy at all."
Read the full article, "Writing A Safety Policy" here. The Third Quarter issue is the first to be showcased on a newly launched, redesigned website at www.TheMhedaJournal.org. The new look allows for more frequent updates and better reader interaction. The MHEDA Journal is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October. For more information, contact Chris Powers, editor of The MHEDA Journal, (315) 445-2347, e-mail: chris@datakey.org.
About MHEDA
Founded in 1954, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (www.TheMhedaJournal.org), e-magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (www.wikimheda.org), MHEDA connects the manufacturers of storage and handling, lift trucks and conveyor equipment and distribution leaders for the purpose of delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. MHEDA publications are the industry's voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning the movement and storage of all materials. A 501(c)3 organization, MHEDA members span all of North America.
