To download the brochure, click here.

What You Need to Know:

Workplace violence is an extensive problem that effects all forms of work places. In incidents of nonfatal assaults and violent acts by industry, Nursing and Personal Care facilities ranked as THE highest. With many UFCW members working in these facilities it is important to be aware of some statistics and information you may want to use in coordination with your Union and Employer to help prevent these circumstances.

REMEMBER! You have the RIGHT to a safe and harassment free work place.

Employers who would like help in implementing an appropriate workplace violence prevention program can find examples and help at:
www.osha.gov or call 1-800-321-OSHA

Prevention Program
What Should It Include?

A written program for job safety and security, incorporated into the organization’s overall health and safety program. Also Employer Communication Information about the prevention program and a Start Up Date.

• Create a zero tolerance policy for workplace violence, verbal and nonverbal threats, and related actions.
• Ensure that managers, supervisors, coworkers, clients, patients, and visitors know about the policy.
• Ensure there are no repercussions for reporting workplace violence.
• Encourage employees to promptly report incidents and suggest ways to reduce risk.
• Outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining security in the workplace.
• Assign responsibilities and authorities for individuals or teams with appropriate training.
• Affirm management commitment to a worker-supportive environment that places as much importance on employee safety as it does client safety.
• Set up a company briefing as part of the initial effort to address issues. Labor/Management Committees are a good example.

Workplace Violence: Planning Ahead

Health-care and social-service workers face an increased risk of work related assaults due to several factors:

• Prevalence of handguns and other weapons.
• Increased usage of hospitals by police and criminal justice system for reviews or holds.
• Increased number of acute and chronically mentally ill patients being released from care and follow-up visits.
• Drugs and their availability.
• Unrestricted movement of the public in clinics and hospitals, along with waiting times that may lead to client frustration.
• Low staffing levels for the flow of clients.
• Solo work, often isolated and one-on-one.
• Lack of staff training on how to recognize and manage escalating hostile and assaultive behavior.

Prevention Plans

A lot of the controls needed for a very successful prevention program need changes to the actual facility. Short of that, there are also ways to create “controls” for yourself to better handle workplace violence and the following can be a lower cost option of training employees:

• Hazard analysis; recognizing factors that cause irritation that may contribute to violence.
• Early recognition to prevent an escalation. Warning signs or situations that may lead to it.
• Ways to prevent or diffuse volatile situations or aggressive behavior, manage anger, and the behavior that will help you recognize an escalation.
• Ways to deal with hostile people other than the client or patient such as relatives and visitors.
• Knowing the location and operation of safety devices such as alarms.
• Policies and procedures of reporting behavior and record keeping of these events.

The UFCW Local 75 Health and Safety Department

The goal of UFCW Local 75’s Health and Safety Department is to provide workers with the tools they need to address and prevent workplace health and safety hazards. Addressing hazards quickly and appropriately can reduce the number and severity of workplace accidents and illnesses.

Contact Us:

Scott Kesler
Union Representative/ Health & Safety Coordinator
1-800-665-0075 x1124
scott.kesler@ufcw75.org

877-665-0075
www.ufcw75.org
facebook.com/ufcw75
@UFCW75

To download the brochure, click here.

Hazardous Energy Sources

The tagging portion of LOTO includes the placement of placards that state the present power sources and identify locations to isolate these power sources. Many types of power sources can be hazardous to workers, including:

• electrical
• mechanical
• hydraulic
• pneumatic
• chemical
• thermal

Potential Accidents

The following are examples of accidents that could have been prevented by following proper LOTO procedures:

• A steam valve is automatically turned on, burning workers who are repairing a downstream connection in the piping.
• A jammed conveyor system suddenly releases, crushing a worker who is trying to clear the jam. (Source: OSHA)

OSHA Requires Employers To:

• Develop, implement, and enforce an energy control program and energy control procedures.
• Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out.
• Ensure that new or overhauled equipment is capable of being locked out.
• Develop, implement, and enforce an effective tagout program if machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out.
• Use only LOTO devices authorized for the particular equipment or machinery and ensure that they are durable, standardized, and substantial.
• Ensure that LOTO devices identify the individual users.
• Establish a policy that permits only the employee who applied a LOTO device to remove it.
• Inspect energy control procedures at least annually.
• Provide effective training as mandated for all employees covered by the standard.
• Comply with the additional energy control provisions in OSHA standards when machines or equipment must be tested or repositioned, when outside contractors work at the site, in group lockout situations, and during shift or personnel changes.

(Source: OSHA)

What is Lockout/Tagout?

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is a set of procedures designed to reduce the risks of injury due to the accidental power up of machinery or the release of hazardous energy during servicing or maintenance. These procedures require authorized employees to disable the equipment being serviced from the power source.
Employers are required to provide LOTO training to authorized and affected employees. Authorized employees are employees who will be doing the locking out to perform services to machinery. Affected employees are employees who will be working in those areas but not necessarily doing the servicing work.
Locks and tags must meet certain criteria. These criteria ensure that the lock or tag cannot be removed without the knowledge of authorized employees. Employees who are issued LOTO equipment must keep their key to their lock and a tag with their name on it.
There are many different circumstances that may alter the LOTO procedures, such as group LOTO, when an outside contractor performs LOTO, or when an employee is not available to remove the lock or tag.
Employers are required to review LOTO procedures at least once per year. As a union, we have fought for many years to keep employees safe, so WE must make sure this happens.
We need to view LOTO not as just a policy but as an important set of procedures created to help keep us safe.

By the Numbers

120
Estimated number of fatalities prevented each year through compliance with OSHA’s LOTO Standard.

50,000
Estimated number of injuries prevented each year through compliance with OSHA’s LOTO Standard.

24
Average number of workdays lost by workers injured on the job due to hazardous energy exposure.

The UFCW Local 75 Health and Safety Department

The goal of UFCW Local 75’s Health and Safety Department is to provide workers with the tools they need to address and prevent workplace health and safety hazards. Addressing hazards quickly and appropriately can reduce the number and severity of workplace accidents and illnesses.

Contact Us:

Kelly Winston
Union Representative/ Health & Safety Coordinator
1-800-665-0075 x3017
kelly.winston@ufcw75.org

Scott Kesler
Union Representative/ Health & Safety Coordinator
1-800-665-0075 x1124
scott.kesler@ufcw75.org

877-665-0075
www.ufcw75.org
facebook.com/ufcw75
@UFCW75