Occupational Safety and Health
Compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Workplace safety is a major concern for many workplaces in the country, ensuring that each and every individual is well protected from harm, injury or accidents. How do workplaces comply with the safety regulations and what criteria do they follow?
Workplace safety is regulated and by the “Occupational Safety and Health Act (2007)”,OSHA, which provides the responsibility of the employer and the employee in creating a safe working space. One of the main features outlined by the OSHA act is the use of safety signs to communicate safety instructions effectively.
OSHA guidelines on workplace safety signs
But really, how does OSHA function? OSHA has guidelines on how businesses and workplaces adhere to safety regulations. Some of the guidelines given to employers include:
- Employers should identify and mitigate hazards and risks at workplaces to ensure that employees and visitors are kept safe.
- Employers should provide safety information to employees but informing them of potential danger and the necessary precautions to take to avoid risk of injury or accidents.
- Employers should comply with the “Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services” (DOSHS) to ensure that inspections are conducted to ensure safety compliance at workplaces.
Principles of safety signs installation.
Safety signs are not installed for compliance only, they serve to keep employees, employers and everyone in the workplace environment safe. This means that they follow certain principles outlined by OSHA 2007 to ensure that they communicate their message effectively. Let’s highlight some of them below:
- Use Clear and Understandable Messaging
Safety signs should quickly and effectively communicate their intended message using simple language and symbols recognized universally. This is achieved by using both English and Swahili text to ensure every employee understand the message communicated by the safety sign. Symbols such as exclamation marks an be used for warnings while crosses can be used for prohibitions.
- Ensure Visibility and Readability
Safety signs at workplaces should be placed at designated locations to keep them visible and easy to read at a distance. This is achieved by making use of colors, sizes and fonts that are most appropriate. Safety signs are to be installed at eye level in areas with high traffic. Using colors such as red for danger and yellow for warning makes it easy to distinguish different safety signs. The safety signs are also to be placed in proper lit areas especially in warehouses or construction sites.
- Use Durable and Weather-Resistant Materials
Safety signs are always exposed to the weather especially if they are installed outdoors. This means that they should be made from materials that will not degrade overtime due to long time exposure to weather and environmental conditions such as rain and UV exposure. For outdoor signs, materials such as aluminum or laminated plastic can be used.
Conclusion
Workplace safety signs are simple but powerful tools that are used to prevent accidents and ensure compliance with Kenya’s Occupational Safety and Health Act (2007). By making use of the right type of safety signs and properly installing it at the workplace, employers and employees are guaranteed of a safety culture and a safe working environment.
