Safety Policy
1.0 Purpose and Scope
To define the Flanders Electric corporate safety policy.
2.0 Safety Policy
The management of Flanders Electric Motor Service (FE) is committed to the safety of their employees. This commitment is evident in the following corporate safety plan; additionally, this plan is written to satisfy inquiries about Flanders Electric's overall commitment to safety as applicable to paragraph (h) Contractors in the OSHA Standard for: Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (29 CFR 1910.119).
2.1 Flanders Electric's Safety Policy Statement:
Accident prevention is of prime importance. Accident control involves the safety and well being of our employees and the public, in addition to affecting costs and profits. Management has every desire to provide a safe working environment for its employees. To accomplish this, management feels there is nothing more important than making certain that: employees are provided with any and all required safeguards to ensure safe working conditions; employees are provided neat, clean, safe, attractive, and healthful working conditions; all equipment, tools, and machines are kept in good repair; safe work methods are studied and developed and employees are trained in these methods, and that Flanders Electric complies with federal, state, and local laws regarding accident prevention and working conditions.
Management recognizes that more than safety is involved, because the existence of accident hazards is proof of a wasteful, inefficient operation. Accidents lead to complaints, dissatisfaction, interference with work plans, and loss of good will. The success of the Safety Program depends on the sincere, constant, and cooperative effort of all Flanders Electric's employees and their active support and participation. Any known hazard must be reported immediately to supervision.
It is the responsibility of the Owners, the Safety Department, Managers, Coordinators, Shift Foremen, and Department Foremen to enforce the elements of the Flanders Electric Safety Program.
It is the responsibility of all Flanders Electric employees to report any safety issues to a Supervisor. Periodic inspections shall be performed to ensure safe work practices are being followed.
ANY Flanders Electric employee who does not follow safety procedures and guidelines, written or verbal, will be considered in violation of the Flanders Electric Safety Program. Managers, Coordinators, and Foremen shall be under the same level of disciplinary action or greater for safety violations or the allowing of safety violations in their departments. Violations of the Safety Program are considered a violation of the Employee Conduct and Work Rules. Although Flanders Electric prefers to correct employee safety violations through retraining, such violations may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. A conference with the employee will be held with a member of Management to announce the disciplinary action to be taken. Enforcement and adherence to the Flanders Electric Safety Program is ultimately the responsibility of the Flanders Electric Management Team.
2.2 Employee Conduct and Work Rules
To ensure orderly operations and provide the best possible work environment, Flanders Electric expects employees to follow rules of conduct that will protect the interests and safety of all employees and the organization. Flanders Electric reserves the right to take any disciplinary action appropriate to protect these interests. All employees have a duty to cooperate with any investigation of work place policy violations.
It is not possible to list all the forms of behavior that are considered unacceptable in the work place. The following are examples of infractions of rules of conduct that may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment:
- Violation of Safety or health rules and policies
- Theft or inappropriate removal of possession of property
- Falsification of timekeeping records
- Working under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
- Possession, distribution, sale, transfer, or use of alcohol or illegal drugs in the workplace, on duty, or while operating employer-owned vehicles or equipment
- Fighting or threatening violence in the workplace
- Boisterous or improper activity or horseplay in the workplace
- Negligence or improper conduct leading to damage of employer-owned or customer-owned property
- Insubordination or disrespectful conduct
- Tobacco use in prohibited areas
- Sexual or other unlawful or unwelcome harassment
- Possession of dangerous or unauthorized materials, such as explosives or fire arms in the work place
- Any other acts contrary to the best interest of the company
2.3 Safety Management
Employees of Flanders Electric are competent professionals in the field of electric motor repair, motor controls, and drive systems. Each department within Flanders Electric has an experienced supervisor who closely instructs newly assigned workers. Each supervisor receives appropriate safety training and plays a vital role in the guidance and safe work performance of departmental employees. Flanders Electric employs a full time Safety Manager whose responsibilities include: development and coordination of safety, training, and inspection programs, and their related documentation and record keeping requirements. The Safety Manager is empowered to implement change in work practices to insure the safety of Flanders Electric's employees. Disciplinary action shall be taken against any employee who willfully violates a health and safety rule. Flanders Electric will not allow the safety of any individual to be jeopardized for any reason. Flanders Electric's employees work "Safety First." Flanders Electric has a Substance Abuse Plan that includes a drug and alcohol abuse policy. (The details for this policy are outlined in the Safety and Employee Manuals or the complete policy may be found on the ISO intranet.) The plan includes pre-employment, random, reasonable cause, post accident, DOT FHA and DOT Pipeline compliant testing for illegal drugs and alcohol in the work place.
2.4 Flanders Electric’s Responsibilities
Flanders Electric will:
1. Train each Flanders Electric employee in the work practices necessary to safely perform the job.
2. Instruct each employee in the known potential fire, explosion, or toxic release hazards related to the job and host employer’s process, and the applicable provisions of the emergency action plan at the facility where work is to be performed.
3. Retain documentation of required training for all employees to ensure they understand the training.
4. Assure that each employee follow all Flanders Electric’s safety rules in addition to the safety rules of the host employer’s facility including: safe work practices to control the entrance, presence, and exit of Flanders Electric’s employees in process areas. This includes the control of hazards during operations such as lockout/tagout confined space entry; opening process equipment or piping; and control over entrance into a facility by Flanders Electric’s employees.
5. Advise the host employer of any unique hazards presented by, or found by, Flanders Electric’s work.
2.5 Host’s Employer Responsibilities
Flanders Electric's employees contracted to perform service or repair work at customer locations have the potential to be exposed to hazards unknown to Flanders Electric. Therefore, Flanders Electric must be made aware of these hazards so that proper training and PPE be in place before any work can be done. Flanders Electric requests that host employers:
1. Inform Flanders Electric’s of the known potential fire, explosion, or toxic release hazards related to Flanders Electric’s work and the host employer’s process.
2. Explain to Flanders Electric the applicable provisions of their emergency action plan as related to Flanders Electric’s work.
3. Develop and implement safe work practices to control the entrance, presence, and exit of Flanders Electric’s employees in the host employer’s process areas. This includes the control of hazards during operations such as lockout/tagout; confined space entry; opening process equipment or piping; and control over entrance into a facility by Flanders Electric’s employees.
2.6 General Training Programs
Safety meetings are conducted as needed to teach new processed or to refresh old ones. Employee training is performed by the Flanders Electric Safety Department members, competent supervisors, or contracted to specialized instructors.
Flanders Electric employees receive training applicable to their job assignments. Only qualified employees are permitted to operate equipment or machinery. Employees are trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions. Employees are empowered to stop a job if an unsafe condition or hazard is identified so that corrective action can be implemented. The programs listed below are available to Flanders Electric employees:
2.7 Drug Free Workplace
Flanders Electric is committed to providing a safe, efficient, and productive work environment for all employees. Using or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol on the job may pose serious safety and health risk. To help ensure a safe and healthful working environment, Flanders Electric requires pre-employment/post-offer applicant testing, random testing, post accident testing, and reasonable suspicion testing. Flanders Electric substance abuse program is in compliance with DOT guidelines.
While on Flanders Electric premises and while conducting business-related activities off Flanders Electric premises, no employee may use, possess, distribute, sell or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. The legal use of prescribed drugs and/or over-the-counter medication is permitted on the job only if it does not impair an employee’s ability to perform essential functions of the job effectively and in a safe manner that does not endanger self or other individuals. Employees are required to inform their supervisor if he/she is taking a prescribed or over-the-counter medication that has the potential to alter behavior, physical ability, or mental functions. In addition employees are required to contact the Wellness Coordinator and complete ISO OF-MGT-0906 Confidential Medication Questionnaire Form for such medications.
The Safety Manager is the Drug Program Administrator and ensures compliance and administration of all components of the program. All supervisors are trained in the signs, symptoms and effects of substance abuse and how to handle reasonable suspicion cases. All employees are trained in the substance abuse policy. Violation of this policy or a customer policy will lead to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination of employment, and/or required participation in a substance abuse rehabilitation or treatment program.
2.8 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Flanders Electric’s employees must wear proper PPE. Flanders Electric trains and encourages the use of PPE to all its employees through education. Disciplinary action will be taken against any employee who willfully refuses to use appropriate PPE. All Flanders Electric's employees are required to wear appropriate PPE for the task at hand. Flanders Electric provides proper equipment as described and recommended through a Hazard Assessment Survey of each Flanders Electric's facility, as well as recommendations from host employers who notify Flanders Electric about job specific hazards at their locations. All Flanders Electric's facilities are properly equipped with appropriate safety equipment and PPE; additionally, this equipment is available to all Flanders Electric employees who perform contract work at customer locations. Flanders Electric's employees bring their PPE with them to the job site. All Flanders Electric's employees who are exposed to the hazard of falling six feet or more to a lower level are required to wear full body harness fall protection anchored to a fall arrest system approved by the competent Flanders Electric Supervisor in charge, and the host employers Safety Representative. The personal fall arrest system shall be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than six feet, nor contact any lower level. Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage and other deterioration, and defective components shall be removed from service.
2.9 First Aid and Medical Care
Flanders Electric has a First Aid Response Team at each facility. The Response Team has been trained in First Aid, CPR, and Bloodborne Pathogens. There is a fully stocked first aid station with ample supplies for any emergency located at all Flanders Electric facilities as well as in Flanders Electric Field Service vehicles.
2.10 Accident/Incident Investigation Analysis
Any accident or incident, no matter how small, shall be reported to the safety department and supervisor. For injury cases, a member of the first aid response team shall be immediately contacted. Accidents and incidents are reported on ISO QF-MGT-0905 the Flanders Electric Work Related Incident and Near Miss Form. The form has specific information regarding the details of the accident or incident. The forms serve as an indicator to aim training efforts towards and prevention of re-occurrence. Investigations are conducted and/or initiated by the Safety Manager, who works with the affected employee, supervisor, and department as a measure of accident prevention and reoccurrence. Additionally, all OSHA reportable accidents are logged on the OSHA 300 form, and all MSHA reportable accidents are logged on the Mine Accident, Injury, and Illness Report - MSHA Form 7000-1.
2.11 Safety Inspections
Flanders Electric follows OSHA recommended guidelines for inspections of job sites, equipment, and materials by competent personnel. Flanders Electric’s field service crew perform a job site safety analysis prior to beginning work on host sites using the ISO QF-ADM-505 Field Service Job Data Sheet. ISO QF-MGT-0907 New Hire/ New Task JSA form is used for in house job tasks.
Overhead cranes shall be inspected frequently and periodically by Flanders Electric employees who have been trained and deemed competent. Forklift trucks are inspected each shift by the trained operator. The Maintenance Department performs additional inspections monthly. Lifting slings are inspected before each use by the user, and also on a monthly inspection color-coding system. Cutting torches and hoses are inspected daily by the user and monthly by maintenance personnel. The Maintenance Department keeps all documentation.
All employees are required to take appropriate actions when defective or unsafe equipment or machinery is discovered. Employees shall identify by tagging using ISO QF-MGT-0201 tag, locking out and tagging to render equipment inoperable, or physically remove item from its place of operation. A maintenance repair request form, ISO QF-FAC-0333, shall be used for repairs and the appropriate supervisor notified.
3.0 Records
All safety records are retained by the Safety Manager. All records shall be in compliance with Federal, State, and Local laws and, as of 12/01/00, per the ISO records control plan SOP-MGT-0800
Beth A. Phelps
Safety Manager
Revised August 16, 2006
Revised October 24, 2003