Rancho Mesa's Lauren Stumpf Account Executive Jeremy Hoolihan discuss five of the most common OSHA violations in the janitorial industry and strategies to avoid potential fines.

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Director/Producer: Alyssa Burley

Host: Lauren Stumpf

Guest: Jeremy Hoolihan

Editor: Megan Lockhart

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “News Room News” by Spence

Transcript

[Introduction Music]

Alyssa Burley: Hi, this is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa’s Media Communications and Client Services Department. Thank you for listening to today’s top Rancho Mesa news brought to you by our Safety and Risk Management Network, StudioOne™.

Lauren Stumpf: Welcome back everyone, this is Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator at Rancho Mesa. My guest today is Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive with Rancho Mesa. Jeremy specializes in the janitorial and maintenance industry. Today, we’re going to discuss the five most common OSHA violations in the janitorial industry and strategies to avoid potential fines. Jeremy, welcome to the show.

Jeremy Hoolihan: Hi Lauren, it’s great to be back at StudioOne™.

LS: Avoiding government standards in the janitorial industry can be costly in the event of an unexpected OSHA visit or after a serious injury. In an industry that generally has lean profit margins, OSHA fines could be detrimental to the stability of the business. Knowing the most common OSHA violations and protecting your business from them can help insulate your organization from costly fines while also keeping your company safe. Jeremy, can you explain to us what the five most common OSHA violations are in the janitorial industry and gives some tips on how to avoid them?

JH: Sure, starting with number five, which is record keeping. Proper record keeping is critical when your firm is presented with an unexpected OSHA visit. Keeping updated records such as your Injury & Illness Protection Program, Safety Data Sheets, Documented Employee Training, and Employee Handbooks can help avoid common administrative fines.

LS: As being a part of the client services department at Rancho Mesa, we see this come up a lot. To help our clients we send out alerts in our newsletter of OSHA logs that need to be posted and assist our clients with utilizing the handbook builder in our HR Advantage portal and generating OSHA logs in our Risk Management Center platform. Jeremy can you tell us about the fourth most common violation?

JH: The fourth is Blood borne Pathogen Standard. For the, for those janitorial businesses that work within the healthcare setting, it’s imperative that they follow the Blood borne Pathogen Standard. This policy establishes an easy and safe way to handle blood and other bodily fluids. If you work in a setting where blood contact is common, it is important that you have the proper training. Otherwise, it could result in an OSHA citation.

LS: Okay, let’s talk about the third citation on the list.

JH: Number three is Slip, Trip, and Falls. One of the most common injuries in the janitorial industry comes from slip and falls. Some falls can result in serious injuries, workers’ compensation claims, lawsuits, and OSHA fines. The most common slip and fall hazard is from wet floors, typically while mopping. These wet floors not only pose a problem for janitors, they also are a huge concern for the general public. Common ways to avoid these types of injuries include using caution cones to alert people of the wet surfaces, closing off areas that are being cleaned, and mopping areas after hours when there is less foot traffic. Using caution cones and proper signage can warn others of wet surfaces and really avoid serious injuries and OSHA fines.

LS: I can see where this would be very common. Jeremy, how about number two?

JH: This would be Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment, otherwise known as PPE. Its critical that all janitorial staff is trained on the proper use of PPE. PPE can help protect employees against harmful exposures that occur while performing their normal duties. Examples of PPE include gloves, masks, safety glasses, and back braces. Proper training on the use of PPE should be done with each employee and documented in their employee file. Supervisors should monitor the use of PPE by employees to ensure consistent use. If employees are seen not wearing the proper PPE for the task at hand, this should be addressed verbally and in writing to minimize future injuries. Serious injuries and OSHA fines are avoidable if proper use of PPE is taught and monitored.

LS: Now that we’ve covered the other four, can you tell our listeners what the number one OSHA violation is in the janitorial industry?

JH: Of course, the number one is Hazardous Communication Standard. A Hazardous Communication Standard requires that all cleaning businesses provide written information to their employees about hazardous chemicals used in the course of business and stored on site. The employer is required to label all chemicals with information relating to its hazard classification, and the employer must maintain Safety Data Sheets at each jobsite. In addition to having this information available, the employer is also responsible for training the employees on the proper handling of each chemical before they begin using it. Having a Hazardous Communication Standard in place can help you avoid an OSHA fine while also creating a safe work environment.

LS: Organizing and implementing these strategies can be overwhelming for many janitorial companies that may not have the resources for full-time HR directors or safety coordinators. Through the Risk Management Center, Rancho Mesa and MaintenanceOne™ offers clients the tools and programs that can proactively manage these risks and be the documentation required to be prepared when OSHA knocks on your door.

Jeremy, if listeners have questions about frequent OSHA violations for the janitorial industry, what’s the best way to get in touch with you?

JH: Lauren, I can be reached at 619-937-0174 or jhoolihan@ranchomesa.com.

LS: Jeremy, thank you so much for joining me in StudioOne™.

[Closing Music]

JH: It’s been my pleasure Lauren, thank you very much.

AB: This is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa. Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne™. For more information visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.