There are many different ways in which safety consultants can improve health and safety standards in the workplace. Human resources are the most important resource of any nation. Unsafe practices in the workplace can lead to accidents causing injury and even death, so what can be done about it?

The mission of OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration – is to ensure that workers have a safe environment in which to perform their work. To this end, they have instigated certain workplace rules and regulations which, when adhered to will support their aim of protecting human resources. Grants of over 10 million dollars have been awarded to help train safety consultants and through them, workers.

It is advisable then for all safety consultants to not only become familiar with these regulations, but to make sure that workers understand them – and the reason for them, with the use of training programs to suit their needs. In some cases this will mean providing a better means of communication for non-English speaking workers. Visual media can often be used to help carry the message of safety for specific industries. These include such aids as posters, video, DVD, student handouts and other training manuals to be used in classroom instruction. They are now to be available in English, Spanish and Polish languages.

The construction industry is traditionally a dangerous one with the necessary use of heavy machinery and equipment and exposure of workers to toxic substances such as cement. Grants by OSHA for bi-lingual safety training manuals have been welcomed. These include many interactive computer based programs that are for both classroom and private home study.

Safety consultants serious about their job can see to it that these training manuals get into the hands of the workers, but they also need to make sure that protective devices such as special clothing are freely available. Personal protective equipment may include gloves, goggles, masks and helmets as well as long-sleeved garments to protect from irritants. There may need to be adequate facilities for washing off contaminants. Clean water, soap, towels or other drying facilities are basic.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is an expert advisor with many training programs and other resources to aid in training safety consultants and even the general public in safety measures in the workplace. In some cases these resources have a small cost attached, but there can be no cost attached to the price of human safety. Free information on many workplace concerns such as biological hazards, diseases and injuries – to name but a few, is provided along with practical information on training and education to help eliminate problems.

The food industry is one in which training for health and safety must be undertaken. Without particular attention to health and quality control, outbreaks of food poisoning can occur. Not only does this put the consumer at risk, but may lead to lawsuits and other unpleasant and costly problems. Training must be given to workers to ensure maximum quality control of all food products that pass through their hands. Ways to keep foodstuffs in optimum condition from preparation, through cooking and storage until it is served to the consumer will be uppermost in any training.

Fire prevention is a skill that will be needed, not just in pine forests, but in almost every workplace. Wherever fuel is present there is the risk of fire. Safe practices for the storage and use of fuel must be maintained to prevent serious, debilitating injury or death from fire and the accompanying smoke inhalation. Schools, corporate businesses, aviation industries – all must consider fire drills as part of their security precautions against mishaps. Consulting with independent experts is a sure-fire way to access the best fire-safety training programs. Instigation of educational fire safety programs should certainly form part of all health and safety improvements in all workplaces.

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