Is your Accident Prevention Program current?

All employers in Washington State must have a written Accident Prevention Program (APP). Many businesses regard their program as the cornerstone of their overall safety program.

To meet this requirement, businesses need to:

• Look around to identify workplace hazards that could hurt employees
• Find and apply ways to reduce or eliminate hazards
• Provide a detailed safety orientation to employees so they understand the possible hazards of their job and how to work safely.

In addition to APP requirements, other health & safety program requirements may apply to your business depending on the activities and hazards in your workplace.

If you do not have an APP, you should draw one up because state safety inspectors include this prominently in their checklists. Washington Retail includes a basic template in the RS Safety Library to help you get started. Rick Means, WR’s Director of Safety and Education, is willing to help any member who is composing an APP.

If you have a safety plan that is a few years old, take time to review it to see if it still meets the needs of your company. You could find a need for edits and updates.

Rick also is available to suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360.943.9198 x118, or [email protected]