When it comes to safety issues, it's important to have a good understanding of the various regulations and your options. However, safety isn't always straightforward. To help you better understand how safety works, we've put together this FAQ. Have additional questions? We love talking about all things safety. Give us a call at (651) 300-2819.

Can I implement my own safety solutions?

Safety assessment and implementation is best left to trained professionals.  Trained safety professionals have a deep understanding of safety regulations, and they also have the experience to ensure that solutions are installed the right way the first time.  In most cases, having a trained professional implement your safety solutions will save you time and money in the long run.

We had a basic insurance assessment. Isn't that good enough?

A basic insurance assessment is not a substitute for a professional safety assessment. Safety is never a basic issue. A basic insurance assessment is performed for the benefit of the insurance company and typically will only uncover obvious compliance issues. A professional safety assessment is performed for the benefit of your company and your people. Only a trained safety professional can identify the underlying risks that may cause serious injury, lost time, or downtime.

Will my operations be disrupted during my safety assessment or remediation services?

With years of experience in industrial operations, we understand the importance of keeping your operations running at maximum capacity. We're committed to keeping all disruptions to a minimum. We work within your operations to assess and implement the best safety solutions for you. Depending on your timeline or budget, there may be short periods of downtime within your facilities. For example, if we are installing a guard on a particular machine, that machine will not be available for operation until the installation is complete and tested. We always strategically plan assessments and remediation to ensure you can continue to operate at a capacity that suits your needs.

How often do I need a safety assessment?

How often you need a safety assessment depends on several factors. If you notice any potential hazards, you should immediately get a safety assessment. You should also get a new assessment any time you have new machines or new processes. You should also have periodic safety assessments to ensure your machines are compliant.

No one has been injured in our facility. Do we still need a safety assessment?

You should never wait until someone gets injured to have a safety assessment. The purpose of safety is to prevent injuries from happening in the first place, not to respond to injuries that have already happened. If someone does get injured on the job, it is imperative to get a safety assessment immediately. However, it is strongly recommended that you get a safety assessment before this happens. You may think your operations are fine, but identifying risks before they cause injury will save you time and money in the long run.

After getting a safety assessment, do we have to fix everything on the list?

Your safety assessment may uncover a wide range of risks in your workplace. While you are not legally required to fix everything immediately, it is necessary to create a safety plan and timeline that addresses all issues identified by the assessment. Some businesses choose to fix everything at once while others choose to fix issues in phases. After your safety assessment, we help you understand the various risk factors so you can prioritize your implementation. However, it's impossible to predict exactly when an accident will occur, so it is strongly recommended to implement complete safety solutions as soon as feasibly possible.

I just bought a new machine. Doesn't it come properly guarded?

Many machines sold today do not come with the safeguards required for you to be compliant. Manufacturers are under no obligation to meet OSHA standards on the products they sell. Therefore, it's always important to get a safety assessment whenever you get a new machine. Only a professional safety assessment can determine the right safeguard for your specific machine and application.