Back to Work Safety
After being off for the holidays or any time of vacation, sometimes it's hard to get back into the groove of working.
After being off for the holidays or any time of vacation, sometimes it’s hard to get back into the groove of working. This is a time where it’s easy to not be as mindful about safety as we usually are.
Workplace accidents tend to be higher after people come back from an extended break, whether it be the holidays or a vacation. As a result, we need to be extra mindful about a safety focus when we come back. Here are some tips to help get back in a safety mindset:
Review Job Safety/Job Hazard Analyses—What are the correct safety procedures and PPE required to do the job safely?
Take a look around—is the jobsite safe? Have there been changes? Are there safeguards missing?
Don’t take shortcuts
As you go about your work, take extra time and effort throughout the days to stop and focus on safety hazards in front of you. Take a few seconds to look around and survey the area to see if there are hazards that can hurt you or co-workers.
The first of the year is a good time to stop and do some safety reviews to easily jog memories and get back into the right mindset. This also will allow workers the opportunity to ease back into the routine.
Start off the year by taking stock and inventory of tools and equipment. Do inspections to make sure they’re in good condition and functioning correctly. Do your eyewash stations and emergency decon stations work correctly? Do first aid kits need restocking? Does signage need to be replaced? Are labels intact and legible? Do fire extinguishers need recharging? How does housekeeping look? Do we need to clean up and clean out work areas?
What are your safety goals for the year? What do we want them to be?
Make sure you are getting good rest, nutrition, hydration and exercise. Sometimes the holidays can take a lot out of us and break our routine and this will help us get back to “normal.” Return to a normal home routine as well. If operations are normal at home, they’re more likely to become normal at work.
Before you get to work, clear your head of lingering issues and put those away for after work.
Look out for each other. Be mindful that others may be distracted and unfocused too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do workplace accidents increase after employees return from extended breaks or vacation?
Workplace accidents spike after extended time off because workers lose their normal routine and situational awareness about hazards. Extended breaks can cause employees to forget critical safety procedures, PPE requirements, or hazard-specific responses. Fatigue, mental fatigue from the break, and distraction due to personal matters all contribute to elevated accident risk. OSHA and worker safety experts recommend implementing “return-to-work” safety briefings and refresher training before full operations resume. iSi Environmental helps facilities in Kansas and Oklahoma conduct these briefings effectively.
Q: What are OSHA’s requirements for job safety analysis and job hazard analysis (JSA) reviews?
While OSHA does not mandate a specific JSA format, employers must document hazards and protective measures for each job. OSHA expects employers to conduct job safety analyses for high-risk tasks and update them when work procedures change or after incidents. JSAs should identify correct safety procedures, required PPE, and emergency procedures for each task. iSi Environmental helps facilities develop and maintain comprehensive JSAs that satisfy OSHA expectations during inspections.
Q: What equipment inspections and safety checks must facilities conduct regularly?
OSHA requires facilities to regularly inspect equipment such as eyewash stations, emergency decontamination stations, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and safety signage. Eyewash and emergency decon stations must function correctly and be readily accessible. Fire extinguishers must be inspected monthly and recharged annually. Safety signage, labels, and hazard communications must be legible and accurate. These routine inspections help prevent injuries and demonstrate due diligence during OSHA audits. iSi Environmental can establish inspection schedules and documentation systems.
Q: Are there OSHA recordkeeping requirements related to workplace safety planning and goals?
While OSHA does not mandate written safety goals, 29 CFR 1910.35 requires employers to have written safety policies. Many forward-thinking facilities set annual safety goals and document them as part of their written safety program. Goals might include reducing lost-time incidents, improving near-miss reporting, or enhancing training compliance. iSi Environmental helps facilities develop measurable, OSHA-aligned safety goals as part of their comprehensive safety management system.
Need help with environmental, safety, and industrial hygiene compliance? Contact iSi Environmental for a same-day quote, or explore our environmental, safety, and industrial hygiene services to see how we can help your facility.