Common Workplace Safety Procedures & How to Implement Them

Common Workplace Safety Procedures & How to Implement Them

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury in the United States in 2023. There were also 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded nationwide. And while this is a 3.7-percent decrease from 5,486 in 2022, you know safety concerns persist across industries where proper safety procedures could prevent countless accidents.

When organizations fail to implement and enforce effective safety procedures, the consequences can be devastating. As a safety, plant, or general manager, you’re responsible for adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs) that protect workers from harm and minimize exposure to unsafe conditions. Comprehensive workplace safety rules serve as the foundation for creating a safe working environment where personal safety becomes everyone's job.

In high-pressure situations at a facility, safety procedures can sometimes take a backseat when workplace demands increase. Even the best teams occasionally find themselves with safety equipment that needs inspection, electrical hazards that require attention, or personal protective equipment requirements that gets overlooked during busy periods.

Simply establishing safety protocols isn't enough. You need to continuously enforce them within robust safety training programs that empower your employees to identify potential hazards and make safe choices that protect both themselves and their co-workers.

In this post, we'll examine the most common industrial and office workplace safety hazards along with standardized procedures for preventing workplace injuries. You’ll get guidance on conducting thorough risk assessments and implementing proper safety inspections. We’ll also show you how to use digital tools to enhance compliance with safety regulations while maintaining comprehensive documentation of your safety program.

Key takeaways

Implementing consistent safety procedures across your facility prevents accidents and protects your team from preventable hazards.
The top OSHA violations for 2024 include fall protection, hazard communication, and lockout/tagout procedures. Prioritizing these areas can significantly reduce workplace injuries.
Industrial environments face unique safety challenges, including ergonomic injuries, indoor air quality issues, and psychological hazards that require specific prevention strategies.
When you digitize safety procedures through CMMS platforms, you’ll improve compliance rates, streamline reporting, and create accountability while preserving organizational safety knowledge.

What are workplace safety procedures?

As a maintenance professional, you know workplace safety procedures protect your team from hazards, prevent accidents, and ensure regulatory compliance. These procedures go beyond basic compliance to establish a proactive safety culture that integrates occupational safety into every aspect of your daily operations.

According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), employers must "keep their workplace free of serious recognized hazards" under the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act. Effective safety procedures help organizations fulfill this obligation by identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace safety concerns before accidents occur.

A robust workplace safety program in your facility should include these interconnected elements:

Hazard identification and risk assessment: Systematically evaluating your workplace to identify potential safety hazards, including physical, chemical, electrical, ergonomic, and psychological risks
Written safety policies and SOPs: Developing clear, accessible documentation that outlines specific protocols for safely operating equipment, handling hazardous materials, and responding to emergencies
Safety training programs: Providing comprehensive instruction to your team on recognizing hazards, using personal protective equipment properly, and following established safety rules
Regular safety inspections: Conducting periodic safety inspections to verify compliance with safety procedures and identify areas needing improvement
Incident reporting and investigation: Establishing clear protocols for reporting accidents, near-misses, and unsafe conditions, followed by thorough investigations to prevent recurrence
Emergency response planning: Creating detailed procedures for handling fires, chemical spills, natural disasters, medical emergencies, and other crisis situations

OSHA is increasingly emphasizing strengthened enforcement efforts with increased inspections, particularly in high-risk industries like construction and manufacturing. The agency has also focused on enhanced data collection to identify patterns in workplace injuries, with employers in certain industries now required to submit more detailed injury and illness information electronically.

Six types of safety procedures

Unsafe conditions in your workplace fall into several categories, each requiring specific safety procedures to effectively protect your team and prevent accidents.

Physical hazards: These environmental factors can harm your employees without necessarily making direct contact. Examples include excessive noise that can damage hearing, radiation exposure, extreme temperatures that can cause heat stress or cold injuries, and working at heights without proper fall protection. Safety procedures for physical hazards typically involve engineering controls, administrative controls, and providing appropriate personal protective equipment.
Safety hazards: These include conditions that can cause immediate accidents and injuries through direct contact. Common safety hazards in your facility might include exposed electrical wiring that creates electrical hazards, unguarded machinery with moving parts, wet floors that contribute to slip and fall incidents, and improperly stored materials that could fall and strike workers. Proper safety procedures include regular safety inspections, implementing lockout/tagout protocols for electrical equipment, and ensuring proper housekeeping practices.
Ergonomic hazards: These factors damage an employee's musculoskeletal system through repetitive motions, improper lifting techniques, or poorly designed workstations. Safety procedures addressing ergonomic hazards include workstation adjustments, task rotation to prevent repetitive strain, proper training on lifting techniques, and providing ergonomic equipment designed to minimize physical strain.
Chemical hazards: These pose threats through hazardous substances that can cause severe injury or health risks upon exposure. Chemical exposure may result in skin irritation, respiratory problems, blindness, corrosion damage, or, in severe cases, explosions and fires. Your safety procedures for handling chemicals should include proper labeling, maintaining detailed safety data sheets, providing ventilation systems, implementing chemical storage protocols, and requiring appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, and respirators.
Biological hazards: These include exposure to harmful organisms like bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, or plants that can adversely affect employee health. They often result from contact with mold, blood, sewage, contaminated materials, or harmful plants in the working environment. Effective safety procedures include vaccination programs, hygiene protocols, proper waste disposal systems, containment measures, and personal protective equipment appropriate for the specific biological risk.
Psychological hazards: These hazards impact your employees' mental health and overall well-being. Examples include workplace violence, excessive stress, harassment, victimization, and poor work-life balance. Safety procedures addressing psychological hazards include violence prevention programs, stress management training, clear anti-harassment policies, employee assistance programs, and creating a positive workplace culture that supports mental health.

Neglecting any category can jeopardize your team’s health and well-being while potentially exposing your organization to liability, regulatory fines, and increased workers' compensation costs.

Five most common industrial safety hazards and procedures for prevention

Every year, OSHA publishes a list of the Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards. Here’s the top five from that list for fiscal year 2024:

1. Fall protection

Falls remain the leading cause of serious workplace injuries and deaths. In 2024, OSHA issued 7,036 violations related to fall protection requirements.