Comprehensive safety and health manual

Every company needs to have a safety plan of varying degrees of detail. If your company is just starting to put a safety and health program together, this book is for you. In fact, this book calls itself Your Company Safety and Health Manual.

By Cheryl M. Firestone March 1, 2000

Every company needs to have a safety plan of varying degrees of detail. If your company is just starting to put a safety and health program together, this book is for you. In fact, this book calls itself Your Company Safety and Health Manual.

While a company’s manual must have certain specifics spelled out, this book offers a boilerplate design for any company, large or small. It’s a good jumping off point for anyone who is under pressure to create a safety program — and fast.

The book begins with a general overview of how company staff is involved in the creation and execution of such a program. Management and employee responsibilities are spelled out, and a sample company policy form is supplied. Additional information on general safety procedures and accident prevention programs is included.

The book then launches into an alphabetical treatment of the various safety and health topics that need to be addressed by a comprehensive program. Each section defines what is included in the specific area, how to determine the correct permit or regulatory procedures, general rules, definitions, and applicable forms. Below is a listing of topics covered.

– Accident/injury reporting

– Biological agents/pathogens

– Carcinogens

– Chemical storage

– Contractor safety requirements

– Confined spaces

– Electrical safety

– Emergency management plan

– Ergonomics

– Fire protection and prevention

– First aid

– Hazard communication/right-to-know

– Hazardous waste issues

– Hearing conservation

– Hot work

– Housekeeping

– Laboratory safety-chemical hygiene

– Lead in construction

– Lockout/tagout

– Medical surveillance

– Process safety management

– Respiratory protection

Detailed appendices provide sample forms that can be used to record minutes at safety meetings or employee participation. Especially handy is a listing of all of the tables and forms that are included in the book.

This book is a complete reference to the new or seasoned safety and health manager because it presents all of the necessary information in one complete source. The information provided by this book does not ensure regulatory compliance, so it is in the best interest of the reader to become familiar with all applicable regulations.

Your Company Safety and Health Manual by O. Dan Nwaelele. Published by Government Institutes, Inc., 4 Research Pl., #200, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-921-2323. 1998, softbound, 438 pp. $79.