OSHA and other organizations seem to be constantly changing and updating their safety standards and requirements. It's natural for business owners to feel a bit annoyed at this, as they have to continuously jump through training and education hoops for the sake of compliance and safety.
Why do these standards and requirements constantly evolve?
And is there anything we can do about it?
The Importance of Following the Latest Safety Standards
First, you should know that it's unwise to ignore the latest developments in safety standards and requirements. The previous standards may have been in place for years, and they may have been very effective at reducing the prevalence of injuries and accidents, but the newer standards are probably even better at achieving these objectives.
Even if the improvements are only marginal, it's hard to justify not adopting new safety standards. For example, let's say there's a new rule in place that reduces the prevalence of accidents by a mere 1 percent; if the accident rate was 2 percent previously, you'll effectively be cutting the risk of an accident in half. If you can prevent even one accident, you can avoid both the harm and pain associated with an injury as well as the financial toll of such an accident – and you might even save someone's life in the process.
Also, following the latest safety standards is sometimes a legal requirement. If your business lapses and suffers an accident as a result, it could result in a massive liability issue that could be associated with fines or criminal penalties.
Thankfully, it's relatively easy to stay up to date with the latest standards, as long as you're paying attention. For example, through aerial lift certification online, your employees will have access to the latest safety standards and operational requirements for aerial lifts, scissor lifts, telehandlers, and similar types of equipment. You just have to make sure they complete the course and renew their certification periodically.
Why Safety Standards and Requirements Are Always Changing
Why are safety standards and requirements always changing?
There are several reasons:
· New knowledge. The first and most obvious variable to address here is the acquisition of new knowledge. Human beings are curious creatures, constantly pushing the limits of science and technology to learn new things and discover new applications. As a result, we're constantly correcting previous misconceptions and adding new knowledge standards to the mix. It wasn't that long ago that humoral theory was the dominant, accepted explanation for infectious diseases – and it was only by updating our knowledge and expectations that we began to use germ theory as our foundation.
· New equipment. Advancements aren't just about new knowledge; they're also about new technological developments. Collectively, we produce newer, safer forms of machinery, technologies that can automate or more safely handle certain responsibilities, and even workplace environment modifications that keep employees safer. Occasionally, new types of PPE will also emerge. It's important to update our old equipment with new variations to maximize safety in the workplace.
· New incidents and new data. Occasionally, we also see the rise of new types of incidents – and new data to challenge our previous understanding of a given phenomenon. Sometimes, we don't know that something is unsafe until we see the worst ramifications of engaging with it.
· Bureaucratic review. And of course, some updates are mostly a byproduct of bureaucratic review. Agencies and bureaus that are responsible for maintaining updated standards are sometimes incentivized to change standards for the sake of justifying their existence.
How to Deal With Constantly Changing Requirements
How can your business contend with these constantly changing requirements?
· Start with the right expectations. Understand that today's safety standards aren't going to last forever. If you adopt the mentality that this is an agile, ever-changing area, you'll be able to respond to changes much more flexibly.
· Incorporate agility. An agile business is one that can dynamically react to changing circumstances. Hiring agile people, decentralizing decision making, and keeping operating standards somewhat loose can all help you maintain your agility.
· Appoint a leader to stay tuned to the latest changes. Solid safety standards start with good leaders. Accordingly, appoint someone on your team to be responsible for understanding and incorporating new safety improvements.
· Implement periodic retraining and review. Finally, implement periodic retraining and review so all your employees have access to the latest information, standards, and requirements.
Evolving safety standards can be annoying, especially when they're expensive to keep up with. However, they're often necessary, or at least highly beneficial, and they tend to be the product of new knowledge and new forms of understanding. Keeping up with the latest safety updates can keep your business not only compliant, but safer and more appreciated.
