By Mike Woodson, Director of Sales/Quality Control/Assurance and Sheldon Otto, Quality Control Manager & Sales

We work hard at Sunshine Cleaning Systems to hire skilled employees who can do the job and are aligned with our family culture. The right team members are critical, but safety is our number one priority. At every level and for every job, no matter how large or small, we make sure each task is performed safely and in safe environments.

Our safety measures are designed for the health and safety of our employees as well as those around us, including our customers, their employees, patrons and visitors to their facility. Sunshine’s workplace safety program was created and developed in compliance with OSHA standards, and in cooperation with industry leaders. Our director of safety personally monitors all safety regulations and manages a monthly review by our in-house safety committee.

The Five Golden Rules of Safety are strictly followed at Sunshine:

1. Accidents and Injuries are preventable.
2. Each of us has a personal responsibility for safety and the safety of others on and off the job.
3. No business objective is so important that it will be pursued at the sacrifice of safety.
4. Safe conduct of operations is a condition of employment at Sunshine Cleaning Systems.
5. A job is well done only if it is done safely.

Comprehensive training is at the core of our program, starting with all new hires learning about our safety protocols during orientation. On-going safety training is held on a periodic basis. Safety is so important that it’s part of our Corporate Values Statement, because every Sunshine leader fully understands the benefits of running a company with a safety-first attitude.

According to OSHA, employers pay nearly $1 billion per week for worker’s compensation alone. In addition to worker’s comp costs, there are medical expenses, legal fees, accident investigation, hiring and training replacement employees, lost productivity, damage to property or equipment and other associated costs. Injuries on the job negatively affect employee morale and lead to absenteeism that can be avoided.

Creating a safe environment increases productivity and diminishes claims.

The work we do can be physically demanding and hazardous at times, so our goal is to minimize the probability of accidents. Achieving that goal starts with supporting a happy and healthy workforce. We hold periodic safety meetings, offer extensive training sessions, and distribute a safety manual to prevent unsafe working conditions, whenever and wherever possible.

A proactive approach to safety in the workplace has allowed Sunshine to closely monitor and control its general liability and worker’s compensation losses. Our safety program is administered by our in-house safety committee, which works closely with our risk management representatives. Sunshine will assign a risk control specialist, whenever necessary, to inspect conditions at existing work sites, review work techniques, and setup safety training programs specific to our industry.

Safety Training Topics

From detailed instructions on wearing required proper protective equipment to a simple color-coded system for handling hazardous chemicals, our training curriculum leaves no stone unturned.

The CleanCheck® training program we use at Sunshine ensures that our staff masters the proper cleaning procedures that promote a safe and clean environment. Because of the rich diversity of our teams, we offer bilingual video tutorials, training manuals, on-the-job cards and testing tools with a thorough program that trains employees and follows all OSHA guidelines.

Examples of the topics we cover include:

• Required PPE personal protective equipment and where and when it is to be used
• General hazards and hazards specific to the job assigned
• Safety rules
• Hazard communication program, including right-to-know policy
• Injury prevention program
• Workers’ compensation and accident reporting
• Safety incentive programs
• Substance abuse policy
• Pandemic/virus outbreaks
• Specific job hazards
• Accident and injury prevention
• Use of personal protective equipment
• Use of warning signs (e.g., wet floor)
• Safe lifting procedures and other ergonomic practices
• Accident handling procedures, emergency telephone numbers, and whom to notify
• Location and use of first-aid kits
• Emergency procedures
• Evacuation procedures, including location of exits
• Fire prevention, including location and use of fire extinguishers and fire alarms
• Medical services and first aid
• Use of hand tools
• Use of power tools and equipment
• Respiratory protection
• Hearing conservation
• Hazard communication, including location and review of applicable MSDSs
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Fall prevention
• Workplace violence
• Fleet safety
• Equipment lockout and tagging procedures
• Powered platforms for maintenance and inspection
• Lift trucks
• Oxygen and gas fuel supply systems
• Handling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
• Manual handling of material