Focusing on Fatal Risk:  Why PSIFs Should be the Foundation  of Your Hazard Assessment

Episode 86

Focusing on Fatal Risk: Why PSIFs Should be the Foundation of Your Hazard Assessment

What's a PSIF and why is it so important to the safety of your facility? In this episode, Editor Sydny Shepard sits down with Fastenal's Joseph Solheid to define this term and how safety professionals can use it to their advantage.

Have you ever seen the movie "Back to the Future?" It doesn’t matter if you’ve seen the first… second or third movie, the plots are all the same. There is an event that happens, that Marty and Doc know is going to happen, and they’ve traveled back in time (or in the case of the second movie, travel to the future) to stop it from happening.

Wouldn’t it be so nice if safety professionals had a DeLorean that they could use any time there was an injury on the job? First, to stop the incident from ever happening, but also to analyze what happened in the moments leading up to the event that will now cost this business money, and that employee the opportunity to go home healthy that night.

According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, safety professionals would be starting up that DeLorean quite a bit as serious work injuries and fatalities are on the rise. In 2019, the latest year for BLS’ data, there were 888,220 nonfatal injuries and illnesses that caused an industry worker to miss at least one day of work. Even worse, 5,333 workers lost their lives on the job due to a work-related injury, that’s up two percent from the total in 2018.

If there is one thing that all safety professionals can agree on – it’s that those numbers, those injuries and fatalities, those numbers are too high. The collective industry is working hard to address these serious injuries and fatalities and are working tirelessly to address the hazards that lead to them, but what if we could be doing more?

In today’s episode, I sit down with Joseph Solheid, Director of Safety Sales for the Eastern Business Unit at Fastenal. Our conversation dives into serious injuries and fatalities and what safety professionals could be doing to prevent and anticipate injuries on the job.

While "Back to the Future" is just a movie and a time traveling car is just a fancy prop, safety professionals can arm themselves with ways to see the future and prevent serious injuries and fatalities. How, you ask? Well, we talk about all that and more in this episode! Listen to this important conversation on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and more

A special thank you to Fastenal. 

Fastenal is a supply chain solutions company. They distribute and manage inventory on critical industrial and construction supplies. With 21,000 employees across 3,000 locations, you can find Fastenal in 26 countries. As a global product distributor with over $5 billion in annual sales, the company has an expansive logistics network. Fastenal specializes in supply chain consultation and the implementation of inventory control technologies.

With great people and great technology, Fastenal partners with customers to bring supplies, visibility, and efficiencies to their organization. https://www.fastenal.com/en/927/safety-resources

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the former editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

Product Showcase

  • The MGC Simple Plus

    The MGC Simple Plus is a simple-to-use, portable multi gas detector that runs continuously for three years without being recharged or routinely calibrated after its initial charge and calibration during manufacturing. The detector reliably tests a worksite’s atmosphere for hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxygen and combustible gases (LEL). Its durability enables the detector to withstand the harshest treatment and environments, hence earning it an IP 68 rating. The MGC Simple Plus is also compatible with a variety of accessories, such as the GCT External Pump. Visit gascliptech.com for more information. Read More

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. Read More

  • Safety Shower Test Cart

    The Safety Shower Test Cart speeds up and simplifies emergency shower tests, ensures you stay in compliance with OSHA regulations, and significantly reduces testing costs. With 7 unique features, the cart makes testing easy, effective, and efficient. You can test water clarity, flow, temperature, and spread—all at the same time! Most safety shower testing kits create a mess, take too much time to use, and don't fully help you stay in compliance with OSHA & ANSI standards. Transform the way you test emergency showers with Green Gobbler Safety. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars