Page 10 - NJ Cooperator Summer 2020

10 THE NEW JERSEY COOPERATOR —SUMMER 2020 NJCOOPERATOR.COM MANAGEMENT Staff Safety 101 Protecting Employees in Your Building BY DARCEY GERSTEIN With few exceptions, most multifamily fi rm in Scarsdale, New York who is also la- buildings or communities have at least one bor counsel to a number of employer asso- or two staff members (and sometimes many ciations. “If a building complies with OSHA more) who maintain the safety, security, regulations, they are complying with what cleanliness, mechanical operations, and day- to-day functions that residents and visitors rely on—and as the coronavirus pandemic ployees safe is making sure they’re properly has gripped the country, the importance of trained for the tasks expected of them. Ac- the hard work those frontline employees do cording to an OSHA spokesperson, “Proper- every day has become even clearer. With the ty staff must have training appropriate for the average, non-medical-professional condo types of jobs and tasks they are performing. If or HOA resident now something of an ex- pert on disinfectant and personal protective to be qualifi ed. If they work with chemicals, equipment, it’s also instructive to know what they need to be trained in the safe use of agencies and organizations work to ensure those chemicals. If they are performing ser- the safety and security of the staff themselves. vicing and maintenance on equipment, it is What systems and protocols are in place to possible they will need training in the control address how employees can keep them- selves—and each other—safe on the job? Th e New Jersey Cooperator went behind some fa- miliar acronyms to fi nd out. OSHA Workplaces throughout the United States and its territories are subject to oversight by ensure that OSHA standards are followed the Occupational Safety and Health Admin- istration (OSHA), which is itself overseen by employee to call out serious hazards and to the U.S. Department of Labor. According to inform OSHA when they believe an employ- the OSHA website (osha.gov), “OSHA cre- ates and enforces regulatory standards that cers perform drop-in inspections only when require certain precautions to be taken in or- der to ensure the safety and health of work- ers.” OSHA regulations are the primary work- er safety statutes in the U.S., says Matthew apply to any work being performed on- Persanis, a partner with Elefante & Persanis, site,” says Kate Ferranti of SEIU Local 32BJ, LLP, a labor, employment, and real estate law the Service Employees International Union, they need to.” Part of keeping building and HOA em- they work on electrical equipment, they need of hazardous energy. It is their employer’s re- sponsibility to ensure the workers are trained on the hazards to which they are exposed. OSHA off ers free, confi dential onsite safety and health consultation services.” It is the responsibility of the employer to and maintained; it is the responsibility of the er is not compliant. OSHA compliance offi - there is an imminent or obvious hazard, an injury or fatality, or if a worker or worker rep- resentative fi les a complaint. “OSHA’s role is to enforce the rules that WE ADVISE, YOU SUCCEED accesspm.com NJ Offices Flemington, Edison, Paramus, Mt. Laurel 908.237.9900 PA Offices Lehigh Valley, Horsham 610.791.1600 SINCERE Est. 1989