Just as businesses conduct spring cleaning to discard unwanted items, this season should be used as an opportunity to rid the workplace of poor safety habits. To help organizations move their safety programs forward, Cintas Corporation, a provider of safety training, personal protective equipment (PPE) and first-aid solutions, has identified six safety spring training topics. Developed from Cintas’ most requested safety training programs, the list offers insight into the issues most impacting businesses today.

1. Hazard Communication (HazCom)

By June 1, 2015, chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers must comply with the OSHA modified final rule for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).  Now is an ideal time to train employees on chemical hazards, new labeling elements and the format for safety data sheets.

2. Fire Extinguishers

Businesses need to be prepared year-round for a potential fire, meaning employees should know how to properly use a fire extinguisher as well as the various types of extinguishers that exist for different purposes.

3. BloodBorne Pathogens (BBPs)

BBPs are microscopic organisms present in blood that can cause infection. To reduce exposure to BBPs, employees need to know what types of PPE are required for certain tasks, how to put on and remove PPE properly and how to respond when an incident occurs.

4. Forklift Safety

According to OSHA, forklifts are the cause of approximately 34,900 serious injuries a year. When dealing with battery-operated forklifts, employers should have an eyewash station installed and working nearby to minimize the impact of injuries caused by battery acid splashes or dust and flying debris. Training helps employees understand how to safely operate a forklift and use an eyewash station during an emergency.

5. CPR/AED

CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can sometimes help an employee whose breathing or heartbeat has stopped during sudden cardiac arrest. Online training teaches employees the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest, stroke and choking so that they can quickly and properly administer CPR and operate an AED. Oftentimes, organizations will supplement online training with hands-on, instructor-led courses so that employees can use CPR and an AED on a mannequin.

6. Distracted Driving

Each day, more than nine people are killed and 1,153 people are injured in crashes that reportedly involve a distracted driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Training reinforces the fact that talking or texting on a cell phone, eating and other activities put drivers and others on the road at risk. Training also provides employees with defensive driving skills so that they can potentially avoid accidents with distracted drivers.