Karsten Manufacturing Corp., maker of Ping golf balls, clubs and clothing, wasted no time launching a compliance effort when OSHA amended its personal protective equipment standard last July. The Phoenix, Ariz., firm assembled a task force of workers, supervisors, and health and safety staff to assess hazards for the plant's 1,000 plus jobs.
And the corporate EHS department recruited Alexander & Alexander loss control consultant JoAnn Sullivan to help. Complying with the updated standard enabled Karsten to revisit its job safety analysis process, boost its safety culture, and probably prevent some injuries, Sullivan says. She calls the new hazard assessment requirement of the PPE standard a 'terrific tool for empowering employees to understand hazards and work safer.'