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EO 511 Fact Sheet
Phase 2
Approach to Executive Order 511 Implementation:
For worker health and safety protections to become part of the daily routine, a variety of factors must all be in place together, and this creates a comprehensive worker health and safety system. These factors include:
- Upper management support / worker health and safety policy
- Accountability at all levels for use of health and safety equipment and procedures
- Use of the correct technical worker protection standard or guideline to identify what employee protections are needed
- Training of employees in health and safety hazards and needed protections
- Use of the protective "controls" outlined in the technical standards, such as special equipment or procedures.
For Executive Order #511, a method was developed for health and safety committees to evaluate their organization's health and safety systems for some of the most serious hazards workers face on the job. The tools used for this assessment are provided below (see Assessment Tools). The first step is for the committee to complete the questionnaires for all relevant hazards, which consist of open-ended questions about what you currently have in place relative to specific worker hazards. The second step is to compare what you currently have in place against what is required by the technical standard as well as effective health and safety system program elements. Once these "gaps" are identified, the committee can further evaluate this information to identify the core reasons for what is missing in their health and safety system. Going through this process will help you identify effective measures and strategies for improving worker health and safety for your organization.
If you would like to use this method and would like to receive training and assistance, please contact Hilary Hackbart at the Mass Department of Labor Standards at 978-242-1354, ext. 333 or hilary.hackbart@state.ma.us .
Assessment Tools:
Electrical Hazards for Electricians
Health and Safety Systems Overview
Life Safety (Surviving a Building Fire)
Lockout/ Tagout (Control of Stored Energy)
Workplace and Domestic Violence
Summaries of Standards and Recommendations:
Consideration of Health and Safety Hazards for Employees Conducting Work at External Sites
Electrical Hazards for Electricians
Life Safety (Surviving a Building Fire)
Lockout/ Tagout (Control of Stored Energy)
Gap Analysis Phase Tools
Gap Analysis Guidance
Gap Analysis Step-by-Step instructions
Gap Analysis Presentation for Health and Safety Committees
Gap Analysis Health and Safety Ideals
Consideration of Health and Safety Hazards for Employees Conducting Work at External Sites
Mission Statement of the Massachusetts Employee Safety and Health Advisory Committee:
The Advisory Committee will serve to evaluate and address any needed improvements in the protection of our Commonwealth employees at the macro policy level. The Committee will use methods such as evaluation of existing health and safety systems and injury and illness statistics to create recommendations on effective strategies to improve state worker health and safety, including centralized worker protection policies or regulations, needed resource allocations, and/or agency health and safety system improvement measures. The Committee will also monitor the effectiveness of the state's health and safety programs.