Ready to try the ‘Safety Shuffle’?

Washington — OSHA is challenging employers to have managers and workers do a temporary “job swap” to help them better understand worksite hazards.

The Safety Shuffle challenge is intended to help organizations “look more closely at the jobs in your workplace, promote skill and knowledge sharing between workers and managers, and engage workers to help find and fix hazards.”

The Safety Shuffle consists of three steps:

1. Identify jobs

• Determine which jobs have the most hazard exposures.
• Create groups of no more than four people, combining managers and workers.
• Remind workers of their right to express safety concerns without fear of retaliation.

2. Swap and observe

• Within a group, have one person lead a walkthrough of a job or task they routinely perform. That person should instruct the group as if it were training to take over the job.
• If it’s safe, have one group member complete the task with assistance from the leader to illustrate where hazards may emerge.
• Take notes on hazards. Swap roles and evaluate other jobs and tasks when a walkthrough is complete.

3. Review and discuss

• Meet with groups to discuss notes, hazards and mitigation strategies.
• Before implementing hazard controls, include employees whose work may be affected by the decisions. Discuss pros and cons of hazard-control ideas.

Participants are encouraged to download a challenge coin and share challenge success stories using the hashtag #SafetyShuffle on social media.