The central piece that locks everything together, the thing on which all else depends. 

Several years ago, Red Ball Oxygen completed a risk assessment of our work as a company, considering, among other things, the work conditions or environment our work in which we conduct our work, our customers, our coworkers, and the inherent associated hazards of the work we do. Once we completed the assessment, we identified the critical points that would become the foundation of our health and safety program. 

Red Ball Oxygen has, as a foundation, defined 25 Keystone Safety Habits outlining the minimum requirements for working safely in our industry. These fundamentals, done consistently, day in and day out, need to become as natural as breathing. Adversely, not adhering to the principles outlined is taking a risk. We should recognize that risk is not diminished as a function of success in repeatedly taking a risk. In other words, just because there are no immediate adverse consequences due to taking a risk does not mean the risk wasn’t there. There are lethal consequences to taking unmitigated risks in our industry, and nothing we do is worth getting someone hurt. We need to be wary of becoming comfortable with taking risks, particularly when it comes to the health and safety of one another, our customers, and the public. 

The federal government has gone to great lengths to define the limits of risk companies are allowed to take. As an explanation and example of what we are talking about: the DOT has rules and regulations governing the number of hours our drivers are allowed to drive consecutively, OSHA has rules and regulations dictating the minimum required training for employees, and the FDA has rules and regulations governing medical gas manufacturing, storage, and distribution. 

At a minimum, you should know and are required to know the federal rules and regulations governing your specific duties at work. With knowledge comes power, and with power comes responsibility. Beyond your specific duty requirements, learn the keystone safety habits, realize the importance of each one, and why each is an integral part of the whole, then hold one another to the standard of excellence your family would want for your health and safety. 

GENERAL 

1. Before performing a new task: Stop, Think, Act, Review (STAR) 

2. Report all near misses and accidents immediately 

3. Monthly Safety Meetings 100% attendance 

DRIVING 

4. Back In – Front Out 

5. Get Out And Look (GOAL) 

6. Maintain safe following distance – remember your load 

7. Place safety cones and wheel chocks while parked 

8. Eyes up while driving – no texting, emailing, or reading 

9. Team pre-trip 

PERSONAL PROTECTION 

10. Wear proper PPE 

• Gloves and metatarsals for cylinder handling 
• Face shields, safety glasses, and long gloves for filling liquids 
• Safety glasses, gloves, and metatarsals for HP cylinder filling 

11. Stay well hydrated 

12. Lift safely, NOT with your back 

13. No smoking except in designated areas 

FACILITIES 

14. Clean your work area daily 

15. Monthly facility tour 

16. Identify, Discuss, Solve (IDS) all safety issues in your safety meeting 

17. Fix it now! Fix or replace faulty equipment immediately 

18. Lock-out / Tag–out all powered equipment before doing maintenance 

FORKLIFTS 

19. Inspect forklifts daily 

20. Wear seatbelts – forklifts and trucks 

21. Keep forklift loads low and slow 

CYLINDER HANDLING 

22. Nest, strap, and secure all cylinders 

23. Use cylinder carts 

24. Let it fall 

25. Never load flammables in an enclosed vehicle or store flammables inside