Even in the happiest workplaces on
earth, the fun ends when someone is hurt. How can workplace staff cooperate for
the safety of all? Here are five tips to make your workplace a safer and
healthier environment for the staff and you.
Looking
before you leap, push or scoot
By
following this simple rule, you will save yourself trips to the emergency room,
pun intended. Slip, trip and fall hazards are the second-highest causes of
workplace injuries to staff and customers. Keep pathways clear and dry. Avoid
using feet or knees to move obstacles. Conduct safety sweeps regularly where
liquids could spill.
Follow
the rules, and use the tools.
Injuries
from overexertion are the top cause and most expensive workplace injuries to
treat, according to Liberty Mutual's Workplace Safety Index. Training provided
on proper techniques to perform the tasks necessary to get the job done have
been developed with how the body is designed to function in mind. Following
recommended procedures dramatically reduces related injuries like broken bones,
sprains and strains.
Hone
in on housekeeping.
Messy,
cluttered spaces breed hurry, indecision, distraction and unwanted pests that
can make us sick. Have a place for everything, and communicate the expectation
that things be cleaned and stowed immediately after use. Absolutely forbid
obstructions of emergency equipment and alarms.
Cutting
corners leads to injury and possibly death.
Every time we drive our cars, we can see drivers taking dangerous chances in traffic often with tragic consequences. Employees are vulnerable to similar risks when they get into a rush, do not care, are unaware of or minimize potential for injury. Stress the importance of being prompt and prepared, using proper tools for the tasks and observing safety measures diligently.
Ditch
distractions
Sleep
deprivation, working through rest breaks, office politics, unauthorized cell
phone use, web surfing, excessive noise, defective equipment, unfamiliarity
with emergency procedures, and fear of uncertainty amid pending changes can
create problems at work. Distractions like these can lead to careless mistakes
or workplace violence. Ensure that temporary workers know daily routines and
emergency procedures. Encourage employees to rest regularly, maintain focus and
promptly report unsafe conditions.
On
the job is rarely where to prove stamina, endurance or strength but to
demonstrate forethought, skill and precision in approaching tasks. Know, post
and follow correct motions for lifting, bending, twisting, pulling, pushing, carrying,
reaching, climbing, crawling, kneeling and common motions in your workplace.
Deliberate movement not only can avoid injury but enhance fitness, so move with
purpose in your workplace.