Posted ByAmelia JoshThroughout a busy workday, there are numerous risks of suffering an injury that could leave you unable to continue working. Without the ability to work, you won’t be able to earn a living like you’re used to.
This can negatively affect your lifestyle, and your mental health, and not to mention, really cause a lot of physical pain and suffering.
The trick is to lower your risk of getting injured by following some tried and true methods of preventing these accidents from happening in the first place.
1. PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)
Whenever there are possibilities of injury, a workplace should provide the necessary personal protection equipment to protect their employees.
Depending on the industry, these could include gloves, masks, goggles, harnesses, and hard hats.
You can learn more about the proper PPE you should have on OSHA’s website.
2. Keep Your Workspace Clean
One of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent injuries is by making sure your workspace is clean and clear of clutter.
When everything is in its place, not only does it look nicer, employees are more organized, and trip hazards are diminished.
There should be plenty of walking space in a normal traffic area without items in the way. If there is any debris or stray equipment in places that they don’t belong, they need to be cleared immediately.
Each worker can pitch in to help out in this area, especially in their own workspace.
3. Place Appropriate Signage
Everyone benefits from reminders. That’s why placing signs isn’t a waste of time.
Signs not only remind employees to be careful but they inform visitors or new employees where potential dangers may lie.
Permanent signs should be posted in areas where special safety measures should be used and temporary signs should be used whenever appropriate.
For example, wet floor signs should be used anytime a spill or mopping is done to prevent workers from slipping.
4. Review Safety Measures
As time goes by, society learns of new ways to keep people safe. That is why is it important to stay up to date and in the know on any new safety protocol.
When a dangerous problem persists, often authorities look for solutions and once found, they share those with industries that can benefit.
Individuals responsible for keeping the workplace a safe environment should periodically review safety measures, update any when necessary and share these new discoveries with all employees.
5. Routine Maintenance
Faulty equipment can cause great harm to those who use them. The best way to prevent injuries from these events is to perform routine maintenance on all equipment and vehicles to protect your workers.
This should include regular inspections, repairs, and if needed, replacement of any and all equipment.
6. Train All Employees
One of the biggest causes of workplace injuries is misinformation or lack of it. To ensure that your employees are well educated on proper safety measures, you need to train them well.
Those who will be using heavy equipment should undergo training and in some cases be certified to use them.
Employees need to be trained on the proper lifting procedures, electrical, and fire hazards, as well as some basic safety measures that could save a life.
7. Don’t Understaff
When workers are under pressure, they are more likely to make mistakes that can cause someone to get hurt.
To ensure that employees aren’t stressed or overworked, a company needs to have adequate workers on the clock to keep up with the workload.
Understaffing may seem to save some money on the payroll but it can end up costing the company more in workers’ compensation from the resulting injuries. For more updates, visit: https://lifetocreativefun.com/s
8. Slow Down
Speaking of pressure, workers who are in a hurry also make mistakes. Taking your time and double-checking everything can prevent many of these potential mistakes from ever happening.
Productivity is not just in relation to the quantity of work, but the quality of work is important as well.
9. Conduct Inspections
Regular inspections of how well employees are following company policies in relation to safety can help to pinpoint potential dangers.
Review safety protocol regularly and update all employees of any changes. When workers are exemplary in following safety procedures, a reward can provide the incentive to keep up the good work.
Conclusion
A little foreplanning and insight can prevent many tragedies from becoming a reality. If these nine tips are followed most workplaces will see a dramatic decrease in workplace injuries.
Even with these nine strategies in place, accidents can happen, leaving you disabled. When that happens, make sure you have this to protect you.