Ways to Prevent Common Workplace Injuries
Lost time injuries are a big problem for employers all over the world. There is always the chance employees will become hurt on the job; however, you can reduce the number of on the job accidents and injuries by taking a commonsense approach. You know your business and work environment best, so take a look around and identify potential safety risks and remove them if you can. Utilize these ways to prevent common workplace injuries and keep people safe and productive.
Prevent Slips and Falls
Don’t chalk up a slip and fall to a clumsy or careless employee. There are trip hazards everywhere, whether in an office, a warehouse, or a production floor. Try installing non-slip floors in areas with concrete or unfinished flooring. Further, always remove any cords or debris that is blocking a walkway—don’t just leave it there for the next person. Prevention is the key to eliminating accidents.
Put Tools Away
Keeping your workspace clean will lessen the chance of injury immediately. Working in an environment with power tools and machinery, there are plenty of opportunities to get hurt. When done working with any tool, put it away. Someone can come along and grab a tool without realizing that it’s plugged in and severely hurt themselves. Plus, keeping a tidy workplace will make it easy to find what you need and remove potential injuries.
Put a Safety Plan in Place
Putting a safety plan in place will reinforce the fundamentals of working safely. Have a plan that includes regular safety audits. Designate a different employee every time and have them inspect every inch of the facility for safety hazards and violations. Create a standard for them to refer to as they check areas known for safety hazards. Regular safety audits will help keep employees from reverting back to unsafe practices.
Provide Personal Protective Equipment
Make sure that everyone has and is using personal protective equipment (PPE). What kind of PPE they need is up to you and the industry you are in. They might need steel toe boots, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, or hard hats. But whatever it is, make sure they use it—protective equipment doesn’t do much good if it’s not used.
Identify Pinch Points
In manufacturing facilities that have lots of heavy machinery, there are pinch points everywhere. A pinch point is any spot on a machine that someone can get a finger caught in or removed. Machine operators usually know where they are on the machine, but the points should be identified clearly so everyone is aware of their presence. A simple system of painting the area red is enough to catch the eye and remind anyone working with the machine that it’s a pinch point.
