Have you ever walked around at work, minding your own business, probably looking at your phone, or chatting with a coworker? Of course, we’ve all done that. In fact, it’s something you probably do every day.
Well, the next thing you know is you fell prone, walked into a hole, or walked straight into some stationary object. Believe it or not, this is one of the most common scenarios that cause injuries in the workplace.
Safety at work has become a crucial issue in many industries today. Although accidents do happen from time to time, many can be avoided if employees receive the proper training. But, while the employee is largely responsible for their own safety, it is the employer who must ensure that all employees adhere to the appropriate safety protocols.
Here we will describe some safety tips that you can follow to stay safe in the workplace.
Entering and exiting equipment
Many times some of the easiest injuries to avoid come from improper entry and exit of equipment. But, sometimes it’s not as preventable as you might think.
Maybe you need rent a truck with a towing package from a truck rental company and it’s completely new to everyone. If so, it’s your job as an employer to make sure you and all of your employees know how to handle new equipment and how to maneuver around it safely.
Common sense protocols to follow when entering and exiting equipment suggest that you should always have a good footing. This includes making sure your shoes or boots are free of mud, grease, or anything else that can reduce friction.
Having a secure foot and grip when climbing any structure is essential for safety. In fact, you should have three points of contact when getting on or off anything. This means that you should always use both hands and one foot safely.
Improve safety at work
Often times when accidents happen it is because employees have not been properly trained in safety measures. And it can be as simple as having a safety course as the orientation phase of your hiring process.
Today, you can have a designated safety officer in your company lead these employee training sessions on an ongoing basis, or hire a safety administrator from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to lead. these training sessions for you.
Ideally, you want to stress the importance of safety for your employees before they start work. In addition, you also want to develop a safety-conscious work culture. This is where continuing education comes in.
If you are bringing in new equipment or going to new job sites, be sure to educate your employees about all possible hazards and the proper measures they can use to protect themselves from injury.
As your job and workload changes and evolves, so will the safety measures needed to work in a safe environment.
Worker fatigue
Probably one of the most overlooked cases that cause injuries in the workplace is worker fatigue. This is common in the On-Road Truck Driving (OTR) industry, especially when drivers forgo sleep and rest in order to get money for an extra charge.
Fatigue can take many forms in the workplace as well. Working long hours or several days of consecutive 12-hour shifts will result in a significant decrease in cognitive function and motor coordination.
This not only leads to poor performance at work, but can also lead to injury or even be fatal.
As an employer, you will want your employees to get enough rest to function properly at work. Not only that, but you’ll also want to make sure they’re familiar with safety training and wearing proper protective gear.
Your safety and the safety of your employees at all times will not only ensure that you meet the demands of your job, but also develop a safe work culture that will benefit everyone in the long run.
Interesting related article: “The importance of safety on construction sites for employers”