Both employers and employees will want to ensure they take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injuries occurring at the workplace.
Here are just five important safety tips that everyone should follow.
1. Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents
Slips and falls are some of the most common workplace accidents, but they’re also easily preventable.
Every employee should be aware of potential slip and fall hazards and take appropriate action whenever they see a hazard.
For instance, if a spill occurs, ensure you clean it up quickly and signpost the spillage while you go to get a bucket and mop.
Also, report any loose carpets, remove any obstacles that are blocking paths, and ensure there’s adequate lighting on stairwells and in other places.
2. Watch Your Posture
Maintaining the correct posture at work is more important than you think.
When employees are involved in lifting items, it’s imperative that they know the correct way to lift them. They should keep their back straight and bend at the knees to avoid back injuries.
It’s just as important for employees who are sitting at desks for long periods to maintain proper posture when seated; otherwise, they could develop long-term health issues like spinal dysfunction and joint degeneration.
3. Wear Appropriate Protective Equipment
Depending on your type of workplace, employees may need to wear some kind of personal protective equipment to ensure they remain safe from injuries.
That could include wearing protective gloves and goggles, especially if employees are working with things like hazardous chemicals.
Closed boots or steel-toe-capped shoes could also help to keep employees safe.
In high-noise environments, make sure every worker has ear plugs to prevent hearing damage from occurring.
4. Use Equipment in the Right Way
When employees use heavy machinery, it’s imperative that they’re fully trained in knowing how to use the equipment in the right way to prevent workplace accidents from happening.
But workers should know how to use every item correctly, not just machinery. Even using a screwdriver in the wrong way could potentially cause an accident.
5. Inspect, Maintain, and Repair Vehicles Regularly
If company vehicles are widely used at your place of work, it’s essential that all vehicles are inspected and maintained regularly to prevent issues that could end up causing accidents.
That goes for company cars, trucks, fork trucks, and all other types of vehicles.
Do not underestimate how important this is. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, work driving accidents end up costing employers a total of around $60 billion each year.
How to Get Legal Advice if You Are Injured at Work
By following the above advice, you can reduce your chances of being injured in a workplace accident.
However, if you do experience an injury at work, you should get legal advice.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you could pursue compensation to cover the cost of things like medical bills and lost earnings.
So, you should find a reputable and experienced law firm that can help you to explore your legal options and claim damages. Find out more information at the Dolman Law Group site.
Summing Up
Risk assessments should be carried out at every workplace to help ensure possibilities for injuries are reduced or eliminated.
But every employee should be aware of potential hazards and know how to do tasks correctly to avoid accidents.
To recap, everyone at a workplace should:
- Look out for and clean up spillages and hazards that could cause slips and falls.
- Watch their posture when doing things like lifting items and sitting at desks.
- Wear appropriate protective equipment.
- Use equipment in the right way.
- Inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles, such as industrial vehicles, regularly.
