Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death in the United States and around the world for that matter. Many things can be done to protect ourselves from getting hurt, yet a lot of people are not appropriately informed when it comes to workplace hazards and safety measures.
National Safety Month
Starting every June 1, National Safety Month focuses on raising awareness and promoting dialogue on different safety issues. Common places where accidents happen most frequently include:
- On the road – obstacles or accidents with drivers while walking, biking or racing
- In the workplace – distractions and poorly kept up areas have the potential to result in slips, trips and falls
Listed below are some of the most effective ways to avoid accidents at work.
Observe the cleaning protocol.
Employers need to be serious about assuring safe working conditions and should select the flooring based on that. Also, when hiring a housekeeping team, the management should look for effective and smart employees who will incorporate the right steps to minimize dangerous accidents.
For example: you should immediately wipe up or report any spills on the office floor to prevent employees from being exposed to unexpected situations. There should be warning signs and labels for the most common office hazards. They also remind your colleagues to always keep the premises clean.
Build a clear fire prevention strategy.
Flammable and combustible materials must be properly stored in an explosion-proof unit where smoking is strictly prohibited. The containers must be discarded once they have been cleaned. Quick burning and flammable objects must not come into contact with ignition sources.
Control exposure to dust in excessive amounts.
Dust allergies cause lack of concentration even when it comes to our day to day activities and what’s worse – they may trigger shortness of breath and even asthma. Vacuuming is a preferred method of cleaning dust. If the area is too large for a vacuum cleaner, then you can turn to the old school method of adding water to keep the dust down while sweeping. Using compressed air or steam is a method used in high end industries to blow the dust out of the area.
Pay attention to the way objects are stored.
Avoid piling up boxes and files too high on top of one another. Make sure they are properly secured to prevent the stack from rolling off or collapsing. Place heavier objects on the lower rows, keep the stack away from the edges of tables and use marking tape to make it visual.
Learn how to handle messy desks and/or workstations.
Messy workplaces and cluttered areas provide less space to move around and are bad for our productivity. Keep all stairways and escalators clean and tidy; emergency exits and entrances should be kept closed. Don’t block those areas with unnecessary items.
Wear quality PPE.
We can never be sure the broken pieces of cups or jugs have been completely cleared off the floor. Quality protective shoes eliminate potential dangers.
Pause to take a final look around just before you leave.
When left in the wrong place, loads, stacked material and ladders can hurt someone. Setting aside a couple of minutes at the end of the day to look round the facility could make a huge difference. Sometimes we notice certain details other people might have missed.
Together we can join hands to report safety hazards and make individuals conscious of the potential dangers they are up against. Educating people about the most popular preventive measures can save someone’s life. Bring the change you want: spread information about how workplace injuries can be reduced to a minimum. Empower your community, family and co-workers!