Top 10 ways to stay safe at work
Safe workplaces don’t happen by accident, and accidents don’t happen in safe workplaces! Workplace safety has been high on many businesses list of priorities over the past few years, but whilst keeping employees safe is an employer’s responsibility, employees have an important role to play too.
Safety should be a primary concern and motivator for both management and staff alike, and both should be committed to taking steps to plan and create a safe working environment.
Follow these 10 safety tips to ensure your workplace is as safe as it could possibly be:
1. Maintain a clean work area
The most productive work areas are clean, neat and well organised. Maintaining a clean work area will not only reduce the number of hazards, it will also ensure your employees are able to be as productive as possible.
2. Provide clear work instructions
Providing clear, written instructions about the companies safety expectations, rules and regulations will ensure there are no misunderstandings and that everyone has access to the same consistent message.
When documenting work processes, make sure these instructions include basic safety measures that should be taken and leave room for each employee to acknowledge these instructions.
3. Encourage employees to raise safety issues when they spot them
Employees should be the eyes and ears of any organisation and are often the first to spot potentially dangerous or hazardous issues. Create a culture of communication and make it easy for staff to inform management about these issues, making sure all reports are followed up and acknowledged with the person that raised them.
4. Avoid unnecessary hazards
Regularly check your workplace for new threats or hazards and take steps to properly evaluate them and if necessary, remove them.
5. Provide staff with sufficient safety training
A comprehensive training and induction programme for new staff will help them to understand what is expected of them in terms of safety and the reason it is so important to both the business and employees. Make sure this training programme is repeated regularly to reinforce the message.
6. Provide staff with the correct safety clothing and equipment
Proving staff with adequate safety clothing and equipment will not only save lives and reduce injury, it will also ensure productivity is at a premium by avoiding days lost through sickness and injury. For example, boiler suit UK offer premium protection for the body against hazards such as chemical splashes and burns.
7. Make sure everyone knows your emergency plan
Your business should have comprehensive plans in place to respond quickly to health and safety incidents, make sure your entire workforce is aware of these plans and know what to do in the event of an emergency.
8. Lift things safely
If you need to regularly need to lift and carry heavy things as part of your job, ensure you lift using your thigh muscles, keep a straight back and keep the load close to your body.
9. Take short, regular breaks
Staying fresh and alert on the job will ensure you avoid injury and burnout. Take short regular breaks throughout the day, particularly if you are working with hazardous materials, as tiredness can make your responses slower, leaving you less able to deal with emergency situations.
10. Use mechanical aids wherever possible
Let technology do the hard work for you! Instead of trying to lift or carry heavy objects, enlist the help of a wheelbarrow, crane or forklift.
