Did you know that in 2019, one worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury? Workplace accidents have reduced significantly in the last couple of decades. But there are still 2.8 accidents per every 100 workers.
These startling figures don’t need to be the case if employers and business owners work to reduce workplace safety hazards.
Are you doing everything you can to ensure safety on the job? Keep reading for the top five ways to decrease injuries and improve working conditions.
1. Regular Self-Inspections
Identifying safety hazards in the workplace depends on regular walk-through inspections. You need to ensure that your ‘housekeeping’ is in order, identify any potential hazards and see to them immediately.
Encourage your employees to do inspections and identify hazards too.
2. Incorporate Staff Safety Training
This is one of the most important aspects of a safe workplace. Your employees need to learn about basic safety measures for workplace hazards. All employees should have access to accessible and thorough safety training and resources.
Extensive training is necessary when handling heavy machinery, such as forklifts, or dealing with dangerous chemicals. Never overestimate an employee’s experience and enforce safe practices through regular training programs.
3. Hire Competent Workers
When you’re making new hires or you’re working with contractors, ensure that you’re only hiring the best. Competent and experienced workers who know how to do the job properly have fewer accidents and injuries.
For example, you should hire industrial painting contractors for tough jobs who maintain high safety standards and are trained in equipment, scaffolds, and lifts.
4. Provide Correct Tools and Gear
All of your employees should have the correct tools and protection gear to reduce workplace safety hazards and risks. These include gear such as helmets, steel-toed boots, safety goggles, and gloves. Employees need to know how to properly wear and use the safety gear and that it’s a non-negotiable rule in the workplace.
Aside from gear, all of your workers should be working with the correct tools. Tools and machinery should be well-maintained and functioning well. Ensure that equipment is regularly cleaned, serviced, and inspected to avoid dangerous malfunctions.
5. Keep the Workplace Orderly
This is a simple way to reduce safety hazards in the workplace simply by keeping the area clean and organized. Unnecessary accidents can be avoided when you ensure that objects and tools aren’t lying around, debris and spills are cleaned up quickly and working equipment is always packed away.
Clutter and mess increase the risk of avoidable workplace health and safety hazards. You need to ensure that emergency exits are always clear and that there isn’t overstacking in the warehouse which could be dangerous.
Avoid Workplace Safety Hazards
Are you confident that you’re doing all that you can to avoid workplace safety hazards? It’s important to always reevaluate your safety procedures, training, equipment, and working conditions to maintain the safest possible environment.
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