The employer and the employee may not always see eye to eye on the need for salary increment, but they sure agree on some issues, one of which is that safety comes first. Nobody wants to get injured, so everyone wants to go out of their way to prevent safety incidents.
Again, employers are not prepared to create room for accidents that will result in compensating the injured workers. They thus initiate preventive measures.
But wanting to prevent and actually knowing how to prevent safety incidents at the workplace are two different things. So, how can you avoid safety incidents at the workplace?
Check the following 5 ways.
Effective Safety Training
The first step to preventing safety incidents at the workplace obviously has to be training the workers about safety. Each worker must learn the necessary safety skills. This is actually a legal requirement for every business. However, every business has to ensure that whatever safety training they provide is effective.
There are shallow safety courses that don’t go beyond checklists or box-ticking exercise. Some are outdated. So, choosing the right safety courses, such as IOSH, is crucial.
New employees with no previous safety training or skills should be asked to take the IOSH Working Safely Course, which introduces them to safety basics. On the other hand, managers, supervisors or anyone in a leadership position at the workplace should be encouraged to take the IOSH Managing Safely Course.
Know Your Surroundings
You always need to know what is around you at any given time while at work. Pay attention to your workplace. Keep an eye on potential dangers like slippery floors or things that could trip you up. Is the “Wet Floor” signage in place while cleaners splash soapy water on the floor? Where is the emergency door? Where is the fire extinguisher?
Always Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
You should always use the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or safety gear provided for a particular work. Whether it is a safety harness, helmet, safety shoes, dust masks, gloves, or safety goggles, do not neglect to use them because they protect you from harm and keep you safe in the work arena.
After wearing a helmet for years without seeing its value, a worker may be tempted to think that it’s no use wearing it; after all, no accident has ever happened there. That’s one mistake some workers make.
Report Hazards Immediately
Don’t keep silent when you note a hazard. You should immediately approach your work section’s safety champion or whoever you should report to when you see hazards. Report anything that could cause trouble as soon as possible. For instance, any leakage or spill should be reported.
Never be discouraged even when your fellow workers mockingly start calling you “hazards detective,” which sometimes happens when a worker makes it their duty never to miss an opportunity to point out hazards to the safety personnel.
It’s better to be a “hazards detective’ than an accident victim lying in a hospital bed and explaining to the journalists how the accident could have been avoided.
Regular Inspections
Accidents can be caused by equipment and machinery malfunctions. You have heard or read about fatal explosions at factories. Machinery such as boilers or pressure tanks are time bombs. However, regular inspections can prevent such accidents. Through the inspections, small leakages or developing problems can be detected and repaired in time.
Parting Shot
At the end of the day, safety at the workplace starts with you. It is not work for the manager, supervisor or whoever you report to. It is your business. Usually, the victims are those handling the machinery or equipment that pose safety risks. They must be at the forefront of safety matters.
