Workplace hazards can happen in any work environment—even while working from home—but even if employers and employees do their best to prevent them, accidents happen far more often than they should.
For example, a young woman who worked in a Detroit automotive seat factory enjoyed wearing long hair extensions down her back. She was constantly asked to wear a hair net or hat to cover her hair.
Despite being disciplined, she refused. Her hair recently was caught in a machine, ripping her hair and scalp off. Even worse, besides landing in the hospital and needing emergency surgery, she lost her job.
Every industry has its own set of workplace hazards and precautions to take. Safety policies are essential to follow because some injuries are so severe that they can lead to permanent injuries and death.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 16 workers die daily from work-related injuries. The most common work injuries include:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Crashes and collisions
- Fires and explosions
- Overexertion and muscle strains
- Violence and other injuries by people and animals
Here are five tips for a safer workplace:
Have adequate staffing. Many companies are short-staffed and have tired, overworked employees, which is when most workplace injuries occur. Having enough employees at work also ensures that all employees can take the correct number of paid and unpaid breaks throughout the shift, keeping everyone more alert and safer.
Have all necessary protection equipment. Types of protective equipment can range from an ergonomically correct chair to a hairnet to the proper work boots. Be sure you are using the appropriate posture and following the workplace rules. The policies are in place for a reason. Ensure that your employer is up to date on any changes in safety protection for your industry. If you are an employee and see a co-worker wearing a piece of protection you have not been given, ask about it. And make sure you are using all proper equipment every time you perform a job. Simple steps can protect you from injury or death.
Create and follow a safety and wellness plan. If you are looking for information about what would comprise a safety and wellness plan, there is information on the OSHA website. Creating one of these plans allows the management team and ownership of a business to anticipate possible injury risk factors and have a plan to avoid them. As an employee, you can ask your superiors about the existence of a safety and wellness plan.
Keep a neat, clean work environment. Whether this means management re-organizing a factory to use the space or employees better cleaning up after themselves in the breakroom, a clean environment helps prevent injuries such as slips and falls.
Promote safety awareness and education. Creating a thorough training process is an important safety step because employees will understand the details of their job and how to perform it correctly each time. Additionally, using educational courses to refresh and implement new safety measures can make sure that every employee is up to date with the latest safety information. Employees can help by following all safety protocols.
Despite every effort, sometimes workplace injuries occur, but following safety, steps can help avoid them to save lives and limbs.
For more information about workplace safety, visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at OSHA.gov.
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