All it takes is for one workplace accident to leave a huge impact on your company and employees. Productivity and morale can take a big dive which leaves company owners with big medical bills, compensation paperwork, and the need to help motivate staff. The best way to avoid these issues is to put measures in place that will prevent worker injuries from happening.
Here are 4 reliable ways to protect your workers from hazards and accidents.
1. Make All Workers Wear Personal Protective Equipment
First things first, one of the most important things you need to do is ensure that all workers are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE should be a requirement and if someone is refusing to wear equipment then they need to take a break from the worksite. It is vital that all workers understand the importance of PPE and how to properly wear items such as gloves, hard hats, safety shoes, ear protectors, and face protectors.
Some of these items can be the difference between life and death, especially when it comes to working in dangerous conditions. On a construction site protective headgear is always needed, but different work requires different safety equipment. When working in confined spaces or underground with limited air flow, workers may need all the normal PPE with the addition of SCBA equipment (self-contained breathing apparatus). To ensure that everyone is taking PPE seriously, consider spontaneous monitoring so that you can get a realistic picture of what your workers are doing.
2. Provide Them With Proper Tools
Whatever tools your workers are using, these should be high quality, reliable, and fit for purpose. Accidents happen when machinery and equipment are outdated or in need of repair. Some defects are hard to spot, but with up-to-date and safe equipment, such as professional pallet racking safety audits, you will be able to identify and repair minor racking system damages before they become worse and present a danger to employees. That is one example of the power of proper equipment, but maintenance should go on all year round and include frequent inspections and quick repairs.
3. Enforce Regular Breaks
Driving when tired is actively discouraged, and the same rule applies when using heavy machinery, driving forklifts, or using any other tools that could be a potential risk if things went wrong. When people are tired mistakes are more likely to happen, and while some people are more than happy to take their breaks, others do not always pay attention to this and push through to get things done.
This mindset is very dangerous to everyone around individuals like that because if they make one mistake, it could end up hurting several people. Teach employees about the importance of their breaks and make it clear that they are not optional.
4. Provide Safety Training
Another way to protect your workers is to provide regular safety training that is mandatory across all employees and management staff. Teaching workers about the importance of safety on site and how to properly use equipment and machinery will help to reduce injuries. Simple training on body mechanics may seem trivial but it can teach workers how to properly lift something heavy without hurting themselves.
The health and safety of your workers should be a number one priority and with these four tips, you will be able to better protect your workers from accidents and hazards.
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