According to the National Safety Council, a worker is likely to be injured every 7 seconds. Annually, this translates to approximately 4.6 million injuries. And as if that is not enough, work injuries lead to loss of over 104 million production hours.
These statistics are scary. If you feel the need to do something about safety in the workplace, then you are reading the right article.
Whenever an employee gets injured in the workplace, as a business owner, brace yourself for medical expenses, interruption of work, and possible lawsuits. You wouldn’t want such disruptions for your business, especially if it is at a nascent stage.
Before going far, you may want to know the common accidents in the workplace. These are:
- Overexertion-results from work involving lifting or lowering objects
- Falls and slips
- Injury from work equipment
- Injury from contact with objects
With this in mind, it would be best if you developed measures to protect your employees from injuries.
Accidents are unintentional, but that does not mean they are unavoidable. If you are wondering how you can prevent work-related accidents, stick on as we look at some helpful tips.
Have Posted Safety Guidelines
Having visible safety guidelines posted is one way of keeping your employees safe. Pin the safety practices on the boards and walls. Periodically review your safety measures to establish that they are still applicable.
Provide Safety Equipment
Depending on the nature of the workplace, provide your employees with the appropriate safety equipment. For instance, if it’s in a construction site, provide your staff with safety helmets, safety goggles, and gloves.
Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) helps reduce the chances of accidents.
Keep Your Workplace Tidy
A well-kept working environment is a deterrent for accidents. Make sure the workplace is well-organized and neat. For example, there should be no water spillage as it can cause slips and falls. On the other hand, firmly place the shelves to prevent them from falling, resulting in an injury.
Offer Adequate Training
Inadequate training of your employees not only put danger on themselves but to yourself as well. Regularly conduct safety training to keep everyone updated with the safety procedures and policies. Also, adequately train your employees on handling equipment that can cause injury.
Perform Regular Inspections
In most workplaces, the use of dangerous equipment is inevitable. To that end, the use of such equipment when faulty can be catastrophic. Remember to carry out preventive maintenance for your equipment. Inspect machines regularly to identify possible breakdown that can cause accidents.
You may also consider the below tips in a bid to creating an injury-free work environment:
- Conducting drills
- Install proper lighting and ventilation
- Increase supervision
- Discourage risky behavior
Work-related accidents can happen in any field of work. While some are unavoidable, many are preventable. As an employer, incorporate the discussed tips for prevention purposes. An injury-free workplace gives your employees a sense of safety. Again, it saves you the headache of dealing with that personal injury lawyer.
Emma is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2
