As the workplace has become increasingly more demanding, many employees face the risk of injuries at work. People can get injured because of repetitive tasks, long work hours, or exposure to hazardous conditions. You’ve probably heard that such problems could result in lost productivity and even long-term disability.
Whatever the cause, work-related injuries can result in pain and suffering. It’s common for a worker to sustain an injury on the job and suffer from persistent problems like back or neck pain. If you want to reduce your chances of being injured on the job, consider these top tips for preventing work-related injuries in the future:
Keep Equipment And Tools In Tiptop Shape
You must maintain equipment and tools properly to prevent accidents and injuries. For example, if you’re a carpenter and had to work with a rusty saw every day, in time, you may suffer from back pain or repetitive strain injury because of added pressure you need to exert to do your job. Thus, to prevent RSI injuries, accidental cuts, and other work-related health problems, you must regularly check the equipment, tools, and machinery you need for your job. Of course, if you work in an office, having ergonomic chairs, tables, and furniture could also help minimize the incidence of back and neck pain due to long hours of sitting.
Promote A Culture Of Safety And Wellness
Every company must have wellness and safety protocols in place, especially concerning the tasks that the employees need to perform. It would be great to include workplace safety and team member first aid training as part of every new team member’s onboarding process. Regular company safety training may include proper handling of machinery and hazardous materials, correct lifting techniques, or even seated exercises.
Comply With Safety Regulations
One of the most basic tips in preventing hazards, accidents, and injuries in the workplace is complying with the safety standards set by local and federal agencies. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict regulations for posting labels and signs to warn people of potential permanent or temporary hazards in the workplace. So, if there’s a water spill in the office or factory, there should be a sign in place warning employees of the slippery floor until the hazard is removed or addressed. It’s worth stressing that workplace injuries can harm your business if the incidence is due to non-compliance with workplace safety and health laws.
Have A Detailed Emergency Plan
Regardless of the number of employees, every company must have an emergency procedure in place. It must have step-by-step instructions on what to do in case of fire, accidents, injury, earthquake, and other emergencies. It’s also a great idea to have contact names and details of managers or first responders included in the written emergency plan.
Even if you have created an elaborate emergency response procedure, it won’t matter if nobody reads it. Thus, it’s the company’s responsibility to ensure that each workforce member reads and completely understands the guidelines. Since two (or more) heads are typically better than one, maybe asking employees for comments and suggestions regarding the emergency procedure could help improve the process.
Keep A Clean And Organized Workplace
Aside from the physical benefits of a cleaner workspace, it’s also important to consider the psychological benefits of reducing clutter and clutter-related hazards in the workplace. Clutter makes people feel stressed and unproductive, so it’s important to keep a clean work environment. It would help if you were always on the lookout for tangled cables and cords, scattered tools, and boxes left on pathways. Hallways, walkways, and exits should be kept free of clutter and debris to prevent injuries and falls.
Due to the COVID pandemic, companies may also need to comply with additional cleanliness and health protocols required by local and health authorities. These may include the regular sanitation of surfaces in the office.
Make Sure Employees Are Wearing Proper Gear
It’s the responsibility of businesses to provide their workers with the proper gear to ensure wellness and safety in the workplace. So, people working in construction sites should have hard hats, and those handling chemicals or dangerous substances in laboratories have adequate personal protective equipment.
If there’s one component of proper work gear that many workers forget, it’s adequate footwear. Unfortunately, not complying with the right work shoes is one of the main causes of slips or falls, which continue to be a leading cause of workplace injury. Thus, employers should strictly implement the wearing of proper non-slip footwear during work hours.
The Bottom Line
There are various ways to prevent injuries at work. Some are easy to follow, while others can be more complicated. What you ought to do is carefully study the most common injuries in your workplace and determine which safety or preventive steps will work best for you and your company.