February 19, 2021
Blog Each year, a staggering 340 million occupational accidents occur worldwide. A further 160 million work-related illnesses are reported yearly. As a result of these accidents and illnesses, 2.3 million people lose their lives.
Shockingly, the vast majority of occupational accidents, injuries, and fatalities are entirely preventable. In most cases, these events are the result of failing to follow safety rules, behaving inappropriately, and a lack of training.
The great news is that you can create a safe workplace through a little diligence. Today, we outline ten actionable workplace safety tips to help keep your employees healthy and happy.
Conduct Risk Assessments
Identifying potential hazards in the workplace is the first important step towards creating a safe space for your workers. Be sure to conduct a COVID-19 risk assessment as workers return to work to determine the best control measures.
Of course, there are many other risks that may be present in the workplace besides contagious diseases like COVID-19. These include extreme weather, power outages, and so on.
Generally, you want to determine the likelihood of harm, such as an illness or injury, and how severe it can be.
Insist on Appropriate Uniforms or Dress Code
Another way to ensure employee protection is by having a universal company uniform or dress code that applies to all workers. For companies that have a manufacturing plant and an office on the same compound, ensure everyone knows what they are allowed to wear when inside the manufacturing facility.
For instance, people inside a manufacturing facility should wear non-slip or closed-toed shoes. They may also need to wear protective gear, including aprons and safety glasses. Some workspaces may require wearing hard caps, such as construction sites.
Keep the Workspace Clean and Tidy
This simple workplace safety tactic can go a long way in averting accidents. Clean and clear walkways reduce the chances of workers tripping over something and injuring themselves.
A clean working space also averts allergies and other diseases that result from dusty spaces.
Communicate to your employees about the importance of keeping their working area clean and organized at all times. You may also want to consider hiring an external cleaning service to regularly and thoroughly clean every area in your offices.
Create an Open-Door Communication Policy
Create an environment where workers feel free to talk to you about any safety issues in your company. Allow them to express concerns without any fear of intimidation or retaliation.
Remember, your employees are always on the front line when it comes to company work and thus, they have valuable insights into how things are versus how they should be.
Empower your employees to talk to and confront coworkers regarding issues about security.
Follow Set Security Guidelines
OSHA continuously updates work safety practices and protocols. As an employer, you need to know what these rules and regulations are and follow them to the letter.
The safety rules and regulations range from how employees use ladders to how they adjust projectors on the ceiling to quality checks on office machinery. They also stipulate which personal protection equipment to supply your workers with.
Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with what OSHA has to say about workers’ compensation insurance.
Provide Training on Safety
Make safety training part of your onboarding process for new employees. And since safety practices and protocols are frequently updated, keep employees up-to-date on them.
This may mean providing training sessions to existing employees on how to meet new safety requirements. It could also mean providing refresher courses on essential safety protocols such as fire drills, personal safety, tornado drills, and so on.
Encourage Stretch Breaks
Frequent stretch breaks provide employees an easy way to boost workplace ergonomics and worker health. Even five minutes taken to stretch can go a long way in easing muscle tension and loosening joints. This reduces the likelihood of injuries caused by repetitive motions.
Encourage Employees To Take Vacations
When workers take time off, they usually come back more rested, focused, and ready to work. Too much work can lead to stress, and the toll on the body and mind can be significant. In such a state, it’s easy to make errors that lead to accidents and injury.
When workers step away from work for some time, they can relax and disconnect. This, in turn, helps them come back revitalized and more focused.
Partner With Occupational Clinicians
An occupational clinician possesses extensive knowledge of workplace injury as well as prevention. You can invite such an expert to your worksite to identify areas with the highest risk for worker injury. Once they’ve identified these areas, they can recommend what to do to boost safety.
Occupational and physical therapists are also knowledgeable on how to boost workplace ergonomics. They can develop human performance evaluations for screening candidates for roles that are physically demanding.
Hold Regular Meetings To Discuss Workplace Safety
When it comes to workplace safety, you can never be over-prepared. Be sure to hold regular meetings with your staff to review your safety rules and regulations. Use these meetings to discuss prevention tactics, so everyone knows what to do to avert accidents.
Creating a Safe Workplace Doesn’t Need To Be a Huge Challenge
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to create an environment that’s safe for your workers. The good news is that creating such a workspace doesn’t need to cost a fortune. With the tips we’ve shared in this post, you can ensure that you and your employees have a safe workplace and avert unwanted injuries.
Are you interested in getting workers’ compensation insurance for your employees? Get an instant quote from us today.
