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Creating a safe space for everyone, especially workers, is one of the crucial elements of running any business. Each business management team is responsible for identifying and reducing any workplace’s inherent risks.
Employers are also responsible for ensuring that employees clearly understand the safety protocols and how to follow them properly. Designing and implementing safety plans in the workplace helps provide a safe working environment, gives employees and management peace of mind, and helps prevents the losses that occur because of accidents and injuries.
If you’ve been injured in the workplace, employment lawyers suggest speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer. They understand the laws governing your workplace, share valuable information and resources, and can give you more information on safeguarding your working environment to improve efficiency and reduce injuries.
Workplace Accident Prevention
Accidents happen suddenly. When accidents occur on the job, they can result in illness, injury, and property damage. Accident prevention in the workplace entails all of the procedures and policies your employer has adopted to keep everyone safe.
Each accident prevention plan will vary based on the size of the business, the hazards involved, the geographical location of the business, and the type of work involved. Generally, a company’s accident prevention methods include the following:
- Policies and procedures that keep everyone safe
- Signage that warns of hazards and danger
- Training that prevents injury
- Safety logs to document that tasks have been completed
- The use of properly maintained safety equipment
Significance of Accident Prevention
When businesses provide a safe environment for workers and employees, they’re able to operate more efficiently and experience fewer setbacks. Accident prevention plans also keep businesses safe.
Accident prevention can be even more significant in the following industries:
- Commercial driving, especially of large semi-trucks
- Law enforcement and public service
- Mining and construction jobs
- Outdoor jobs, especially those in extreme temperatures and inclement weather
When businesses create accident prevention policies, they can help to prevent injury, building damage, legal issues, and many lost hours and sick days. When employees feel safe, they can execute their job duties without worrying about distractions. This can help businesses run more smoothly, reduce time off, and enhance the productivity and output of the company.
Precautionary Measures To Avoid Workplace Injury
Business managers can enact the following precautionary policies to reduce the number of injuries their employees suffer at the workplace:
Hire Safety Professionals
Safety officers can help your business to remain focused on safety objectives. Having someone dedicated to exploring and refining your business’s safe and ethical practices can save you time and resources.
Safety officers can mitigate risks, develop safety plans that address potential safety hazards, encourage federal, state, and local law compliance, and enforce policies. Having a safety officer at your company to ensure that safe work practices are a top-tier priority can help keep work environments productive.
Hire Sufficient Staff
When companies are understaffed, workers experience burnout and aren’t able to properly meet the needs of their company. Burnout can lead to corner cutting, mistakes, fatigue on the job, and inefficiency. However, hiring enough staff to complete tasks properly can help keep your employees from being overwhelmed and getting injured on the job.
When employers hire enough staff, they end up with a more engaged workforce. These individuals will work less overtime, remain more focused, and get opportunities to rest without the risk of injury. This can also improve morale and help to maintain a safe and motivated workforce.
Provide Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) can keep employees safe on the job. Certain environments require them because of the nature of the tasks involved. PPE used by companies to keep workers safe includes:
- Ear coverings and earplugs
- Face masks
- Foot protection, like steel-toed boots
- Harnesses
- Helmets
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Reflective high-visibility clothing and accessories
- Waist belts
It’s imperative for businesses to properly train employees on how to use their PPE properly. Your safety officer can perform audits to ensure that equipment is being properly maintained and used to make sure that everyone is following the law and practicing safety.
Other safety equipment can include:
- Defibrillators
- First aid kits
- Warning signs
- Traffic cones
Identifying Safety Concerns
One of the best ways to prevent injuries on the job is by identifying concerns before they become hazards. A few ways to find potential problems in a workspace include:
- Focusing on areas of your business where safety issues arise and developing plans to address those issues
- Reviewing past accident reports for patterns and opportunities to improve
- Surveying the premises of the business for potential hazards
Schedule Regular Training
Potential safety hazards may go unseen to those without experience. That’s why senior employees and safety staff can provide valuable insight into the ways to remain safe in the workplace. Education on potential hazards and workplace safety etiquette can help employees understand the risks associated with their employment.
Regularly training staffers on the following can help to maintain safety standards on the job:
- Accident reports
- How to properly handle hazardous materials
- Locations of emergency safety equipment
- The proper operation of heavy machinery
- Safe lifting techniques
Perform Health Evaluations When Necessary
Specific roles require a certain level of physical and mental health. By assessing the physical and mental health of employees with regular screenings, you can avoid putting someone in a position to hurt themselves and ensure that they are in good health. By making sure that employees are physically and mentally capable of fulfilling their duties, businesses can keep everyone safe.
Pre-employment screenings sometimes include the following:
- Cardiac tests
- Drug and alcohol screening
- Hearing exams
- Lung capacity tests
- Medical history review
- Physical examination
- Pull, grip, and strength tests
- Vision exams
Implementing A Safety and Wellness Plan
Developing a safety plan is one of the key factors in keeping everyone safe at work. A safety plan explains all the safety protocols to implement in case of an emergency. Safety plans can include how to:
- Alert management of potential risks
- Complete safety-related objectives
- Document injury and safety violations
With the right plan, employees can meet the expectations of management and be prepared for whatever emergencies may arise. Safety plans also provide a framework that can eliminate unsafe procedures and lapses in communication before they occur.
Keep A Clean Workspace
Properly removing debris and organizing the workspace can prevent injuries from occurring. When businesses can keep their workspaces free of clutter, they eliminate slip, trip, fall, and fire hazards.
Also, providing cleaning stations throughout the space can help employees remove spills on time. Highlighting cleaning stations with clear signage and training staff members on where they are can also improve efficiency while keeping everyone safe.
Inspect Workplaces Regularly
Inspecting your workplace can help you to identify hazards and ensure that employees are practicing the proper safety protocols. Some businesses keep a record of who’s completed each inspection to ensure that it is being done regularly. Doing so can keep workers accountable and prevent injuries.
The safety practices your company chooses or refuses to enact can have lasting effects. If you’ve been injured because of poor safety practices at work, speak with an employment injury attorney right away.