As an employee or employer there are many steps that you can take to prevent workplace injuries. Here are some of them.
Instructions
1. Familiarize yourself with all of the hazards that exist in your workplace, whatever kind of industry it is. Ask questions of you manager and other employees as to what practices are safe and which are not.
Familiarize yourself with all of the chemicals that are used in your job. Your employer should provide MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheets for all such products used in your work environment and you should be able to go and look at them anytime you wish.
To help prevent workplace injuries employees should always wear the PPE or Personal Protective Equipment that is provided such as steel toe boots, gloves, safety glasses and hard hats.
You should know the location of the first aid kit and administer first aid to a fellow employee. A list of emergency numbers such as poison control should be posted in an area where it can be easily found.
The locations of eye wash stations and fire extinguishers should be noted and your employer should train you in use them.
2. Wear the required safety protection. As an employer it is your duty to provide the PPE that your employees need. You should make sure that safety glasses are worn at all times during dangerous jobs and items such as hard hats worn when needed. An enforcement policy should be drawn up with penalties for those employees that do not comply.
Your duty as an employer is also to keep up the MSDS sheets. This is required by OSHA and there are fines for non compliance. Make your employees aware of where to find these sheets and what information they contain. Address any language barrier issues that exist and communicate to your non English speaking employees the hazards that exist.
Keep your first aid kit stocked and fire extinguishers and fire alarms in good working condition.
Keep guards and safety control devices on your equipment even if removing them saves work time. A workplace injury could cost much more than the few dollars disabling a safety device saves.
3. Be aware of danger all around. The duty of both employers and employees is to constantly monitor the work environment for dangers that may cause an accident. Keep equipment in good running condition and make sure guards are across dangerous moving parts. Keep warning signs up around dangerous machinery.
Good housekeeping is crucial to a safe workplace. Keeping electrical cords neat, floors swept and clean and items stacked safely and neatly is very important. Safety is not just one persons responsibility but everyone's.
Hold regular safety meeting to discuss what steps to take to prevent workplace accidents.
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