Advice and tips for staying safe on the job
Preventing accidents is good for everyone. As injury attorneys serving Oklahoma City, we see our share of people who have been injured in work-related accidents. Here we share some good suggestions for helping keep your workplace safe at all times.
For starters, post a list of safety tips in the workplace to increase awareness and reduce on-the-job injuries. You can even print this article and distribute it to all workers.
Equipment –
When using any type of equipment, especially new equipment, always review safety tips for the equipment, provided on the packaging and/or on literature enclosed in the packaging. This includes not just machines and equipment but things like electrical supplies and fixtures, and even small office appliances. You’d be surprised how many injuries result from seemingly “safe” small appliances and gadgets.
Obviously, the type of equipment employees will be working with (or around) depends on the industry. Consider the unique tasks and the unique risks involved with your business and job site to create a detailed list of daily precautions to follow.
Common office safety procedures –
Train staff to always alert others to a potentially hazardous condition or situation, such as an outlet that seems to be sparking when used, or spilled liquid on a floor. It’s important to flag any condition you see before anyone gets hurt.
Break Room Safety –
Items used to cook, make and store food can pose safety risks in the workplace due to germs and fire hazards. Create a safety checklist for your company’s break room. Some common safety precautions for workplace eating areas include turning off coffee makers after use, not placing flammable materials such as foil in the microwave, taking food home daily or weekly to keep the fridge clear of spoiled foods, and washing hands before eating. If your workplace does not use disposable eating utensils, you may also want to have cleaning policies for using reusable items such as mugs and forks. Employees should clean all company kitchenware with antibacterial soap after use. Part of staying safe at work means avoiding the spread of germs and illness.
Germs and Illness –
Germs and viruses are a common workplace threat, as they can spread quickly and cause sickness and productivity losses. You can reduce the spread of germs in your workplace by encouraging employees to stay home when they are sick. Also, incorporate bathroom and eating hygiene in your safety tips by including policies such as washing hands after using the restroom and washing hands before eating. Make sure eating areas and restroom areas are kept clean and let employees know what they need to do to help keep these areas as germ-free as possible.
Posters and Signage –
It’s a very good idea to have warning signs placed on or near potentially hazardous equipment or areas, to alert workers every time they use that equipment or enter that area. You can’t have too many safety postings – they work to prevent injuries. Be sure employees know not to remove these signs.
In our next article, we’ll continue sharing more safety tips in and around the workplace, including personal safety and computer safety. Our injury lawyers are here to help those who are seeking workers compensation and have been doing so for more than two decades.