Why Workplace Safety Tips?
Because
1 Worker Dies Every 15 Seconds.

workplace safety tips sign collage


These Workplace Safety Tips may help save a life... maybe even yours.

Data collected by the International Labour Organization reveals that one worker dies every 15 seconds... 6,300 workers die daily... 2.3 million workers die each year... 337 million workers are injured each year... in workplace accidents worldwide (see Workplace Safety Facts).

In highly developed economies close to 40% of early retirements before the statutory age are due to disabilities. These workers have their working life prematurely shortened by an average 4-5 years.

10 Workplace Safety Tips.

1. Be Well Informed, Not Ignorant or Naive.

When it comes to workplace safety tips ignorance is definitely not "bliss". Ignorance can kill you, or your workers.

Every worker and employer needs to be fully aware of the particular Safety and Health dangers and hazards that can occur in their particular industry and occupation.

Take the time and trouble to get the information you need about your workplace at one of these very helpful sites:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... U.S.A.

Queensland Government... Australia.

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

2. Safety by Design.

Safety in the workplace begins with careful planning and layout of the work area.

Every aspect from the positioning of machinery (and safety devices), movement and storage of supplies and materials (especially hazardous types), air temperature and quality, etc needs to be fully thought out and expert advice obtained where necessary.

You need to understand Burke's 1st Law... If anything can go wrong, sooner or later it will. And don't forget Burke's 2nd Law... it'll happen at the worst possible time.

3. Provide Adequate Staff Training on Workplace Safety Protocols.

Poor or inadequate Health and Safety Protocols will only result in higher employee downtime and absenteeism, lower morale and productivity, and lead to higher Worker's Compensation Insurance premiums.

That means everything from:
  • workplace safety tips sign skull ensuring workers are adequately trained,
  • providing supervision to ensure correct operating procedures are followed,
  • instruction on proper lifting techniques,
  • how to handle hazardous materials,
  • how to respond to violent, aggressive or abusive behavior (from fellow workers or customers),
  • the hazards of confined spaces, and much, much more.

One survey estimated up to 40% of all accident insurance claims are Worker's Compensation and Liability claims.

4. Provide Appropriate Work Gear.

This means ensuring personal protective gear (eyewear, footwear, hearing protection, safety harnesses, hard hats, etc) is worn & in good condition.

5. Ensure all Machinery & Tools are Safe.

Workplace safety Tips Checklist:

  • workplace safety tips emergency stop sign Are all machine guards in place?
  • Are rotating parts, pulleys and belts adequately guarded?
  • Are Emergency Stop Buttons operational, visible, and readily accessible?
  • Is there adequate clearance around machinery?
  • Are machinery areas clean & clear of debris?
  • Are noise levels acceptable?
  • Is air quality and temperature acceptable?
Newsflash: The Australian, June 4-5, 2011, Reporter John Bussey.

3 Chinese workers were killed & 15 injured in a factory workshop explosion in Chengdu.

The factory produces electronics for Apple, HP, Dell, Sony & others. It seems the explosion was sparked by a build up of dust in the metal polishing shop that was "improperly ventilated or cleaned".

Nearly 150 U.S. workers have been killed in similar accidents and over 850 injured since 1980 in similar combustible dust explosions.

6. Minimize Repetition Strain Injures (RSI).

"In some populations that we've studied, between 22% and 40% of people have evidence of RSI".
Professor Peter Buckle, University of Surrey (BBC report 5/27/2007).

The 40% figure used to apply mainly to occupations like dressmakers and secretaries, but the huge impact of computer keyboards, mobile phone texting, hours spent hunched over computer screens, and decreasing physical fitness is creating an epidemic of RSI problems in new areas.

Employers need to ensure they provide the best Ergonomically Friendly Workplace Environment possible.

That means looking carefully at every aspect from desk & chair heights, the position and type of computer equipment used, bad posture, to types of tools and machinery to be used.

7. Identify Alcohol or Drug Related Problems.

Some Facts about Workplace Drug and Alcohol Abuse:

  • Up to 9 million U.S. workers take drugs according to the US Dept. of Labor, (ILO report 2006).

  • 44% of drug abusers have sold drugs to other employees; 18 % have stolen from fellow workers to support their habit, (ILO 2006 quoting US NIH report).

  • Drug users are 5 times more likely to apply for Workers Compensation, and have 3.6 times more accidents, (Russell Huedsch, Demand Media, 2011).

  • Alcohol caused 10-20% of work accidents in France, (WHO report 2005).

  • Latvian labour productivity was reduced by 10% due to alcoholism, (WHO report 2005).

  • 11% of workers used alcohol while at work; 10% were illicit drug users; 1% took drugs at work, (Canadian survey 2002).

  • 20-25% of all occupational injuries result from alcohol or drug abuse, (International Labour Organization 2001).

  • 3-15% of fatal injuries are related to alcohol or drug abuse, (ILO 2001).

  • 62% of illicit drug users work full-time, (ILO 2001).

8. Consult with your Workforce.

Every organization needs a Consultation Program to promote a safe and healthy work environment.

Sound management practice involves a "Team Approach". This means regularly inspecting the workplace and getting employees to report safety problems, then fixing identified problems quickly.

Your best Workplace Safety Tips might just come from your own employees or co-workers.

9. Have an Emergency Response Plan Ready.

An Emergency Response Plan includes:

  • workplace safety tips fire trucks The workplace location and layout.
  • Emergency assembly points.
  • Arrangements for raising the alarm.
  • Emergency telephone numbers (fire, police, ambulance, key personnel).
  • Adequate First Aid equipment.
  • Emergency evacuation plans.
  • Recovery strategies.

10. Have Adequate Worker's Compensation Insurance.

workplace safety tips danger sign

The reality is no workplace is totally safe.

The unexpected will happen.

That's when employers will be glad they're covered by Worker's Compensation Insurance... and workers and sub-contractors who've had to arrange their own insurance (because they were not covered by same) will have wage replacement and medical benefits in place.

The consequences of not having that kind of protection in place are just too horrible for workers and their families to have to endure.

Hopefully some of these Workplace Safety Tips will help in keeping your workplace safer.







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