Safety First in the Workplace
Good safety whilst at work has never been of greater importance. The important facts are that Whilst the workforce may be at risk of personal injury, employers are prone to being reported to tribunals, especially with the mounting amount of ambulance-chasing lawyers. According to reports from the Royal society for the prevention of accidents (rspoa) almost 1.6 million place of work injuries occur in britain every 12 months, however in a good number of cases these injuries might have been avoided with a little forethought.
It is a well known fact that a safe working environment is good for the whole workforce. By following a few basic steps it's straightforward for individuals and employers to improve safety in the workplace.
Organise your work
Spending a bit of time time organising your workload can be really useful, still it is often overlooked, noticeably when going through busy periods of time when it is actually more important than normal! On a daily basis try and plan what you hope to achieve. Try to keep it realistic though - have the targets too high and you will simply add to your troubles.
First aid lessons
In the event of an tragedy it is worthwhile to comprehend who in the company has the required skill to deliver emergency medical aid. If you're the type of person who likes to get involved why not consider adding your name to the list for medical emergency training - it's an additional skill of value, employers look at it as a positive and it's quite interesting. Moreover employers should be actively encouraging people to acquire first aid skills.
Take frequent breaks
Enjoying regular breaks has been shown to help reduce stress and is believed to eliminate drowsiness. Cup of tea anyone?
Slips and falls
These are common in any company found in typical office to building site. Look out for poor flooring surfaces, stairs, holes, trailing electric cables; the list is never-ending. Make sure you do away with risks wherever it is possible. Remember the importance of warning signs, a dripping floor may look clean but it is extremely hazardous. In addition consider acceptable lighting to keep the area well illuminated, as inadequate lighting can result in a hazard being missed.
Get those stress levels down
Stress is one of the most frequent occurances workplace risks, typically representing almost twenty percent of all reported employment illness. Psychological health is as crucial as bodily health. Take care of yourself, perhaps teach yourself some techniques for relaxation. If you believe you have too much on your plate, you are completely within your rights to request assistance. Don't forget, it won't hurt you to be a few hours late.
Think before moving equipment
It is very important to estimate the extent of the problem, weight and environment before starting to move equipment full-size or little, light or substantial. An enormous quantity of injuries come about each year due to lifting and physical handling. Your individual abilities and difficulties will dictate your maximum limits for lifting objects. Don't forget to adopt the correct posture, don't strain too hard and get help to lift heavy or bulky items.
Carry out risk analysis
Risk Assessments are a really good method of preventing accidents before they come about. One great technique is to undertake cross-departmental risk assessments, where people from other departments within the company audit each other. A fresh pair of eyes can often view things differently, furthermore it gets staff from different departments working in concert.
By following these simple tips, techniques and procedures, you should be able to keep company employees and businesses safe, in good health and efficient.
Roger Wakefield is a staff writer at:
Reagent Chemical Supplies Ltd, (http://www.reagent.co.uk), a manufacturer of custom chemicals and reagents.
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