4 Great Ways to Prevent Workplace Accidents
Each year in the US, over 3 million people suffer a workplace injury, and 27% of these injuries are due to slips, falls, or trips. In addition, 29,000 workplace injuries occur annually from touching equipment or other objects.
As a business, you must ask yourself if you’re doing enough to prevent workplace accidents. If you haven’t addressed this in a while, it’s time to boost your workplace safety program.
To do this, you’ll need to read this guide to learn four practical tips to prevent accidents in your workplace.
1. Provide Regular Safety Training and Education
Regular safety and educational training lets your staff know that safety is a top priority for your company. Educated employees are safe employees, so providing ongoing training is vital.
The first part of workplace safety training involves having all safety protocols in a binder and the employee handbook. Employees should also be thoroughly trained to use any equipment and machinery safely.
Additionally, your employees should have knowledge of all hazardous chemicals they come into contact with on the job. Online safety data sheets (SDS) are a great way to organize everything. For example, your employees can access the system and easily look up salicylic acid safe usage tips within minutes.
2. Ensure Your Employees Wear Proper Protective Clothing
Your employees must wear clothing that fits properly. This is especially important if they work around machinery during their shifts. Loose-fitting clothing can cause people to trip, or it can get stuck in equipment.
You also need to provide your employees with personal protective equipment (PPE). Employees should have access to PPE like gloves, eye protection, and face masks to do their duties safely.
3. Hire Enough Employees
Obviously, running a company means you need enough employees to keep things moving effectively. However, having enough employees is also crucial to workplace safety.
When companies are understaffed, current employees take on more stress by working more overtime hours. When employees are constantly feeling tired and stressed, it increases the risk of workplace accidents.
If you don’t have enough staff, you must take action as soon as possible. One way to navigate this is to hire seasonal staff to work during the busy seasons and holidays.
4. Check for Safety Hazards Daily
Although this may seem obvious, it can easily be overlooked when you’re busy with other daily tasks. Remember, ensuring the workplace is free of safety hazards is crucial to preventing accidents.
Doing a basic daily inspection is the best way to keep the worksite clean and organized. Check to be sure that exits aren’t blocked and that the floor is clear of hazards. You must clean spills promptly to avoid accidents.
Depending on the type of business you have, you should increase equipment inspections to keep track of potential dangers. This will also help you detect areas for improvement.
Prevent Workplace Accidents With These Tips
Following these tips is key to preventing workplace accidents. Once you implement these safety tips, they’ll quickly become a habit among your employees.
Remember, this guide doesn’t cover all workplace accident prevention tips. There are other essential steps to take, like having first aid kits and filling accident reports promptly. So, continue researching to ensure you cover all the bases.
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