Some workplace injuries are inevitable, but employees can avoid the majority of them by taking the proper precautions. Here we’ve provided a short list of ways to prevent common workplace injuries.
1. Train Your Employees
You should always educate new employees on the proper safety procedures for their work environment. This includes how to wear safety gear, use machinery, or carry out emergency drills. You should also take the time every couple of months to refresh everyone on workplace safety policies.
2. Wear Protective Equipment
Many jobs require protective clothing, and it’s imperative that workers wear the right safety gear. This may include goggles, earmuffs, jackets, or gloves. It’s also important that everything they wear is made of the proper materials.
3. Teach Ergonomics
Regardless of the amount of physical activity in a workplace environment, you may find employees starting to show signs of repetitive stress injuries. These can cause your employees a lot of pain and medical bills in the future, so you’ll want to do everything you can to prevent them. We recommend having a professional train your employees on ideal posture and how to properly lift heavy objects.
4. Have Equipment Inspected
It’s important that you have any heavy machinery in the workplace inspected on a regular basis. Fatal injuries resulting from faulty equipment are very real threats, and neglecting inspections can cause the machines to operate against their designs. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the frequency and thoroughness of inspections.
5. Control Noise
Some industrial environments have equipment such as fans and pipes, which often emit noises at levels that can rapidly cause hearing loss. As such, you’ll want to properly monitor these noise levels and keep current on OSHA regulations.
6. Use Proper Lighting
Suffice to say, a poorly lit environment can be dangerous. Workers may find themselves unable to identify hazards in time, which may result in injury. If any lights go out, be sure to replace them as soon as possible.
