Top 10 Workplace Safety Tips that All Employees Must Know
To ensure that your employees go home safely at the end of every shift, you need to start working on your safety culture at work. Safety should be made a top priority in the workplace.
You may have an extensive safety program and all the latest safety equipment, but if your employees aren’t involved in the process, then it all comes to naught.
Here, in this week’s post, we go back to the basics. We give you the top workplace safety tips that all your employees must know, irrespective of the nature of their job.
Here are the top 10 workplace safety tips that all employees (and employers) should know.
Understand the Risks of the Job
It all starts here. You have to understand that all jobs – irrespective of the nature or industry – come with certain risks. Some jobs may pose higher risks compared to others.
Before you take up any job, it’s essential that you are aware of all the risks associated with it. This way, you can be better prepared to take the right steps for completing the job, thereby avoiding work-related injuries.
As you would have come across the popular saying, “Prevention is better than cure,” being prepared helps you eliminate major of the risks at work.
Don’t let Stress Eat You at the Workplace
Very often, people don’t realize that stress is one of the major reasons for common workplace accidents and injuries. You’re likely to get stressed by putting in too many hours, having a too high workload or other external factors like peer pressure, job insecurity, frequent conflicts with your employers and/or co-workers.
If you feel that stress is impacting your productivity at work, here are a few tips to help you reduce workplace stress.
Take a Break
No, we aren’t promoting the brand Kit-Kat But, we think that the chocolate brand has got something right.
It’s essential to take frequent breaks during work. This not only helps you reduce workplace stress but also helps you remain alert and focused on the task at hand. Lack of alertness and lack of sleep could lead to deadly injuries and accidents.
Make sure that you schedule the toughest tasks (ones that require your full concentration) earlier during the day, when your concentration levels and energy are high. Routine tasks can be scheduled for the post-afternoon lunch slump.
Practice the Right Techniques while Lifting Heavy Objects
Back injuries are one of the common workplace related accidents. While lifting heavy objects, always make sure to use mechanical aids and other tools. If you have to do manual lifting, make sure that you bend down your knees and not just the waist.
Other simple hacks to avoid back injuries are to ensure that things are within easy reach and to use ergonomically designed furniture while sitting at the desk for long hours.
Use Mechanical Aids whenever Possible
There are plenty of mechanical aids at the workplace that help to reduce the chances of injury. Make sure to use them whenever you’re doing a heavy task like lifting, moving or pushing. Some commonly used mechanical aids include forklifts, cranes, conveyor belts, wheelbarrows and more.
Be Aware of Workplace Safety Rules
Make sure to attend safety meetings at the workplace regularly. Instead of being a passive participant voice out your opinions and get all your queries resolved. Become an active participant at workplace safety meetings, and try to build a safety culture at work.
Additionally, it’s always a good idea to keep yourself updated on various safety resources and the latest safety trends. Safety isn’t something that is done once and forgotten. It has to be revisited regularly to help you stay safe and improve the safety culture at work.
Know your Surroundings
Make sure that you know your surroundings at work. This helps you to assess potential risks. By being aware of hazardous areas and substances in the workplace, you can eliminate the chances of workplace accidents and injuries.
Some common hazards at work include – complex machinery, harmful chemicals, hand and power tools, etc.
Always Maintain Good Posture
Irrespective of whether you have a desk job or a factory floor job, it’s essential that you maintain good posture. This prevents you from experiencing neck, back and shoulder pain as well as to avoid back injuries.
If you have a desk job, make sure to take a quick walk around the floor once every hour. It’s easy to perfect your posture. Here’s how to get in the right posture – Shrug your shoulders, move them back, drop them, voila – you’re in the right posture.
Repeat these steps once every hour.
Be Aware of the Emergency Exit
This one’s crucial. You need to know where the emergency exits are located. This way you can save precious minutes searching for the emergency exit during a crisis.
Another point to note here is that the emergency exits should be accessible. Make sure that all escape routes are kept clear, without any blocking equipment.
Finally, Report Unsafe Conditions to Management
As an employee, it’s your duty to report unsafe working conditions to your supervisors. Make sure that you bring something wrong to the notice of your manager or supervisor. It’s their job to rectify the issue. But, if they aren’t aware of the mistake in the first place, then they cannot get it done.
Final Thoughts – Safety is not an Option, but a Requirement
A safe working environment is a must for all. Safety is not just about compliance, but it’s also an excellent business strategy, that will help you gain an edge over your competitors.
These ten safety tips will help you get started on the right path to workplace safety. Apart from these, it’s the imperative of employers to provide employees with safe working conditions. Get in touch with one of our safety experts here at Totalika to find out how you can get started with workplace safety.