Workplace safety matters to everyone. Workplace accidents, as well as being very traumatic for their victims, cost companies thousands of dollars in lost productivity, while governments lose the tax revenue from incapacitated workers that require disabilities pay outs. Its no wonder that many work places use qualified inspectors from workplace and home inspection programs, and governments put strict regulations in the facilities, training and equipment found in the work place.
There are some basic things that are important in every work place and these include:
Proper Safety Equipment
Hard hats, gloves and glasses are the stereotype, but this also includes things like rubber anti-slip mats, machine guards and proper foot gear. Non-slip soles or steel toes can make the difference between a crippling injury and a small mishap.
Proper Training
Employees who handle hazardous materials need to know how to take care of everything from acids and corrosives, to flammable or explosive containers. On the other hand, even in a relatively mild work place, there still may be heavy lifting or in the case of client side or healthcare work, the potential for a harmful interaction with clients or patients. Anyone who works with people needs to know how to deescalate a violent confrontation.
Sensible Rest and Sick-leave Policies
Accidents often happen due to carelessness caused by fatigue. Regular breaks and control for sick or exhausted workers can prevent a number of problems. Sick leave also prevents the spread of pandemics. Work places that discourage use of time off lose out when simple quarantine habits could have stopped entire offices from falling ill.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics refers to the way the work place and its equipment works with or against the body. An ergonomically designed work station has an adjustable chair with proper support and a work station surface at the right height for the user. Today, knowing about ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome, graduates from office administration programs and computer courses alike know about how to protect themselves and their nerves, but supportive foam wedges and braces also help.
First Aid and CPR Training
Not all accidents are completely possible to avoid, but the right skills can minimize them when they happen. First aid training teaches people how to manage a crisis. Having one or two first aid-trained personnel is not a bad idea, and the training, which can be often found in the same place healthcare diploma programs are offered, are also often tax deductible.
Obviously, individual work places also vary according to their needs, but by observing these five concepts, a great deal of time and money may be saved, accidents averted and a large amount of avoidable injuries or even deaths prevented.
