Regardless of whether you work in an office, a factory, or a building that serves the public directly, the safety of employees in this space is of paramount importance. It should be recognized that slips, trips, and falls occur daily in workplaces around the world. These are often minor in nature but occasionally result in the employee having to take time off work to recover from any injuries. This affects both the employer and employee in terms of time lost, the need to hire covering staff, and the personal discomfort of suffering an injury.
In fact, there is a range of safety rules and laws that every employer must adhere to so that their workforce is kept as safe as possible – depending on the country (some countries’ health and safety regulations are stricter than others). Suppose an employer is found to be negligent by not taking reasonable steps to protect the safety of their workforce. In that case, the employer may be liable for legal action and may be required to pay compensation to the injured employee. With that in mind, this article will discuss three top tips for workplace safety will be addressed.
Wear the correct safety equipment
Depending on the industry you work in and the type of role you perform, there may be a requirement to wear specialist safety equipment and clothing. For example, it is common in an industrial setting or where the job requires lifting heavy objects to wear protective hats and footwear. The latter can include wide fitting safety shoes, which are specially designed to be more robust than standard shoes and offer improved protection if any items are dropped on employees’ feet.
Other industries will have different requirements for the required safety equipment depending on the tasks that are undertaken. In a healthcare setting, there may be fewer requirements for specific safety equipment. Still, the risks of infection control in the workplace are reduced by wearing uniforms that are bare below the elbow, and workers may be required to take off jewelry and watches so that they do not be a site for germs.
Take regular breaks
In any place of work, it is vital to take regular breaks from daily tasks. Taking a five-minute break every hour is an effective way to ensure that you remain focused throughout the day. This can help to reduce the risk of causing or being involved in a workplace accident due to loss of concentration or fatigue. If you are working from home, experts recommend taking a break every 60-90 minutes to ensure that you remain productive and fully engaged with your tasks without getting too tired.
Report any hazards
As a final top tip, every employee needs to report any hazards that they encounter in the workplace. These can include noticing a liquid spill on a floor or a cluttered environment that poses a trip hazard to employees. Typically, the hazard should be reported to your line manager or safety representative. In some circumstances (if your workplace has an incident reporting system), you may be required to complete an incident report form for a “near miss” to highlight the hazard in the workplace.
Health and safety staff often keep a log of incidents or near misses in the workplace so that the organization can gain a clear picture of where improvements in working practice or the working environment need to be made.
