One of the most critical obligations of every company is to keep their employees safe. There are legal and moral reasons to take every precaution so that workers are not harmed on the job. On average, 2.8% of workers in the U.S. are injured in workplace accidents annually. Aside from improving employee well-being, there are additional advantages such as greater productivity, less absenteeism, and lower expenses related to workplace injuries, as well as assuring your organization’s long-term survival and success. This article highlights ways to keep your employees safe while performing their duties.
1. Ensure ongoing safety training
Every new employee in your organization should undergo safety training during onboarding. It should be provided where additional safety training is necessary for certain tasks. Employees should constantly be educated in the safe use of equipment and handling of hazardous chemicals. This involves recognizing dangers and understanding how to report them. Training should not be a one-time event; instead, it should be done regularly to remind individuals what they need to do to keep themselves and their coworkers safe.
2. Complete an appropriate risk assessment
Periodic evaluations of risk and safety audits are essential for keeping your staff safe. These should be performed regularly to detect whether any risks or hazards have emerged. Following the evaluation, you may take the necessary risk mitigation procedures. For instance, if you run a delivery company or a business that uses heavy-duty trucks in its operation, you must keep up with truck fleet maintenance to ensure that potential safety concerns such as worn-out brakes and tires are quickly identified and addressed.
3. Collaborate with occupational therapists
Occupational medicine professionals can give vital insights into workplace injury and prevention. These experts can assist you in preventing mishaps by visiting your workplace and identifying high-risk locations. Physical and occupational therapists may also assist you in assessing applicants for physically demanding tasks and aid in the return-to-work process by improving workplace ergonomics and developing human performance evaluations.
4. Paying attention to both mental and physical safety
Many businesses are becoming increasingly concerned about mental health-related workplace injuries, sometimes known as psychological injuries. This might include any emotional or stress-related mental health impairments sustained by an employee due to their work. Various circumstances, including overburdened and under-resourced, harassment, bullying, and other unpleasant job situations, can cause this. Take measures to build a psychologically safe workplace and make appropriate mental and well-being services available to employees.
5. Make use of signage and labels
Labels and signs are a low-cost and effective approach to transmitting critical information. They are typically straightforward and use illustrations to explain risks and necessary actions. Even the most seasoned worker will benefit from these tools’ reminders and cautions.
6. Allow for stretch breaks
Stretch breaks are a simple method to enhance employee health and workplace ergonomics. Even five minutes of stretching can relieve muscular tension and release joints, lowering the risks of repetitive motion injuries. It has been demonstrated that active motions are more effective than passive stretching alone.
