As National Safety Month is now upon us, we are reminded of something we often take for granted while going through the motions at work – our well-being. Although the concept of safety isn’t always immediately associated with sunny June, its importance cannot be understated, particularly in the workplace. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), nearly 11 American workers die on the job each day. And in many cases, these accidents could have been avoided.
It becomes the responsibility of business decision-makers to ensure company policies and practices are designed and implemented to maximize employee safety, and that the rules are followed by those carrying out laborious tasks. So in the spirit of National Safety Month, when working with heavy equipment parts or hazardous machinery, we recommend these seven workplace safety tips for keeping yourself and your crew out of harm’s way.
1. Wear hard hats and other protective gear. Never underestimate the power of a hard hat! These durable head protectors are meant to withstand penetration and absorb the shock of an impact blow. And in some cases, hard hats should also be able to protect against electric shock. Yet, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that among employees who suffered head injuries at work, only 16% were wearing hard hats (despite that 40% were actually required to wear them for specific on-site tasks). What’s more, a majority of these employees were injured while performing their normal job functions at regular worksites. This just goes to show that no matter how experienced or skilled an employee is, every worker should be using hard hats, goggles, face shields, earplugs, steel-toed shoes, etc. during designated activities. For recognized standards for hats, refer to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
2. Measure your safety progress. Your company should have a safety management system of processes and procedures in place for managing risks and evaluating success. Analyzing leading indicators, benchmarks, and assessments can help you measure your level of safety and continue to improve the working environment. Interestingly, investors are increasingly considering workplace safety and health measures as a critical factor for screening out underperforming stocks. And they are showing stronger returns for doing so.
3. Create a culture of safety. It’s important that your employees are engaged in the process of promoting health and safety as a core value of the company. Whether you create surveys to identify safety strengths and weaknesses or hold forums and interviews to discuss important topical issues, some of the best feedback comes from the people who are out there in the field. By integrating the theme of safety into every level of the organization, you will motivate your teams and make them feel more connected to the company culture.
4. Report all risks. Though risk should be mitigated as much as possible, any given situation where a level of risk is temporarily increased should be immediately reported, documented and addressed. If a high-risk situation is identified, compensatory measures should be implemented before work is resumed. Moreover, employees should not start up or shut down equipment or installations without using the proper written operating procedure.
5. Use caution during heavy lifting. First and foremost, do not walk under a load while lifting is taking place. For any job involving a crane, or any other mechanical system for that matter, a preliminary risk analysis should be conducted (and required!), and the condition of the equipment should be assessed. Personnel operating the lift should be qualified, and access to the area should be restricted. In terms of taking care of your body while lifting heavy objects, adopting an inappropriate posture can be dangerous. Therefore, avoid carrying out a task involving heavy lifting if the right tools are not available.
6. Do not perform work without a valid work permit. Period.
7. Partner up with a safety organization. There are many industry-specific organizations that can help your business create guidelines for safely executing specific procedures. The National Safety Council is one such organization with years of experience advising companies on matters of health and safety and implementing safety-related organizational changes. In order to support safety in the workplace, OSHA and the NSC have created an agreement via the OSHA-NSC Alliance, which strives to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The Alliance has developed and published several free resources and fact sheets to support this mission.
Remember, successful organizations of all sizes and from all industries take the issue of safety very seriously. It goes without saying that employees are any company’s most important asset, and business owners and executives should know that providing a safe and caring environment can boost employee morale and increase productivity, not to mention lower costs. Each prevented lost-time injury or illness saves approximately $37,000! And of course, you have the opportunity to alleviate the physical, emotional and financial stress that burdens affected employees and their families. Use these preventative workplace safety tips to ensure your team is protected!
