Safety Is No Accident! How To Provide A Safe Working Environment

1/19/2016

Tips on Providing a Safe Work Environment

Did you know that most workplace accidents and injuries are preventable? That's right, according to the The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, in 2013 there were 4,585 fatal work injuries and 50,000 annual deaths from workplace exposure. The sad truth is that thousands of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented. The good news is that with these tips and resources, you can help your business significantly lower the risk of illness, injury, and death. The National Safety Council has compiled the top 10 most reported workers' compensation injuries and we've listed below along with what you can do about them.

On the Job Violent Acts

FACT: Office politics and personal arguments are the number 10 preventable workplace incident.
ACTION: Creating communication channels for employees and providing violence training can prevent attacks and serious physical injuries.

Repetitive Motion Injuries

FACT: Typing and excessive computer use can strain muscles, cause back pain, and lead to vision problems.
ACTION: Proper ergonomic training, encouraging employees to rest eyes periodically, and using ergonomic equipment can reduce this risk.

Machine Entanglement

FACT: Loose clothing, jewelry, fingers, unbound hair - these can all cause machine entanglement injuries.
ACTION: Provide protective barriers and train your team on recognizing and preventing entanglement hazards.

Vehicle Crashes

FACT: Auto crashes can happen to employees driving for business, with potentially lethal results.
ACTION: Provide safe-driver training to employees and make them aware of safe driving policies.

Walking Into Injuries

FACT: It's easy to do - walking into walls, doors, and cabinets can cause head, knee, neck, and foot injuries.
ACTION: A neat and tidy workspace, clearly marked obstacles / hazards, and training employees to be aware of their surroundings can help reduce walking into injuries.

Falling Object Injuries

FACT: Objects dropped by another person or falling from a shelf can cause head injuries and more.

ACTION: Ensuring proper PPE is in use (personal protection equipment) and using signage in areas where debris may fall can reduce this risk.

Reaction Injuries

FACT: Reaction injuries are caused from slipping and tripping without actually falling.
ACTION: Clearing snow, labelling uneven walkways, and placing no-slip rugs can prevent muscle injuries and body trauma from reaction injuries.

Falling From Heights

FACT: Roofs, ladders, and stairways can all be the source of slip and fall incidents.
ACTION: Proper fall prevention training and personal protection gear can prevent these types of accidents.

Slipping / Tripping

FACT: Wet floors present the potential for muscle injuries.
ACTION: Placing non-slip rugs around entrances and exits, clearly labelling cords on the floor, and using signage to indicate slippery areas are all key to ensuring an accident-free environment.

Overexertion Injuries

FACT: Carrying, pulling, and lifting are key culprits behind overexertion injuries.
ACTION: Ensure employees are given ample breaks to rest in jobs that could result in overexertion and train them on proper ways to perform physical activities, such as lifting with legs instead of their back.

Additional Workplace Safety Resources

Visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website for an index of Workplace Safety & Health Topics. Find everything from government regulations to training materials to publications on the OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) website.

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