About 3 out of 100 workers are injured on the job every year in nonfatal accidents. Most of these injuries could have been prevented with changes in environment or training. In fact, OSHA reports that nearly all workplace injuries are preventable. By just changing small aspects of the work environment and implementing safety ideas, you can limit employee injuries at your workplace.
What ideas can you use to improve workplace safety?
Practicing workplace safety can significantly lower the risk of serious injury. Plus, keeping up with safety policies can decrease workers’ compensation costs, boost your positive reputation and increase employee retention rate.
But how do you even go about improving on-site safety? The following are some ideas on how you can immediately improve on-site safety and prioritize employee health:
- Make sure employees are frequently trained in injury prevention.
Workplace safety is not just a physical concept. It should also be integrated as a workplace culture. Training programs that occur regularly can help make safety an inherent value. These classes can be educational opportunities so that workers are more likely to perform with best safety practices in mind. Regular reinforcement of training principals through employee coaching will make your injury prevention program robust. - Make sure personal equipment is regularly cleaned and changed. Personal protective equipment (PPE) can become worn. With age can come a decrease in functionality and usefulness. It is important to check expiration dates on equipment and monitor them for overuse. Employees should be given new personal equipment as needed.
- Make sure signs are up to date.
Placing signs around your workplace can be a simple yet effective way to remind employees of safety policies and procedures. However, placing signs in the right spaces is only the first step. The information on the signs should be relevant and updated so that the most recent information is posted. This is especially important for signs that list inspection dates on equipment, like ladders. This way, employees know their equipment is safe before using it. - Make sure floors are clear at all times.
Slips, trips and falls are some of the leading causes of time away from work. In addition, they can lead to serious injuries, especially when falling from higher than ground level. In order to lower employees’ risk of falling, it is important to make sure that floors in the workplace are clear of debris, tools or parts. Doing so can help make workplace traffic safe and efficient.
Work-Fit can help you find ideas to improve workplace safety
Improving safety in the workplace can be overwhelming. Hiring a third-party safety representative or industrial athletic trainers like those at Work-Fit can help you maximize both workplace safety and efficiency. Contact our team of experts today for more information about our services or to learn how we can help keep your employees safe.
