Keeping Your Workplace Safe!

Keep your workplace or business safer today

In United States, the safety statistics all show that workplaces can be safer if they just follow some basic safety rules and fix the 12 most common safety problems in a workplace.

1. Have a first aid kit current and suitable for your workplace

Buying a first aid kit from the supermarket will not help when you need it. Think about the type of injuries that could occur in your organisation and have all the treatment options for those injuries.

Ensure your kit is stocked and all used items replaced within 48 hours. Check that you have a first aid kit within reach of all employees in a 5 minute radius because you don't want staff running to the other end of your workplace just to get a bandage while the employee is bleeding to death.

2. Train as many of your employees as possible

Plan to have all your employees trained in first aid so that there is always a first aider on duty when needed. Too many organisations only have a couple of first aiders and they are not on duty when needed.

3. Lifting heavy objects is the main source of injury

Buying a trolley or dolly is one of the cheapest forms of safety device that will have the biggest impact on your workplace safety record. Give your employees time to use these devices or additional staff if needed for double lifts.

4. Send people home if they are sick

No matter is they want to work or if you cant work without them, it is safer and more effective for your business to send them home. Any germs that spread will affect more staff and customers, but more importantly they are more likely to make mistakes while working causing themselves or others an injury.

5. Walk and look for hazards

Spend 10 minutes a day walking around your workplace specifically looking for safety hazards. Don't just wait for the OHS manager to do it. This 10 minutes is more effective than the time you will lose dealing with any injury caused by your lack of hazard spotting.

6. Have a near miss meeting

Establish a part of your meetings to discuss any near misses this week. Near misses are often unreported because of the time needed to fill out the paperwork for something that didn't happen. Explain to your employees the importance of reporting them by talking about any near misses in your meetings.

7. Time your employees work activities

Safety is the first thing to go when employees need to save time. By timing how long it will take an average employee to complete an activity you can plan your production processes with safety in mind so that employees are not forced to take shortcuts. Give employees enough time to work safely.

8. New employees are the most at risk

Employees are more likely to be injured during their first week at work while activities and equipment are unfamiliar to them. Before letting them work, spend the time to safely induct your new employees in all your equipment and safety processes. Assign an experienced mentor to buddy them during the first week at work to prevent any simple mistakes.

9. Plan a busy-bee day each month

Its the little things that get left undone when major issues always rise up and consume your management time. Allocate a day each month where all the little broken things get fixed. It is amazing how many of these waiting safety risks can be resolved in eight hours.

10. Reward for safe work records

Have rewards and recognitions ready for any employee that performs their work safely to show that safety is important to your business. If you focus on safety, so will they. If you focus on profits, so will they.

If your employees are not working safely, it is often because you or the organisation does not really see safety as a priority and your actions speak louder than any safety messages.