National Safety Month has arrived. Annually, this campaign encourages businesses and their employees to work together to improve workplace safety.
You want your employees to feel safe every day, in every work environment. Even though there’s a lot you’re already doing to protect your workers against accidents, there is always room for improvement.
During National Safety Month, you can do your part to make your workplace safer and more productive than ever before. To get started, let’s look at 10 common work accidents and how you can help your employees avoid them.
1. Falls
Provide workers with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when they complete tasks at heights. Moreover, never let employees work at heights in rain, heavy winds or other inclement weather conditions. And, keep an eye out for power lines or other hazards that can otherwise contribute to workplace falls.
2. Hazard Communication
Educate workers about workplace hazards. Plus, provide regular training to employees. And, ensure they are kept up to date regarding on-the-job dangers.
3. Respiratory Protection
Require workers to wear respiratory protection in any environments where airborne contaminants may be present.
4. Scaffolding
Verify that scaffolding is assembled under the supervision of authorized personnel. Furthermore, scaffold-grade lumber should be used when creating platforms. On top of that, all workers should be trained on safe scaffolding use, too.
5. Ladders
Ensure workers inspect a ladder before they use it. If a ladder is defective, it should be taken out of use. In addition, workers should never place a ladder on an icy surface. In terms of using a ladder, workers should maintain 3-point contact (two hands and a foot or two feet and a hand) any time they go up or down a ladder as well.
6. Hazardous Energy Controls
Establish and maintain a hazardous energy control program. Ultimately, you can use the program to assess hazardous energy sources and the risks associated with them. And, ensure the program defines proper controls, communication and training regarding how to manage hazardous energy sources.
7. Powered Industrial Trucks
First, ensure only authorized workers use powered industrial trucks. Next, these workers should never drive powered industrial trucks on unstable surfaces. Meanwhile, they should always wear a safety belt or other harness when they operate a powered industrial truck. Finally, workers should look behind before backing up their truck.
8. Fall Protection Training
Teach workers how to use fall protection equipment. Regularly, they should receive fall protection training. That way, they can stay up to date regarding fall hazards.
9. Eye and Face Protection
Supply workers with safety goggles and other eye and face protection equipment. Evaluate the condition of eye and face protection equipment. If your workers identify and report any equipment issues, replace this equipment.
10. Machinery and Machine Guarding
Educate workers on how to use and maintain machinery. Verify that machine guarding is in place. Otherwise, workers may be increasingly susceptible to falls from machines.
The Bottom Line on National Safety Month
Typically, National Safety Month provides an excellent opportunity to promote on-the-job safety across your workforce. Also, it’s a great time to search for top talent.
Marquee Staffing is a professional staffing agency that can help your business stand out to top job candidates. We can help you identify and attract quality professionals who can contribute to a safe, productive work environment. To learn more, please contact us today.