“The safety of the people shall be the highest law.”
-Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman philosopher
Regardless of what type of business you have, it is imperative to give emphasis on the safety of your workers. On the other hand, if you’re a worker yourself, you and your colleagues must be well educated about several practices and company guidelines that make you less susceptible to any danger that could occur on your line of work.
People who work in an industrial environment tend to get the highest risk of getting into accidents that could cause injuries or deaths. In the United States, 5,147 have died on their job in the year 2017 alone. Most of these cases happened in construction sites with the leading causes ranging from falls, getting struck by an object, to electrocution.
Aside from accidents, industrial workers are also prone to developing illnesses that they can get from constant exposure to their workplace. The risks are known to be pretty high in factories due to the utilization of some equipment that could produce hazardous chemicals.
To help every industrial worker ensure the safety of everyone within the premises of their workplace, we’ve narrowed down some of the best tips that can be implemented at any given moment:
Familiarize yourselves with the locations of all emergency exits
Whether you like it or not, unexpected things could happen anytime especially in an industrial site. In cases like fires and earthquake, knowing the location of the nearest exit could make the difference between survival and death. So, if you’re still unfamiliar with your working place and all of the paths that you can use in case of an emergency, you better study them as early as possible. You also need to make sure that you keep your working areas free of any clutter as it could potentially be an obstruction on your way through.
Know how to properly use equipment, machines, and tools
As the worker, it is your responsibility to use every equipment, machinery, and tool the right way. For example, if you’re working on a laser-cutting company, you should know how to properly handle a laser-cutting machine. Though laser cutters require moderate caution for utilization, it would still benefit everyone if you know everything about it. Misuse of tools and machines often lead to workplace injuries. You must be aware of the purpose of each equipment properly and have them thoroughly inspected for any damages beforehand.
Prevent tracking hazardous materials
All of the work area mats must be well-maintained and kept clean in order to avoid the accidental tracking of any hazardous chemicals. Cross-contamination can also occur if you’re not careful enough, so make sure that you don’t use the same cleaning materials over and over again. If you found your clothes with traces of toxic chemicals, take them out right away, and do not wear your work clothes on your way home.
Have some break time
Work-related injuries are mainly caused by either accidents or pure human error. As for committing human errors, it can be significantly minimized with a well-rested mind and physique. Allow yourselves some minutes of rest from time to time so that you can be more alert and focused when working.
Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is one of the basic staples for every industrial worker. It can include items such as helmets, gloves, eye protection, safety footwear, and clothing that are designed to greatly reduce the likelihood of all injuries on the part of the wearer.
Safety shall always be a paramount concern for everyone, especially for all industrial workers. By following these tips, rest assured that you can do your job peacefully and free from worries associated with all of the risks involved in your workplace.