Some Of The More Common Health And Safety Issues

Female instructor showing CPR on training doll

Dealing with accidents that occur in the workplace is a much more common occurrence than you may expect. Because of this, health and safety are a primary concern for a lot of employers that they look to properly address. Not properly addressing these issues can ultimately lead to hefty lawsuits and other legal issues that could have been avoided. An excellent way to avoid a lot of these issues is to properly address them before they ever become a problem in the first place. Here are several of the major yet common issues dealing with workplace health and safety and some of the top ways to appropriately address them.

Workplace Safety Issues

These issues can pop up in many different ways. One of the forms in which they can result revolves around the configuration of the workplace. Every floor should be clear of obstructions. No obstacles should be in place that could result in an employee or staff member tripping and falling. Also, the floor should be dry to avoid slippage. If the floor is compromised and cracking, it’s only another potential hazard that can result in major injury.

Some of the other safety concerns include the condition and the operation of the machines. If these machines aren’t properly maintained, they can start to wear down and become inoperable or unsafe to use. Any employee that continues to use machines that haven’t been maintained will be put at risk while using them. They could end up getting their extremities caught in the machine, which can lead to devastating injuries. The same can be true if any employees don’t wear the proper uniform and attire while working with the machines. Download the health and safety laws guide to know the key points of health and safety regulation that employers need to comply with to protect employees from workplace risks.

Workplace Health Issues

There aren’t only physical hazards that need to be addressed and mitigated. Other workplace health issues have to be addressed. Any chemicals need to be properly and safely stored. Not storing chemicals according to standards is one of the more significant workplace hazards that need to be addressed. A lot of these chemicals can result in severe (if not fatal) injuries if touched or inhaled. Some other hazards include not having optimal drainage. If the workplace doesn’t have the appropriate drainage, it can result in a workplace environment that is full of bacteria and mold. These things can grow if left untreated, and it can end up resulting in unsafe working conditions through inhalation of mold spores and other things.

Addressing Some Of These Health And Safety Issues

1. Incorporate Your Employees In The Safety Planning Stages

One of the best things you can do to improve the conditions for your workforce is to include employees’ concerns in your planning stages. You want to get their feedback to see what they think about the methods for addressing any concerns they have. You want to involve them in the planning process because it will showcase how much you care about their wellbeing and give you good ideas straight from the mouths of those who are put in the conditions in the first place. You want workers to feel safe and comfortable. By asking them what helps them feel safe and comfortable, you can make the best changes.

2. Create a Safer Work Area

You need to ensure that you are doing your best to create a safe and secure area for your workforce. You want to try to keep any unnecessary equipment and chemicals out of the way. You don’t want anything blocking the passage for your workforce. Anything that’s in the middle of the floor can become a tripping hazard. You also want to ensure you are doing routine maintenance on all heavy machinery. Any machinery that is improperly maintained can become a safety hazard for your workforce and can result in serious injury.

3. Get a Good Drainage System Installed

Having optimal drainage is key. You need to have a good drainage system installed because it can help you avoid a lot of unsafe working conditions. You want to create and foster a safe environment. Having poorly maintained and poorly optimized drainage systems in place will allow bacteria, mold, and other things to fester. When left untreated, these things can grow out of control. You want to try incorporating alternate drainage solutions that don’t require much maintenance. For instance, the Slot Drain system. This is a pre-sloped drainage solution that is not only easy to install, but it’s also easy to clean and maintain. There’s limited concern about bacteria because the drainage system is made out of food-grade stainless steel. This can help to mitigate a lot of health concerns.

4. Clear Training and Instructions

You don’t want to throw your employees out there without the requisite training they need. You want to ensure you have good training processes in place. You want them to know the ins and outs of the machines before they start using them. You also want them to know the entire safety protocol so they can follow the procedures to the best of their ability. You want them to know how to handle various scenarios that could crop up. This is a very small initiative that can pay off in a big way when it comes to reducing the number of workplace health and safety problems. You want every employee to understand what they should be doing and what they should be wearing for optimal workplace safety.

Workplace health and safety concerns can be very easy to address. It doesn’t have to be difficult. By taking the time to assess everything associated with the working conditions and how employees do their jobs, you should be able to come up with processes that enhance safety all around. By doing this, you can promote a safer and healthier work environment for your entire staff, saving you from being exposed to a lawsuit down the road that can cost you your entire business.