Workplace Safety Gameplan: 5 Ways To Reduce Accidents
An unfortunate truth is that many companies view workplace safety as just another labour law that they are legally bound to comply with. However, if organisations simply take it one step further and foster a workplace culture that emphasises the importance of safety, they can avoid unnecessary accidents and boost the overall morale and productivity of their workforces.
With that said, here are five simple and easily implementable ways to improve workplace safety:
- Make use of visual cues
Accidents often happen when workers get complacent and forget to follow safety precautions. Visual reminders, including posters, labels and signs, are a great way to keep safety top of mind and reiterate safety best practices.
- Keep it clean
Making sure your workplace is clean is a simple way to curb avoidable workplace accidents. Not only does clearing floor space and workspace boost workplace safety but it can also improve productivity. That said, employers should always encourage their employees to maintain a clean and clutter-free workspace.
- Reward employees who comply with safety standards
Offer incentives to employees who continuously uphold your organisation’s safety rules and standards. This could be anything from a shoutout during a group meeting to time off or other benefits, the choice is yours.
- Encourage breaks
Whether it’s half an hour to sit down and drink a cup of tea or two minutes to stand up and stretch, encouraging employees to take breaks is a prime way to reduce workplace accidents. Breaks are equally important for the body and the mind. It’s essential to keep the mind sharp as this can help employees monitor and avoid potential hazards.
- Foster a culture of openness
Communication in the workplace is key, especially when it comes to safety. Discussing safety best practices and showing your employees that their safety is important to you will help improve their awareness of and attitude toward workplace safety.
By implementing the above five tips, you can help protect your employees against some of the most common types of workplace accidents, which include:
- Slips, trips and falls
While these can be caused by several different environmental conditions, they are most often caused by wet, slippery, or cluttered surfaces. Another main injury that fits into this category is falls from ladders and scaffolding. Companies can help prevent these types of injuries by maintaining a clean environment and providing relevant training to their employees.
- Overexertion and muscle strain
Overexertion can have a detrimental long-term impact on employees’ health, causing repetitive strain injuries over time. The best way to avoid this type of workplace injury is to provide relevant training on completing physical tasks correctly, and by encouraging regular breaks.
- Open wounds
Superficial open wounds, particularly on the hands, are one of the most common types of workplace injuries. While the injured party is likely to have a quick and full recovery, infection is always a concern. Therefore, having a first aid kit on hand is essential to properly disinfect and treat wounds. While putting a safety game plan in place is guaranteed to help increase your workplace safety, it is not guaranteed to prevent all workplace accidents. Accidents, as we know, are unpredictable and most often, unavoidable. This is what makes Accisure so necessary for businesses. AcciWork gives you, as the business owner, the guarantee that your workers will receive private care if a workplace accident occurs.
