To maintain workplace safety, each employee should make safety part of their daily routine. There is a wide variety of places that you can work, including offices, warehouses, factories, and construction sites. Each workplace has unique jobs; however, all workplaces present potential hazards that must be identified by employees.
When hazards are identified, employees can take immediate action to correct the hazard and prevent injury or fatalities. In order to maintain a safe working environment, workers, regardless of which type of job they have, should follow the 10 Basic Rules of Workplace Safety every day, at every shift.
1. Conducting a Safety Inspection
Prior to your shift starting, inspect the area in which you’ll be working to identify any potential hazards (spills, clutter, broken/defective equipment, exposed electric wires). Conducting this check may help prevent a serious accident.
2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Each employee must wear the PPE required for their job (helmets, gloves, safety goggles, earplugs, high visibility vests). These safety items are your first line of defence, and cutting corners by not using them is not an option.
3. Tool Operation Procedures
Follow all tool operation procedures and never disengage the safety devices. Improperly used tools account for a majority of workplace injuries; report and replace damaged or missing tools immediately.
4. Keeping the Workplace Safe
An orderly and clean work environment helps reduce an employee’s risk of sustaining injuries due to slips, trips and falls. Employees should keep walkways and traffic lanes clear of unnecessary items, secure electrical cords, and put items away after using them. Employees should also keep their work area clean as they work to avoid organizational issues leading to safety hazards.
5. Following Lockout/Tagout Procedures
Always follow lockout/tagout procedures whenever performing maintenance or repairs on equipment. Lockout/tagout procedures will ensure that equipment has been properly turned off and cannot be restarted until the maintenance or repair is complete and the equipment has been confirmed to be safe for operation.
6. Good Workstation Ergonomics
You should lift using your legs rather than your back. Keep your working environment free from stress by adjusting the workstation where you work and taking time to stretch throughout the day. Utilizing repetitive motion incorrectly or failing to maintain a proper position while working can cause long-term damage and injuries over time.
7. Stay Aware of Your Environment
Focus on the task at hand while avoiding distractions. There are always dangers associated with using phones or listening to music while on the job, especially when working in hazardous situations. Always pay attention to what is going on around you, especially when working near moving vehicles or machinery.
8. Be Clear When Communicating with Others
When communicating with others, utilize hand signals or radios when required. If you are moving heavy items or operating machinery, be sure to inform your coworkers of your intentions beforehand. Clear communication helps to avoid confusion, thereby preventing accidents and injuries from occurring in the workplace.
9. Report Unsafe Conditions
If you see something, say something! Reporting hazards, close calls, and defective equipment will assist in developing a safer workplace for all employees.
10. Safety Procedures
Be familiar with the emergency exits, first aid stations, fire extinguishers, and evacuation routes for your facility. Knowing what to do in an emergency can help save lives.
Safety is a Habit
Practicing these 10 safety tips daily develops the habit of thinking safety-first. Creating a safe workplace takes every employee making smart decisions every day and every shift; safety is not an accident, it is created.
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