Accidents at work are unfortunately far more common than most employers would like. In 2020 alone, there were approximately 2.7 million reported workplace injuries. That's a lot of potential trips to the emergency room and workers' compensation claims.
Contents1. First aid kit2. Personal Protective Equipment3. Safety signage4. Data sheets5. Walkie-talkiesSafety equipment and youWhile some injuries stem from outright accidents, far too many of them fall into the preventable category. One of the most common causes of workplace injuries is the presence of a lot of proper safety equipment.
If you're concerned about worker safety on your job site, keep reading. We'll cover five essential security documents you should always keep handy.
The most basic of all safety gear is a good first aid kit. A first aid kit allows you to administer basic medical care right on the jobsite, which can often make a significant difference to someone's outcome later.
Get a first aid kit from a leading safety equipment company and make sure it meets the standards for your jobsite.
Personal protective equipment can range from the basics like a back brace and goggles to a respirator and coveralls. The type of equipment you keep on the job site will depend on the nature of the job site. Construction safety equipment will be very different from office safety equipment.
PPE is particularly important with which your staff will be dealing with equipment handling chemicals or hazardous or toxic materials. Consider, for example, the removal of lead paint or asbestos.
Even experienced workers can get into a bad situation by mistake. Invest in safety signage. These signs can alert people to potential dangers. Signage can go far beyond simple wet floor signs.
Let's say you have someone on site working on the electrical system? This can mean live and exposed wires. You can get electrical hazard signs they can put up.
Consider the types of hazards you regularly see and install appropriate signage.
Whenever you work with chemicals, you almost always get safety data sheets from the manufacturer. Keep these data sheets on site so that inexperienced workers can consult them. The minute they spend reviewing security information can save you a much more costly accident.
Although cell phones can often perform the same function, not all job sites offer excellent cell reception. You should keep walkie-talkies handy so supervisors can talk to each other or call for help if needed.
Keeping safety equipment on hand is always an important step towards reducing accidents, but it is not enough on its own. Workplace safety is as much about culture as it is about equipment. Your employees need solid security training.
Beyond that, however, workplace culture cannot encourage cutting corners on safety in the name of missing deadlines. You should reward safety-related behaviors and punish behaviors that reduce safety on the site.
Looking for more ideas to help you improve overall workplace safety on your job sites. Check out some of the other articles in our Business section.
