6 Things You Can Do to Stay Safe in The Workplace

Accidents in the workplace are often preventable and caused by a lack of adherence to health and safety guidelines. In a lot of cases where you were not at fault, your employer may have acted negligently which has caused the accident to happen. However, there are certain behaviours and actions which you can follow to limit your chances of being injured in the workplace. For example: 

1. Repetitive Tasks

Repeating repetitive tasks at work is sadly a very common cause of injury in the workplace. Upper limb disorders are medical conditions that can often be caused by performing repetitive tasks and movements in the workplace over a long period of time. An example of this sort of disorder is carpal tunnel syndrome which can affect people who use a keyboard frequently. If you work in an office, factory or warehouse where you are required to do repetitive tasks, then you should ensure that you take regular breaks from sitting, standing or moving in the same position. For example, taking a five-minute break every hour to focus on a different task can be beneficial and help avoid the development of these issues. 

2.Adequate Sleep

No matter your job you should ensure that you get lots of sleep as your ability to function can be seriously impacted if you have not had enough sleep. This is particularly important when engaging with a part of your job which could potentially be dangerous, such as operating heavy machinery or working with hazardous chemicals. If you are working with a machine that is used for cutting, sawing or chopping then the consequences of not getting enough sleep could be catastrophic if you made a mistake. If you work nights then you should try and keep to the same schedule as this will help to balance your circadian rhythms, making it easy for you to have the 7-8 hours sleep. All employees should aim for 7-8 hours sleep before starting their working day.  

3. Safety on the Road

If your job involves driving, then you must be careful to take the necessary precautions while you’re on the road. Road traffic accidents can cause life-changing injuries, both to you and others. Therefore, it is imperative that you get sufficient amounts of sleep before driving as this will ensure that you are alert, and your reaction time is adequate. In addition, if you need to take short breaks while on the road you should stop at service stations or other rest areas to recharge your batteries. 

4. Personal Protective Equipment

Employers have a responsibility to provide you with personal protective equipment, as well as ensuring that this equipment is maintained, risk assessed, and replaced when needed. However, employees can also help by ensuring that they know how to use a certain piece of equipment and asking if they are unsure. If you need training, you should ask your line manager or supervisor to arrange this for you. Furthermore, if you see that certain pieces of equipment are not up to standard then you should let your manager know that it should be tested or replaced to ensure it is working order. It is also important that you take good care of equipment, such as not placing it where it should not go, not trying to intentionally damage it, or use it for a purpose it’s not meant for. 

5. Attending Training

You should ask for training if you are unsure about something and you attend all training that you are booked to go on. Employers are required by law to organise training for staff to ensure that they are as safe as possible in the workplace. You should always communicate with your team, whether this is by informing other employees about a faulty piece of machinery or reporting dangers within your workplace to your health and safety representative or supervisor. 

6. Overexertion

Accidents at work can also happen if an employee has overexerted themselves. While you may want to complete as much work as possible, rushing through work – even if you believe you are increasing the business’s productivity – can be dangerous. For example, if you are working in a warehouse you may injure yourself by trying to carry too many items at once. Furthermore, if you work too quickly without enough attention to detail you might make potentially dangerous mistakes or you might become too tired, causing careless mistakes. You need to adopt safe ways of working no matter your environment. This can help you avoid manual handling related injuries such as elbow or back problems and it can also stop you from making mistakes. 

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