The increasing number of serious workplace injuries is prompting employers to make changes to safety protocols. Worker’s compensation claims cost employers billions of dollars every year. With simple changes to operations and safety protocols, many of these workplace injuries can be prevented. Regular meetings and safety updates will aid in reducing the number of workplace injuries reported yearly.
Schedule Hydration Breaks
Employees working in poorly cooled buildings, kitchens and outdoors should have hydration breaks scheduled. The climate in the United States is changing, meaning that typically comfortable climates are experiencing higher temperatures and heat indexes. The number of heat-related work injuries is rising nationwide. Scheduling hydration breaks every hour or every 90 minutes will benefit your employees and prevent serious heat-related/exhaustion workplace injuries.
Post Task Completion Tips
Performing tasks incorrectly is a leading cause of workplace injuries. Near areas where employees are most likely to overexert themselves or be at uncomfortable heights are ideal locations for charts showing the proper way to complete the task safely. Reminding employees of how to safely complete tasks helps them rethink their initial approach and restart with the right method.
Promote Stress Reduction
Stress from job-related duties can cause employees to lose focus. When their minds are distracted, mishaps can occur. Promote stress reduction by turning an old storage closet into a meditation space. This should be a space that has a tranquil paint color, comfortable seating and ambient lighting. Taking a few minutes, and marking the room “in-use” can help employees refocus.
For those that work outside of an office setting, a 5-minute break away from the location to breathe deep and regroup is a good suggestion to make.
Tip: If employees become too frazzled and their concentration is lost for the day, consider offering a paid afternoon off to collect themselves. There is no point in adding additional stress to the employee making them incapable of being efficient or productive by remaining in a tense environment.
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High-Risk Task Buddy System
In industries where high-risk tasks are common, implement a buddy system. For example, those working on oil rigs are at a high-risk for work-related injuries and death. This is also an industry where the weight of the equipment can lead to severe, life-threatening injuries such as limb amputations. In the United States in 2015, there were almost 3,000 amputations from workplace injuries reported. Ensuring that there is a spotter for every employee in a high-risk situation can reduce the number of injuries of increased severity from occurring.
The few seconds of warning that a piece of equipment is failing or falling can save lives.
Weekly Building and Workstation Safety Checks
Staying on-top of safety company-wide should be a priority. Remind employees to keep their workspaces clean at all times. When vehicles are used for the business, ensure that regular maintenance is kept up on and that all issues are reported right away. Consider putting a weekly workspace, equipment and building safety check system into place. Department supervisors should complete these inspections and note any items that are not up to company protocol.
Making simple changes to safety protocols and being proactive in making safety a priority can help employees work safer and smarter. Not all businesses have a supervisor specifically in-charge of company and employee safety, but it may be a position to consider creating. It is beneficial to have an in-house safety supervisor available to properly train employees, implement new safety measures and ensure compliance of local, state and federal safety regulations. Regular company safety meetings, and even safety quizzes, can help your employees keep safety in-mind at all times when completing their job-related tasks.