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When you work in a high-risk industry like construction, forestry, and agriculture, you know the odds are against you. These industries see some of the most injury and death stats, which can be frustrating when you want to make your business a safe place to work. Despite being in a high-risk industry, there are actions you can take to protect your employees. You may help your business become a safe place to work by taking these actions.
Here are 5 tips that make your business a safe place to work:
1. Perform Regular Risk Assessments
Many accidents in construction zones happen when employees aren’t aware of the risks surrounding their everyday work. While some risks cannot be avoided, many can be reduced. That’s why it’s important to conduct risk assessments regularly.
Conduct risk assessments highlighting potential dangers like poorly lit areas, slippery floors, faulty equipment, or uneven walkways. When you can rectify issues, you can ensure fewer hazards that may put your employees at risk of an accident. This helps to make your business a safe place to work.
2. Create Safety Policies and Procedures
Some hazards may be preventable, but not all will be. This is especially true in construction or other heavy machinery and heights industries. By 2021, nearly one in five workplace deaths were happening in the construction industry.
Implementing safety policies and procedures may help employees know how to keep themselves safe around unavoidable hazards. For example, you may make them wear special equipment when working at height and ensure all workers use equipment with guards to protect them from injury. They may be safer for it when they know they must take specific actions when performing particular tasks. If an employee sustains wounds, fractures, or other injuries due to workplace hazards despite safety measures, consulting with disability lawyers is crucial to securing fair compensation and navigating the legal process effectively. Be sure to choose a lawyer with experience relevant to your case by conducting thorough interviews and performing proper due diligence.
3. Ensure Adequate Training
The average construction worker doesn’t want to put themselves in harm’s way or be at an increased risk of injury or illness. However, that can sometimes be the reality without adequate training.
Despite being in a hurry to hire new employees, prioritizing safety training is important to ensure employees know how to protect themselves and others on their worksites. Without proper instruction on using machinery and tools and working at heights safely, employees may face a higher risk of injury and death compared to those who have received such training.
4. Provide PPE
Well-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE), like hard hats, fall harnesses, safety glasses, and ear muffs, are all crucial for worker safety. Employers must ensure that employees are provided access to well-fitting PPE that suits their work to protect them from a range of risks. The PPE should also be customised to each individual to guarantee maximum efficiency and safety. For example, if one of your employees requires ordinary glasses, then providing them with retro style prescription safety glasses if they need to cut or drill something would be the best thing to do, as it means they will be able to see as clearly as possible. To make your business a safe place to work, alongside providing the PPE, construction employers should:
- Provide training on its use
- Ensure workers use it properly at all times
- Adapt the PPE to suit a range of climates
- Take employee feedback on board to improve its design
5. Prioritize Equipment Maintenance
It can sometimes seem like equipment and machine maintenance and repairs are ongoing. When one machine is in good order, another one breaks down. As frustrating as it can be to set time aside in a busy working day for equipment maintenance, it can be crucial for safety.
Malfunctioning equipment or equipment with vital safety components removed can be unsafe. Always follow a maintenance schedule and use equipment with appropriate safety mechanisms and guards.
It is not challenging to make your business a safe place to work as you think. When you prioritize PPE, training, and regular risk assessments, your employees may feel more confident in their working environment.
