Slips, trips, and falls are common at workplaces. Such accidents can be a major cause of injury and even death. That’s why occupational safety should be your priority as a business owner.
Are you wondering how to protect your employees from such hazards? Here are some safety tips and practices that you can follow to avoid industry mishaps.
1. Identify And Upgrade
Start by identifying the potential causes of such mishaps. These can include poor cable organization, ignored spillage, inadequate lighting, uneven flooring, etc. It would be best if you also pinpointed the hotspots for slips and trips so you can prioritize action.
Secondly, upgrade the housekeeping and maintenance routine. By that, we mean working with your housekeeping team to plan, develop strategies, and assign responsibilities to achieve slips, trips, and falls.
It’s not just about keeping the floors clean. Instruct your housekeeping team to conduct risk assessments and implement an effective program to keep the place risk-free and organized.
2. Don’t Ignore Wet Floors
Slippery surfaces are among the most common reasons for slips and falls at workplaces. Your office space will likely have wet floors in unroofed parking lots, shower stalls, kitchen areas, employee cubicles, etc. Spilling accidents are common on the working floor, and the first step is to put out a ‘wet floor’ sign immediately and let your upgraded housekeeping do the rest.
If your workplace tends to have water seepage from outside, you must consider getting moisture-absorbent carpets. You can also look for carpet cleaners to buy to upgrade your floor cleaning inventory. Check over here for buying options.
3. Remove Floor Obstacles
Whether work equipment or cleaning supplies, the accident chances increase if tools are left unattended in hallways, doorways, or staircases. To prevent tripping accidents, keep all the work areas and passageways clear.
If there are obstacles like movable racks lying around, check that they get returned to their storage after use. You should also ensure that there are no stringing cables, wires, or hoses lying around on the floor. This step calls for periodic inspections so workstations and service areas can be kept clutter-free.
4. Maintain Ample Lighting
You would be surprised how much different proper lighting can make at your workplace. You will significantly reduce the risk of your employers tripping, falling, or slipping during work hours if you use proper illumination in common areas. This approach is especially important for construction sites and basement businesses.
To achieve proper lighting, make sure broken lights or fixtures are repaired as a priority. The light switches should be easily accessible and close to the door, so you can switch on the light first when entering a dark room.
5. Encourage Proper Footwear
If your workplace cannot be kept clean and dry for understandable reasons, anti-slip footwear can help prevent slips and trips. It’s is important for those working at automotive stores, construction sites, and outdoor workplaces. These shoes should have plenty of traction and be comfortable at the same time. You must replace these shoes when their heels are worn.
6. Implement Regular Safety Training
Employees should be aware of the potential risks and hazards at their workplace. Educating your team through safety awareness programs will go a long way in preventing slips, trips, and falls. You can also include such lessons in the employee onboarding process.
7. Use Safety Signs and Barriers
Placing these signs in strategic locations will make sure your employees are constantly reminded of the necessary precautions to take. You can find a wide variety of these signs on our website.
In some cases, you might also need to place physical barriers to prevent employees from accessing hazardous areas.
8. Assign Responsibility for Housekeeping
A workplace should have a designated team in charge of housekeeping and safety. This responsibility should not be shared among different people as it can lead to confusion and lack of organization. The housekeeping supervisor(s) must develop an effective strategy for keeping the workplace clean, safe, and hazard-free.
Keep these tips in mind when assigning responsibilities:
- All workplace areas must be regularly cleaned, including staircases and entrances.
- Cleaning supplies and equipment should be stored in a designated area and properly labeled.
- Wet floors should be dried immediately.
- Broken lights should be fixed as soon as possible.
9. Regularly Clean Spills and Wet Floors
A messy work environment can easily lead to accidents. Not only do you need to put up warning signs for wet floors, but you must also have a plan for dealing with any potential spills. All the staff should know what to do when a spillage occurs, and the cleaning supplies should be easily accessible.
10. Inspect Machinery and Equipment
This tip is crucial for employers who own production and manufacturing units. It’s important to properly maintain all the machinery and equipment to ensure no accidents and that operations don’t stop due to faulty machinery.
This includes inspecting them for any damages or leaks that could lead to accidents. Employees should also be properly trained on how to use this equipment.
Machine inspections can include checking these areas:
- Oil levels.
- Belts and Pulleys.
- Hoses.
- Electrical Wiring.
11. Deploy the Right Ladders
Ladders can be very dangerous if not used properly. Make sure you use the correct ladder for the job and that it is in good condition. Also, consider organizing ladder use training programs to help your workers understand the correct ladder usage to avoid accidents.
12. Use Caution When Working With Chemicals
Some chemicals can be very slippery and cause trips and falls. In some cases, you might need to wear special gloves or clothing to protect yourself from these chemicals. Ensure all the safety measures are in place before working with any chemicals.
Final Words
When we think about workplace slips, trips, and falls, we think it’s impossible to avoid them completely. But the good news is that you can identify the problem areas, decide what to do, and take necessary actions with proper planning.
We hope this brief guide helps you take these proactive safety steps and prevent slipping and tripping injuries at your workplace.