Safety in the workplace is a joint responsibility. Prevention of injuries is the legal responsibility of employers but every worker can play a role. From looking after your own welfare to looking after others, here are four tips for avoiding workplace injuries.
Potential risks
Even the average office environment has the potential of injury, so it’s important to be mindful of any dangers in your daily environment. These can be small risks like slipping on a wet floor or big risks like moving machinery, but it only takes a minute for an accident to occur – and it could impact your entire life.
If you see a potential risk, such as uneven flooring that causes a tripping hazard or shelving that could be better arranged to minimise stretching and climbing, let your employer or manager know. And if you are the victim of an accident and feel it could have been prevented, you can talk to a legal professional like The Personal Injury Lawyers to learn about your rights.
Stretch it out
Some of the most common day-to-day work injuries result from incorrect posture, repetitive strain and poorly positioned office equipment. The good news is these are preventable. Simple measures like stretching before lifting and even while typing can help alleviate strain on the muscles involved.
Taking a break from repetitive tasks every couple of hours also helps with strain injuries, while positioning you chair and computer screen at the right height goes a long way to avoiding back pain.
Share tasks
Sharing repetitive tasks like industrial stapling, using nail guns and jackhammers reduces the potential of one person straining or injuring themselves due to routine tasks. Where possible, these tasks should be allocated to a number of people, allowing each to take a break.
Keep it clean
It not only maximises efficiency, but a clean office or workplace environment also minimises risk. Many accidents occur when items are left where they are not expected, causing tripping hazards, or where signage has been obscured by clutter.
Even small things like extension cords, drawers left open or boxes lying around can cause a tripping incident, so have a policy of keeping the workplace clean and neat. A clean office also has the benefit of being organised and minimising illnesses associated with allergies and contagious bugs.
Workplace Health and Safety in Australia has come a long way in the past decade, but still far too many workers are injured on the job. By sharing the responsibility and looking after the wellbeing of yourself and others, you’re contributing to a safer work environment for all.