Physical work is hazardous by nature. You can avoid accidents if you make safety a habit. Use these ten safety tips to make your workplace safer for you and the people you work with.
- Plan your work before you get started. Pre-task planning gives you a blueprint of how the task will get done safely. If everyone knows what to do, and has the proper tools, the right training, and the right PPE, there is less chance of an incident occurring.
- Review Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) before using new chemicals or products. Before working with a chemical or material, read the SDS and the label. The SDS will tell you what precautions to take to protect yourself from exposure.
- Don’t take shortcuts! Shortcuts lead to incidents and can lead to injuries and missing days at work. Time away from work usually leads to a reduction in income. One shortcut can affect your health, financial life, and personal life. Sometimes a shortcut can end your life.
- Leave the horseplay at home. Don’t clown around on the job. One lighthearted push could accidentally end someone’s life. The workplace is no place for practical jokes.
- Inspect your tools. When you find a problem, tag out broken tools. A broken tool or faulty power tool could result in an injury.
- Wear Personal Protective Equipment. Protect your head from any impact by wearing a hard hat with the brim forward. Always wear eye protection and proper footwear for the work you do. Have hearing protection, gloves, and respirators available when you need them.
- Clean up after yourself. A clean job is a safe job site. Do your part by cleaning up as you go. Good housekeeping keeps the work area free from everyday hazards.
- Reduce the risk of falls. If you do have to work at heights greater than four feet in general industry or six (6’) feet in construction, reduce your chance of falling by working from scaffolding or a scissor lift or by working behind a physical barrier, like a guard rail when possible. If you have to work in an unprotected area, always use a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS). NEVER WORK USE PFAS WITHOUT TRAINING.
- Learn first-aid and CPR. Take a first-aid class and know what to do in case of a medical emergency, at a minimum review how to do hands-only CPR. Who knows, you may save a loved one’s life.
- Follow all your employer’s safety policies. No one goes to work looking for ways to get hurt. Government regulations and company policies are in place to prevent incidents. They are developed to make work safer and more efficient for everyone. If your employer has a policy you do not understand, talk to your supervisor today. Most safety policies and regulations are written in blood.
Make these ten safety habits part of your daily routine. They could save your life or the life of a co-worker.
