Employee safety tips: Reducing work-related injuries

While every employee is expected to exercise caution at work, much of the responsibility lies in the hands of employers to create and maintain a safe working environment. Employers should periodically evaluate safety measures. Even if operations are running smoothly, employees may still be at risk for injuries. Keep these tips in mind during your next safety evaluation.

Falls: Falls from both high and low elevations can result in serious bodily injuries. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends employers create a comprehensive fall-protection program. At a minimum, employers should:
1) incorporate safety in work planning,
2) identify all fall hazards at a work site,
3) conduct safety inspections regularly,
4) train employees in recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions, and
5) provide employees with appropriate protective equipment and train them in its use.

Transportation: Traffic accidents account for nearly half of all work-related injuries. The use of safety belts is the single most effective strategy to preventing serious or fatal injuries. Although safety belt usage has increased throughout the years, it is still an important safety measure that employers should emphasize. Try giving employees a practical item that sends a friendly “Buckle Up” reminder. Imprinted travel mugs are an effective product since employees can use it going to and from and while they are on the job.

Overtime: Fatigued workers are much more susceptible to work-related injuries. NIOSH conducted 16 studies of general health with results that associate over-time with poorer perceived general health, increased injury rates, more illnesses or increased mortality. The studies observed employees working 12-hour shifts combined with more than 40 hours of work a week. Psycho-physiological tests showed patterns of deteriorating performance, decreased alertness and lowered cognitive functions. Managers who want employees working at peak performance need to re-organize schedules. Juggling schedules can feel like a daunting task, but it is essential to both increased safety and productivity measures. Here are some tips: Keep schedules consistent and predictable and avoid long work days followed by prolonged off time. Examine start and end times of every shift and allow time for employees to adjust to shift changes.

Safety Incentives: Manufacturers can implement an employee reward program that motivates employees to think safe and be safe. Workers can receive points for properly reporting injuries and accidents, points for wearing protective gear and following safety procedures and points for making safety suggestions. Incentive points can be rewarded to individuals, teams or the entire facility. Employees who accumulate enough points can redeem them for corporate gifts or extra personal time off. Not only are employees being rewarded for positive behavior, the program also adds to the overall safety environment.

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