A safe working environment facilitates employee productivity. Often, there exist hazards that pose a threat to the safety of workers. All such threats require to be identified and eliminated to promote workplace safety. Employees working in different industries are exposed to different threats. Every industry operates on unique safety standards that are tailored to match its threat levels.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
All employees should be provided with the appropriate protective equipment. There are companies in Australia that manufacture safety clothing for use in industrial settings. Examples include gloves, helmets, overalls, masks, and eye goggles. The safety gear is industry-specific. For instance, a welding company would require more of eye goggles, overalls, and safety boots whereas a lab technician would require a lab coat and gloves. Proper footwear should be encouraged in the workplace. Closed shoes with non-slip soles are the best choice. For those employees that operate heavy types of machinery like lifts and trolleys, safety boots should be provided. Personal protective equipment protects a person from being harmed or injured in the workplace and should, therefore, be bought and issued to employees in their various workstations.
Employee Training
Employees should be vigorously trained concerning general hazards at the workplace and immediate hazards at their workstations. They should execute their duties at work safely and carefully handle hazardous material as well. New employees should undergo safety training first before being allocated any duties. Refresher safety courses should also be carried out periodically. The company should develop a written safety plan that should clearly state the procedure for handling and reporting injuries and emergencies. The procedures should be given as part of the training. Emergency numbers of first responders, for example, ambulance services and fire marshals should be included in the safety plan. Every employee should read and understand the safety plan. Employee training on safety is important and should never be foregone.
Signs and Labels
Work Health and Safety (OHS) acts have clearly-stipulated the conditions that require signs and what the signs need to say. It is necessary that all industries should follow the stipulated safety policies to improve safety. Permanent hazards should be correctly labelled and signs put in spots that pose temporary danger. Such signs are, for example, slippery floor and wet paint. Signs and labels communicate to employees about the presence of hazards.
Proper Maintenance of Tools and Equipment
Machines and equipment in the workplace should be checked regularly to ensure that they work as expected. Any wear and tear, mechanical malfunction, broken, and loose parts should be properly fixed before the equipment is rendered safe for use. Any faulty pieces of equipment should be shut down as they pose a threat to workers’ safety. The sharp parts of a machine should be well covered and should be out of reach to avoid fatal injuries. Proper maintenance of tools and equipment should be carried out to ensure the safety of employees and the tool’s durability.
It is impossible to eliminate all accidents. However, with the observance of appropriate safety policies, it becomes possible to reduce workplace hazards to a great extent and hence, achieving a safe work environment.
