Workplace Safety

According to a 2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics study, the number one cause of death on the job was highway accidents. Of the approximately 5,600 on-the-job fatalities in 2007, more than 2,300 were transportation-related incidents. Given these bleak statistics, it is not surprising to learn that many employers are taking steps to reduce accidents by implementing driver’s training for some or all of their employees.

Automobile accidents result in serious financial and emotional costs to a company. Although there is a cost associated with offering safe driving courses to employees, the benefits far outweigh the expense of the courses. For instance, many insurance companies offer discounts to businesses that participate in driver’s training programs, which helps offset the costs. Programs range from workbooks and videos to on-line classes, some of which are available directly from the National Safety Council. Employers can track which employees participate in online courses through the National Safety Council, and can individually reward an employee for participating in the program. If even one fatality is avoided due to safe driving, then a company avoids both emotional and financial hardship.

Safe driving courses are by no means a new concept. Harold L. Smith introduced The Smith System in the 1940s to help prevent accidents before they occur. The five basic concepts of The Smith System are still being taught today to assist drivers in making smart choices behind the wheel. The courses offer practical, easy-to-learn driving techniques and are available throughout the country.

Even if an employer makes the decision not to offer formal driver’s safety courses, a company can still encourage employees to be aware of a few common sense tips for being a safer driver. Both technology and fatigue are potentially deadly when combined with drivers on the road. Make sure employees know it is best to pull over and rest if they get tired. Arriving alive is more important than arriving on time. Technology, including cellular phones, MP3 players, and PDAs, can also be deadly on the road. Companies should instruct employees to pull over to make an important business call or jot down notes. It might be the most important stop they make that day.

Although it may be difficult for a company to enforce good driving habits, every effort should be made to encourage driver safety. Driver’s training courses offer a way to verify that employees are learning good driving skills and hopefully being more aware of safety concepts on the road. Safe driving skills may benefit the employer, but employees are also rewarded personally through reduced speeding tickets and fewer accidents. The financial costs associated with implementing safe driving are quickly outweighed by the benefits, and reward employer and employee alike.

Safety on the job site is everyone’s concern. If you become aware of a safety hazard or have a concern about a work area that you feel is dangerous, then you have an obligation to report it immediately to your supervisor. Especially in a hectic, noisy work area, an equipment operator may not even notice a hazardous situation. By reporting the danger, you may be saving someone’s life.

Hazards relating to equipment depend upon the specific work operations as well as the type of industry. Dangerous equipment may be related to: the power supply of the equipment; the condition of the equipment; or the improper use of the equipment.

Power tools create the potential for danger on the job site because they involve the use of electricity. Injuries caused by electrical currents include electrocution, shock, burns, and falls. These injuries can occur when power tools or equipment have frayed or damaged cords, or cracks in the handle. If you become aware of damaged equipment, you need to report it immediately.

Gasoline is another source of potential danger on the work site. Gasoline is extremely flammable and can easily ignite at room temperature, even in small quantities. Especially in an indoor location, if you see equipment leaking gasoline, find a supervisor and let them know.

The physical condition and maintenance level of equipment also provides a good indication of the safety of that machine or vehicle. Loud squeaking or squealing noises, grinding sounds, or the appearance of rust are also evidence of the poor safety of equipment. Equipment that has been taped together or has loose pieces should also raise a red flag. If you see any of these conditions, report them right away.

Last but not least, you also have an obligation to report unsafe or improper operation of a piece of equipment. The idea is not to get someone else in trouble, but to potentially protect him and those around him from serious injury. Thousands of workers get injured and even die each year from horseplay involving equipment, such as riding on forklifts or just showing off. Don’t become a victim and don’t let your co-workers get hurt either. If you witness inappropriate use of equipment, report it immediately.

Remember that safety is everybody’s concern. If you see it, you need to report it. The life you save may even be your own.

Everyone is susceptible to back injury. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year, and back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries or illnesses. What does this mean for you?

Back injury is best avoided at all costs. Once you have injured your back, it becomes more vulnerable to future injury. A back injury can alter your entire quality of life and possibly your livelihood, especially if it recurs or becomes chronic.

Whether you have a strong back or have hurt your back before, it is well worth it to:

• Stop before casually picking up a heavy or even a light load.
• Plan the best way to lift what’s in front of you. This might include enlisting the help of one or more people.
• Lift and move slowly and carefully.

The time you take to use the correct lifting mechanics is far less than the days, weeks, or months it can take you to heal from a back injury.

What types of lifting can cause injury? Before focusing on the right way to lift, review the following common lifting mistakes that can easily lead to a back injury. Make sure never to:

• Allow your back to curve forward while grasping an object, then lift by straightening your back.
• Bend at the hips but keep your legs straight while grasping and lifting.
• Twist your back while lifting or holding. This often happens when you turn your shoulders but not your hips.
• Hold an object away from your body.
• Lift a heavy object (or child) above shoulder level.
• Attempt to lift an object that’s too heavy or awkward for one person to safely lift.
• Underestimate the need to be careful when lifting a light object.

How can I lift without hurting my back? Follow these basic rules to protect your back while lifting:

• Squat down, bending at the hips and knees only. If necessary, put one knee to the floor and extend your other knee in front of you, bent at a right angle (half kneeling).
• Press your chest straight-forward (enough to allow a person in front of you to read a name tag pinned to your chest). This helps keep your upper back straight while maintaining a slight arch in your lower back.
• Slowly lift by straightening your hip and knee joints (not your back). If you are half kneeling, straighten one leg or the other first, keeping your back straight.
• Hold the load as close to your body as possible, at the level of your navel.
• Use your feet to change direction, taking small steps.
• Lead with your hips as you change direction. Keep your shoulders in parallel line with your hips as you move.
• Set down your load carefully, squatting with the knees and hips only.

By following these basic guidelines, you can substantially lower your chance of a back injury. In addition to following these suggestions at work, inform your family and friends of ways they can safely lift items around the house. Back injuries can happen at any time — safe practices are your key to avoid a potentially serious injury.

Each day, your eyes face a perilous world filled with hazardous objects. Consider this: One small flying object, a chemical splatter, or the wrong dust-sized particle and one or both of your eyes could be rendered useless. Although our eyelids provide some barrier from these harmful objects and materials, we have to be forewarned in order for the lids to close and protect them and sometimes, that is just not possible. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), about 2,000 workers in the United States suffer a work-related eye injury requiring medical treatment each day. Thirty-three percent of these injuries are treated in the emergency room and 5% of them result in missed work. NIOSH has found that the vast majority of these injuries are the result of something as simple as a small object or particle striking or scratching the eye.

Although this type of injury does not always result in vision loss, the pain, expense, and inconvenience of the injuries lead many to wish they had taken the small precautions that could have prevented the injury. Often, the simple safety measures available that would have prevented the injury were ignored because the “It won’t happen to me” mentality was adopted. Taking the right steps toward keeping your eyes safe from painful injuries is easy as long as you know how to assess and minimize your exposure and wear proper safety equipment.

Assess Your Exposure

Your work area is the primary location for an eye-related injury. Luckily, it is a relatively easy space for you to clean and control. Monitor and clean your work area of any loose particles of sawdust, metal shards, or any other material. Keep any chemicals sealed and clean up spills immediately. Your workplace should have written instructions for maintaining your work area. Be sure to follow these instructions daily.

Select Proper Safety Equipment

There are many options for protective gear. Although some protect just your eyes, others can protect your entire face and head. These options include:

• Goggles
• Glasses
• Helmets
• Face shields

When you are working with chemicals that could splatter and cause chemical burns on your face, goggles or glasses will not offer enough protection. Instead, opt for a face shield. Helmets are useful when you have unpredictable elements like the sparks from welding. There are many different materials that protective lenses can be made of including:

• Polycarbonate lenses
• Glass lenses
• Plastic lenses

Although each of these lenses is helpful in protecting against eye injury, Polycarbonate lenses are stronger and better able to stand up to heavy impact. However, they are more prone to scratching than glass, so be sure to store them properly.

How many close calls have you had at work? How many potential accidents have you seen that were within an inch of happening but by some lucky chance didn’t? Don’t get too comfortable with the fact that these close calls were incidents instead of accidents; instead consider that they were warnings.

When you view a close call as a warning, it can help you prevent actual workplace injuries. By being proactive, you not only save your employer money but you could also save your coworkers’ lives and limbs.

Common Causes of Close Calls:

• Unclean floors with debris that can cause trips and falls. This could include chemical or grease spills, puddled water, ragged carpeting, chipped or uneven tiles, and tools left on the floor.
• Employees rushing to finish a project in order to go home or meet a deadline and not observing precautions that might slow them down.
• Lifting without wearing weight belts.
• Not wearing safety gear like goggles and gloves.

Many of the above activities are the result of carelessness. Although you might not want to report the person responsible for careless action, it is vital to the safety of your entire workplace that you confront any offenders and, if necessary, report the incident.

If you see the unsafe action being perpetrated by an employee or group of employees, talk to them about your concerns. Be sure to do so in a neutral area and not while they are engaged in a dangerous activity. Do not put yourself at risk in order to talk to them and approach them as a concerned coworker, not as an outraged potential victim. If they continue to act in an unsafe manner or if you do not want to confront them, talk to a supervisor.

If the unsafe environment is out of your or another employee’s control and is, instead, a structural or procedural problem, do not work in the area until safety has been observed and the situation corrected. Your employer has an obligation to provide a safe workplace for you. If you have damaged safety gear, or if an area of your workplace has become unsafe, notify management and let them know you will be unable to continue working until the issue has been addressed.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics recorded a total of 4 million nonfatal workplace accidents and injuries in 2007. That doesn’t consider the amount of close calls that might have gone unreported prior to the injuries. It’s more than possible that these accidents and illnesses could have been avoided if someone had been proactive after a close call.

In the past, office workers were frequently on the move — whether they were bending over to place documents in a filing cabinet, running off to a client meeting, walking to the storage closet to locate records or strolling to their office mailbox. But this old-school way of working is now ancient history.

In today’s high-tech, digital world, most office employees rarely need to leave their computer workstations at all. They can check their e-mail, access digital records and files, and talk to clients on the phone without ever leaving their desk. Unfortunately, spending inordinate amounts of time sitting stationary in front of a computer eventually will wreak havoc on your body.

When you think about it, it’s no wonder that office workers suffer from chronic aches and pains. It’s simply not natural for a body to sit in one position for hours on end. If you put your body through this kind of strain day after day, your body will begin to rebel in the form of stiff arms, throbbing wrists, sore shoulders, and an aching back. If you want to avoid desk aches and pains, follow these simple tips:

1. Don’t ignore discomfort: If you begin to feel even a mild ache or minor numbness as you sit at your desk, it’s important to act on it right away. Try to figure out what is causing the discomfort and mend the problem. Although your soreness might seem insignificant now, it eventually could develop into chronic pain if you don’t heed your body’s warning signals.
2. Get moving: Don’t sit in the same position for hours on end. Every hour or so, get up and move around to prevent blood circulation problems and muscle fatigue. Simply stand up and stretch or take a quick walk around the office to keep your blood flowing and your muscles active.
3. Stay neutral: It’s important to keep your joints in a “neutral” position as you work at your computer desk. For example, if you hold your wrist at an odd angle as you type or move your computer mouse, you could develop chronic pain or even Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
4. Keep your workstation “ergonomically” correct: If you are experiencing discomfort at your desk, you might need to readjust your workstation. Raise, lower, or re-position your keyboard to keep your wrists neutral and your elbows close to the body. You might also want to consider buying a hand or wrist support for your keyboard and mousepad. Arrange your keyboard so that your forearms rest on the surface of your desk as you type. Your computer monitor should be at a level where your head rests squarely on your shoulders as you look at it. You might also need to raise or lower your chair to find the most comfortable position. Here are a few more tips for keeping your workstation ergonomically correct:
   • When using a keyboard or computer mouse, your hands should be even or slightly lower than your elbows. You might need to mount an adjustable keyboard tray mounted under the desktop to achieve this position.
   • Keep your hands in-line with your forearms as much as possible — do not bend them out, up, or down at the wrist.
   • Rest your elbows on your chair’s armrests and adjust them so the weight of your arms is supported by the armrests, not by your shoulders.
   • If your feet don’t sit flat on the floor, place a foot rest under your desk.
   • Keep the top of your monitor about eye level so you aren’t bending your neck up or too far down.
   • Sit upright so your head is above your shoulders. Don’t slouch forward.
   • Use a good adjustable chair and sit so the natural hollow stays in your lower back.
   • Position your monitor and keyboard in front of you, not to the side.
   • Don’t type with long fingernails. This can cause you to hold your wrists at an awkward angle.

Everyone has heard the old adage “Experience is the best teacher.” Although it’s true that you remember what you learned from an experience, especially a bad one, you might not like the other consequences that are part of the learning process.

This is especially true when it comes to on-the-job safety. Learning from a bad experience usually involves injury, and sometimes death. This shouldn’t have to be the case. But unfortunately, not exercising proper caution and not paying careful attention can lead to these outcomes.

You probably hear a supervisor tell you or your co-workers, “Be careful,” or “Pay attention” any number of times during the day. The next time you hear those words, stop a minute and think of all the reasons you should be careful. Then follow that supervisor’s advice, so you can avoid having an accident that might be the last thing you ever learn.

You might be thinking, “I’m experienced, I don’t have accidents.” If you are, you’re setting yourself up for a bad learning experience. Accidents happen when you least expect them, and no worker, no matter how experienced, has any special immunity from having an accident. That’s why it’s so important to follow safe work procedures. They are designed to help you avoid the causes of possible injury while getting the job done correctly. That’s also the reason your employer provides you with personal protective equipment (PPE), because using it prevents or minimizes the probability that you will be injured.

Always remember your brain is your best defense against injury. Let it remind you to:

• Follow proper work procedures at all times. Never take short cuts, even if you think that they will save time. All of the time you save will be lost if your short cuts cause you to be injured.
• Concentrate on the task at hand. That means giving it your full attention until it’s completed. Avoid any kind of distraction, such as talking, or joking around with co-workers because they can result in your being seriously hurt.
• Use PPE whenever appropriate. Be sure it fits correctly, and that you wear it in the manner it was intended.

You probably aren’t aware of how complex a piece of equipment your hands are. There are a total of 27 bones in your hand and wrist. These bones are joined together by ligaments, which also hold the joints in place. Nerves carry messages from your brain to your hands and fingers to help them move. All of this intricate machinery is wrapped up in a layer of skin. The skin provides a barrier against foreign objects, as well as heat and cold. The skin on the back of your hand is thin and elastic, but on the palm, it is thicker to provide traction, cushioning and insulation.

Just like any other delicate piece of equipment, your hands need to be safeguarded while you are working. The most common sources of injury stem from mechanical hazards from tools, equipment, machines, structures and vehicles such as:

• Chains, gears, rollers, wheels and transmission belts
• Spiked or jagged tools
• Cutting, chopping and grinding mechanisms
• Cutting tools such as knives and presses
• Falling objects

You can make your hands less vulnerable to these risks by following these safety tips:

• Work at a pace at which you feel comfortable – The number of hand injuries you will have is in direct proportion to how quickly you work.
• Keep alert – Stay focused on what your hands are doing whenever you are using tools or machinery.
• Use a push stick to feed a circular saw.
• Handle the tools and equipment you work with properly – Never take shortcuts.
• Use wrenches that properly fit the nuts and bolts you wish to tighten.
• Use long magnetic poles for retrieving items from places that are too dangerous for hands to reach.
• Don’t hold the work piece in your hand while using a hand tool because the tool could slip and cause injury.
• Never try to repair power tools or machinery without first checking that the power is shut off and the machine is locked out.
• Wear the appropriate gloves when handling chemical substances.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use special cleansers, especially after direct contact with a chemical substance.
• Don’t wipe your hands with chemically contaminated rags.
• Don’t operate machinery if you are taking any medication unless your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. Some drugs can slow your reflexes, which makes your hands vulnerable to injury.

When it comes to accident prevention in the workplace, you are your brother’s keeper. You have a responsibility to make sure that the co-workers around you, or those who use the same tools, equipment or materials that you do, are not injured because of your negligence. Furthermore, to make the workplace as safe as possible for everyone, all workers need to keep their eyes open for any dangerous situations in their midst.

Keep the following in mind to make your workplace as safe as possible:

• Warn a worker who is in a dangerous position. Sometimes inexperience can cause a worker to perform a task in a manner that might result in injury. If you see this happening, don’t just explain to your co-worker what he or she is doing wrong; demonstrate the right way to do it.
• Call attention to a task if a worker seems distracted. Conversation and noise can present serious distractions. If a co-worker seems not to be paying attention to the task at hand, go over and try to gently re-focus his or her attention.
• Set a good example. Always use tools and equipment in the intended manner. Never joke around when handling tools or equipment. Remember, younger co-workers can be influenced by the behavior they see in their older peers.
• Keep machine guards in place. Machines usually have moving parts that might accidentally come into contact with a worker’s body. When this happens, the worker can be killed or maimed. Machine guards prevent contact with moving parts during the normal operation of the machine.
• Report tool/equipment defects to your supervisor. Continuing to use a defective tool or piece of equipment instead of reporting it could result in possible injury to you or a co-worker.
• Encourage co-workers to report every injury. Sometimes an injury that seems insignificant can escalate down the road. If an accident is not reported at the time it occurs, it might not be covered by insurance if it is reported at a later date.
• Encourage co-workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Your employer provides PPE so that you will be protected. Always wear it if it’s necessary for the task being performed. Ask co-workers to wear it as well.
• Ask questions if you are confused about what you have been asked to do. Never perform a task unless you are completely sure of the correct way to do it. Ask your supervisor to show you the proper method.
• Take safety suggestions in the cooperative spirit in which they are made. Co-workers are responsible for each other’s safety. If a suggestion is made about the way in which you are performing a task, don’t respond with anger. Instead, thank the co-worker making the suggestion for caring enough about your personal safety to take the time to correct you.

When all workers look out for themselves and others, everyone’s safety is enhanced.

Although many of us enjoy expressing our unique style through our clothing, the jobsite is simply not the place to make a fashion statement. If you aren’t wearing the proper clothing and personal protective gear, you are putting yourself at serious risk.

For example, there have been cases of workers suffering from severe injuries simply because they were wearing clothing that fit too loosely. When you get close to machinery, your baggy shirt or pants could be drawn into the machine, taking you with it.

If you want to stay safe on the jobsite, you have to dress for the occasion. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Just say no to jewelry

Although you might be tempted to wear your favorite watch, ring, necklace or bracelet to work, you’ll be better off leaving your jewelry at home. When you wear any type of jewelry on the jobsite, you are putting yourself at risk for a serious hand injury. Just imagine if your watch or ring were to get caught in a piece of machinery — the results could be devastating.

Shield your head

If you are on a jobsite where there are overhead hazards, you should wear a hard hat at all times. Your head is the most important and fragile part of your body. A severe blow to your head can cause a concussion, hearing problems, memory loss, confusion, seizures and even loss of smell.

You can significantly reduce your risk of a head injury simply by wearing hard hat. A survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that most workers who have suffered impact injuries to the head were not wearing head protection at the time — and the majority of these workers were injured while performing their normal jobs at their regular worksites.

Wear safety glasses

If you are working on an extremely dusty jobsite or in an area where debris is flying through the air, wear safety glasses at all times. Without the proper eye protection, some of this debris could easily enter your eye — causing discomfort, an eye injury or even blindness. On top of that, if you’re constantly squinting to keep dust or fragments from entering your eyes, you’ll have a hard time seeing what you’re doing — which could lead to mistakes and accidents. Put on your safety glasses to protect your eyes and your vision.

Although you might not like the way you look in safety glasses, a hard hat and other proper worksite clothing, remember that these items could ultimately save your life. Don’t worry about making a fashion statement at the workplace. Instead, focus on choosing the appropriate clothing and protective gear to keep yourself safe and accident-free.