mebeing
Statistics show that the average person spends a third of their life at work. Over a lifetime, this is around 90,000 hours. With this in mind, it is important that you put your health first while you’re in the workplace. It doesn’t matter if you work in an office, a warehouse, or on a construction site; work injuries are commonplace. Unfortunately, not every employer will do what’s right for their employee, and many people may end up out of pocket due to an accident at work. Here are a few top tips to help you avoid injury during work hours.
Elevate Your Situational Awareness
Situational awareness is an understanding of your environment, its elements, and how it can change as a result of unforeseen circumstances. Having an elevated situational awareness can help you identify hazards in the workplace and give you a better understanding of how to deal with them. In turn, you can prevent certain situations from getting worse. Some organizations offer situational awareness training for their workers. It is a good idea to ask your employer about this type of program. You can also increase your awareness at work by walking around and making a mental note of what you see. Pay attention to the building you work in and the equipment you use. Look out for blind spots and think about safe exit strategies in case of emergencies.
Know What to Do in Case of an Emergency
In addition to scoping out your workplace, you should also make sure your training is up to date, and you should know what to do if you get injured at work. All organizations should have measures in place to protect their staff. These measures include mandatory and optional training. Training programs that can help reduce your risk of injury include health and safety, first aid, and fire prevention training. Should you find yourself injured at work, you should seek medical attention straight away. Once your condition has stabilized, you need to report the injury to your employer so that it is formally logged in the accident book. It can help your case if you need to make a claim. If you’re unsure about how to proceed, you need legal help that is suited to your situation. For instance, an attorney for construction workers injured on the job will have the knowledge and expertise to help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. A legal professional can advise you properly about your claim.
Use PPE
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is essential in some workplaces. It is used to protect workers, and other people, from certain hazards that can occur during work. For instance, workers in healthcare settings may require disposable gloves to avoid spreading germs to other people, while those on a job site may need protective headwear to avoid injuries to the head. Other examples of PPE in the workplace include protective goggles in a laboratory and steel-toe boots and high-visibility clothing in a warehouse setting.
