Safety in the Workplace

According to stats comprised by the International Labour Organization over 2 million people globally are the victims of a work-related injury or illness. While there is no way to create a 100 percent accident-free workplace, there are steps that every business owner can take to promote a safer working environment. Listed below are some of the hazards associated with working in a variety of jobs and a few ways to resolve them. 

Factory Workers 

Working on any type of assembly line, such as in a textile mill, can put you at a greater risk of sustaining a permanent injury. Employees often underpaid and enduring long hours on their feet use a continuous repetitive motion that overtime can injure the body. People, who work in factories also work mostly on unforgiving surfaces, often concrete which can cause knee and hip injuries after extended periods of time. Additionally, they often work in environments with exposure to loud noises, which can lead to hearing loss, and have constant exposure to chemicals, many of which can lead to serious internal health problems later on. 

Resolve 

Taking frequent breaks while working on an assembly line will allow the body to recover and adding heavy-duty non-slip rubber mats will help to insulate the floor. Earplugs will reduce the noise to a safer level and facial masks can prevent chemical fumes from entering the body. 

Construction Sites 

On the construction site workers often use heavy equipment and work on make-shift environments such as the use of ladders and scaffolding to reach onto different levels of the building or to install electricity or run plumbing. One false move while climbing or a sudden gust of wind can cause a person to lose their footing and fall. For workers on the ground, falling debris landing on them can also cause a serious, or even life-threatening, injury. If you should sustain a serious injury while on the job, you can schedule a meeting with a workers compensation lawyer in your area to see if you have a case.    

Resolve 

Having someone hold a ladder and adding grips to the steps will help to reduce the possibility of a slip and fall. Hard hats and safety shoes can prevent falling debris from causing a serious injury. 

Mining Workers 

Miners face many challenges working virtually underground. They often have exposure to excessive noise, dust, and fumes. They also face the risk of a sudden collapse of a mine roof and the dangers of a fire. Additionally, miners work in the elements, exposed to whatever Mother Nature provides. And, therefore, often working in extreme cold temperatures is common. A miner uses equipment such as large drills to dig through surfaces. Unfortunately, exposure to entire body vibration for an extended period of time can lead to the development of a musculoskeletal disorder. 

Resolve 

Hard hats, fire and chemical-resistant clothing, a headlamp, safety goggles and safety shoes are all necessary when working underground. When it comes to drilling, rotating employees every couple of hours will take a lot of wear and tear off the body. Periodic safety training classes are also critical in promoting a safe environment.

The Office 

While working in the office may seem innocent enough and accident-free, many types of injuries still occur. The most common injuries happen due to a slip and fall. Weather can play a role with traffic in and out of the office depositing pockets of water, but that's only half the problem. Many office floors are smooth and slippery. And, carelessness on the part of a co-worker can lead to a serious fall. Eye strain caused by staring at a computer screen and body aches, pains and injuries can occur due to poor posture caused by improper equipment such as a desk or a chair. 

Resolve 

Wiping up spills as they happen and placing non-slip rubber mats with grips in long and wide hallways will provide a user-friendly surface for high traffic areas. At the workspace, make sure that all employees have an ergonomic chair that they can adjust and that they take breaks every couple of hours to rest their eyes and stretch their bodies. 

Improving the working conditions on any job should be the number one concern of employers.