When you’re working in dangerous sites like factories or tending to construction projects, there is a high chance you can get injured. According to the CDC, about 1.8 million American workers experienced a work-related injury and had to be rushed to the emergency room in 2020. These statistics indicate that there is still much to do to ensure that most workplaces are safe from danger. If there are no precautions, employees may continue getting injured, which doesn’t reflect well on any company.
As a worker, you can save yourself from getting harmed while doing your job in numerous ways. This may include involving the management and providing valuable suggestions on what they can do to facilitate your cause further. So as you head out to work today, here are some workplace mishaps that you can subside:
- Get Regular Health Screenings
When you’re working on construction sites, there is a high chance you may get exposed to harmful fumes and dust. This is because as you drill, use power tools and work with insulation, tiles or handle rusted old equipment, you may inhale the harmful microfibers like asbestos from these sites. Asbestos is a microscopic fiber that tends to build up in your lungs and cause severe distress. Despite being a massive health hazard, this was a popular element in most older construction equipment and buildings. As a result, you’ll learn if you’re physically doing well or have specific hidden ailments like mesothelioma that you don’t know about. This rare and aggressive cancer is caused mainly by excessive exposure to harmful particles like asbestos.
If you need help and support in understanding and treating this painful disease, check the website mesotheliomahope.com and learn more about what you can do to save yourself. The more frequently you check yourself, the more you’re aware of how well you’re faring and if you need further examinations. A doctor may also help you filter your blood from harmful substances like lead that you can inhale or accidentally ingest while working.
- Recommend Training Seminars
Your company’s management needs to arrange for training sessions before you start working on potentially dangerous sites. These workshops aim to inform workers on how to safely use equipment, ensure the construction site is safe and mitigate risks. For instance, the manager may train you to safely start and store high-power equipment and machines to prevent damaging and injuring yourself.
The training session may also teach you the importance of wearing protective gear and safely discarding them once you’re done. You may also learn how to pick up heavy items, clean up after yourself and administer first aid if a worker collapses. Every company has a different training workshop.
But as long as the program is comprehensive, outlines potential hazards you can encounter, and trains you on dealing with them, you’ll have enough information to stay safe. You should repeat these training sessions regularly to stay updated. After some time, make sure to attend one on equipment maintenance.
- Never Use Machines Without Checking First
Before starting any machine or backing up a vehicle, you must inspect the area. Make sure there is no one around you or in a safe space to prevent injuring yourself and others. There are many instances when workers have accidentally hit a pedestrian or fatally wounded their co-workers by not paying attention to their surroundings.
Therefore establish specific guidelines for yourself, like making sure the machine is in good shape and not damaged before you power it up to prevent an explosion. It will help if you familiarize yourself with all the buttons, including the emergency stop, so you don’t get flustered in case an accident happens.
If you’re driving a big truck, install reflective mirrors, bright lights, and an audible alarm system so that passersby know when you’re reversing and entering their vicinity. Always avoid main roads and crowded areas.
- Clean Up After You Are Done
Cleaning up a workplace once you have concluded your tasks for the day is essential. If you leave stray equipment lying around, ignore puddles and forget to clean residual dust, you end up making your workplace dangerous. So begin your organization by putting every piece of equipment in place. When shutting down large machines, follow the guidelines to safely shut them down and not simply pull the plug on an active device.
It would help if you mopped up and sterilized the area daily to prevent bacteria and viruses from thriving and curb workplace contamination. Once you have tidied up around you, wash up too. You may have dust, chemicals, and various biohazards lingering on your clothing. Therefore ensure that the management has arranged for a sanitation facility for you. These should have portable restrooms and access to showers so that you can wash them. Dispose of all protective gear into their designated site daily to get rid of the trash on time.
- Wear The Right Clothing
Every worksite has specific requirements when it comes to your clothes. You can’t show up wearing your most casual outfits as you attempt to work on a dangerous site. Shoes like heels, casual flats, and slippers are not for construction sites. Hence, wear the proper boots, overalls, and shirt that offer you enough freedom to move around without the sleeves getting caught in the machines. You should also not wear accessories or anything you can drop while working. Likewise, if you have glasses, secure them with a lanyard or wear prescription safety goggles. Let your manager know if you have hearing aids or any device that can react with the machines around you.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to workplace hazards, you need to keep yourself safe. If you’re too careless or reckless while doing your job, it can lead to many injuries, some of which can be fatal. Stay on top of your health to ensure you don’t accidentally hurt yourself or get sick at work. These include getting regular screenings, attending workplace safety programs, and checking the equipment and the area around you before you begin your job. You should also clean up and organize after yourself once you finish your tasks and never show up to a dangerous construction site without the right gear.