It may seem to be stating the obvious to say that the workplace is riddled with a number of safety and health hazards. This is especially true on work-sites filled with heavy machinery and equipment however is also extremely relevant in an office environment.
The truth is that there are many workplace risks that aren’t easily detected in both office and construction settings – and sometimes these can be the deadliest.
Consider the following hidden dangers when implementing a work health and safety plan in your workplace.
Falls
Known for being the most common type of workplace injury, make sure employees are aware of the following factors in order to reduce the likelihood of a workplace fall –
- Clutter – Storage units, work equipment, computers and other various items placed in walkways can create serious tripping hazards. All materials should be safely stored in appropriate locations in order to prevent clutter occurring in high traffic walkways.
- Elevation Risk – Standing on inappropriate items in order to reach something at an elevated height greatly increases the risk of a fall within the workplace. If workers need to reach something at an elevated height they should use the appropriate equipment (such as a step-ladder) in the appropriate way.
Being Struck
Being struck or caught by objects is another major type of injury that occurs quite commonly within the workplace. All equipment and materials need to be securely stored in appropriate conditions, to ensure the safety of the workplace.
Ergonomic Injuries
More applicable to office environments, workers who spend the bulk of their day seated at a desk are prone to strains and other injuries related to posture and repetitive movement. These hazards can be hard to detect however can be reduced through providing adjustable and high quality equipment and appropriate training.
Fire Safety
Many workers are unaware of the number of hazards in the workplace that have the potential to cause devastating fire damage. Ensure that employees keep an eye out for faulty and dangerous power cords, inappropriate heating devices, expired/faulty fire extinguishers and finally any impediments on the workplace fire escape plan/route.
Administrative Control
Specific administrative controls can work in association with the above tips to further enhance the workplace health and safety of an office or worksite. Ensure that workers are given regular and appropriate training in regards to the identification of safety issues, have well established incident reporting systems and finally are not afraid to come forward and address a potential issue that they think places them or their colleagues at harm.
This advice is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to workplace health and safety.
Completion of further studies in workplace health and safety is one efficient way to give employees the skills to further identify unseen risks and hazards of the workplace and greatly improve the overall safety of your workplace.
Trainwest’s Safety and Health Representative Course is designed for workplaces that are not managing large risks on a day to day basis. This course will equip the designated workplace safety officer with the basic skills and knowledge to effectively monitor safety in the workplace in accordance with Western Australian safety and health legislation.
Enquire today and discover how a Safety and Health Representative course can help vastly improve the workplace safety and health of your business!