Worker safety should be one of the main priorities in an employer’s mind. There are risks involved in the workplace—especially in the industrial, manufacturing, and construction industry. Without the right safety precautions, your employees could get into accidents and suffer from injuries that could be fatal. That’s why you need to know the causes of work injuries, so you can reduce the risks with the help of a safety equipment supplier in the Philippines. Continue reading to learn more.
One of the reasons why you need to conduct worker training is to reduce the occurrence of overexertion. This happens when your employees push themselves too hard and end up with aching joints, muscles, and difficulty breathing. It can also lead to signs of physical fatigue, such as persistent soreness and poor physical performance. If this happens regularly, your normal operations will be affected.
To prevent this problem, you need to consider the tasks your workers need to perform. Is there a constant need for lifting? In that case, it is worthwhile to invest in mechanical lift assists or the like. You should also allow short, frequent breaks to prevent overexertion.
Even without heavy lifting, your workers have a high chance of incurring injuries due to repetitive motions. This includes using working on an assembly line, using power tools, cleaning, and the like. Activities that stress the same muscles over a long period of time can lead to injuries that affect the nerves, joints, muscles, and tendons.
To reduce the risk of injuries due to repetitive motions, mini-breaks are recommended. You should also include tips on good posture, stretching, and flexing in your worker training.
A messy and disorganized environment increases the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Make sure to get rid of spills immediately or put a wet floor sign up until the area is cleaned. Supply your workers with anti-slip safety shoes if they have tasks in a wet environment to reduce these risks. Lastly, make sure to get rid of clutter such as messy wires on the pathways.
If you have employees working at heights, you are also required to have a fall arrest system. This will suspend their fall and prevent them from reaching the ground in the event of a fall.
Harmful gases, dust, and splashes of dangerous liquids can cause a variety of injuries. Without proper personal protective equipment, it can lead to chemical burns, eye problems, lung issues, and more.
To protect your workers from hazardous substances, the right type of safety gear is recommended depending on their job description. For instance, if they use a grinder or a saw, a respirator can protect them from inhaling the dust and powders. When working with particles that can harm the eyes, safety glasses or a face shield are also recommended. Lastly, when handling abrasive objects, hot fluids, or cold materials, gloves are also needed.
Depending on the amount, frequency, and direct exposure to loud sounds, your workers might develop a hearing problem. Any sound above 85 decibels is harmful, especially if you’re exposed to the noise daily. For your reference, you can take a look at this list:
When working in noisy environments, spot early signs of hearing problems such as ringing, buzzing, or roaring sounds in the ears. Before this happens, protect your workers with the right hearing protection gear, such as earplugs or earmuffs!
Insufficient lighting in the workplace can be a health hazard for your workers. In busy environments, visibility is also a common issue. On the other hand, having proper lighting can make tasks safer and easier to do.
If you have low lighting and poor visibility on your site, you might need to supply high-visibility clothing for your workers. These have bright neon colors and reflectors that can bounce back the light from the environment. This way, incoming co-workers and vehicles will see the wearer easily from afar.
If your employees work in construction sites, logistics facilities, or traffic management, they have a higher chance of getting hit by a vehicle. For instance, a forklift could accidentally bump a pedestrian on the site, while a road construction worker might get knocked over by a speeding car on the highway.
To reduce this risk, you could use traffic management devices such as barricades and cones in your workplace. This can help redirect traffic on the roads and serve as a fence for outsiders.
When you know the different causes of work injuries, you can take precautionary measures to reduce the risks in your facility. By choosing the right safety gear, you can prevent these problems in the future.
If you need a safety equipment supplier in the Philippines, Dels Apparel can help you! They offer a wide variety of options from safety signs, fall arrest systems, respirators, safety goggles, gloves, anti-slip boots, traffic barriers, and more.
