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General Safety Issues

How To Reduce Theft At Workplace?

Written by Caitlyn Bell
Employee theft is a serious issue and one that affects countless small businesses worldwide. In the US, nearly 44% of small businesses often face serious losses on account of employee theft.  A recent study highlighted the fact that an employee is 15 times more likely to steal from his employer than a non-employee. This statistic is reason enough for you to check out some of the tips below, on how to prevent theft at your workplace.
  • Know your employees: The first rule, before hiring an employee is to make sure that you know all you could possibly know about the person you are planning to hire. For starters, you may want to find out more about their background and if you can afford it, even get a background check to see if there are any red flags buried there. Check and see if the new employee shows a preference for the late night shift and if he/ she tends to showcase a lifestyle that’s well beyond his/ her means. These are usually warning signs that you may want to pay close attention to.
  • Supervise employees closely: Granted that it can be hard for you to supervise your employees all the time. That’s why it may be a good idea to go in for a few commercial security systems, set up close circuit TV, and even sync up the same to your phone. That way, you should be able to check out your shop or office space at any time of day, from any place.
  • Use purchase orders: The one thing that you can immediately implement at your workplace is to start using purchase orders. The payment, receipt and preparation of purchase orders need to be handled by different people so that you can minimize the chances of theft. You may also want to use serially numbered purchase orders and always make a point of verifying any incoming order.
  • Sales slip: When it comes to sales slips, you may want to go for the pre-numbered series as it can ensure that your shop continues to function smoothly along expected lines. You also need someone to balance the sales slips and the register. This should preferably be handled by someone other than the sales clerk.
  • Informal audits: The great thing about informal audits is that you can announce them at any time, and carry them out. At the least, this will ensure that all your employees are on their best behavior all day long.
  • Enhance computer security: Learn more about computer security and how they can be used to funnel funds from one account to another. It is a good idea to limit access to computers or provide them with restricted access so that they cannot access your core financial information. Make sure that you have a keylogger in place and several apps that can track online users, their online behavior, pages that they may have visited etc. In addition, you may also want to strengthen your firewall and provide your system with better security as well as install a few commercial security systems.
  • Checks: Make sure that you use pre-numbered cheques with the payee’s information and payment amount clearly written out in permanent ink. Also, make sure that you store your cheques safely and even take a few snaps of each cheque, so that you have a record of all cheques. Do not keep your blank cheques in your shop premises for obvious reasons.
  • Manage inventory: You need to separate receiving, storing and shipping and make sure that all your current inventory tallies up perfectly with the figures you have at your end. There are several applications that you can use to keep track of all your current inventory, the current pricing on the same, and see if the product is popular among your customers etc. But importantly, having such a system in place would clearly highlight when the item in question has been purchased. You may also want to hire a person to do a physical inventory check every now and then.
  • Check complaints from other staff: It is important that you take all complaints form your employees seriously. If the same is about your new employee, then you need to double check, verify the information and take the required action.

Conclusion
These are some of the ways by which you can hope to minimize the theft at your workplace. Thieves are getting smarter and to that end, have started using technology to commit their various acts of murder. So you can expect the thief to be familiar with all the latest security products. But that being said, using one or more at your workplace would definitely go a long way in helping you out with this particular problem.

General Safety Issues

Cost Effective Tips to Increase Safety in a Warehouse

Unlike a downtown office in a business center, a warehouse is a dangerous place to work in. Accidents occur here more often than in other places and this is no wonder as there are so many dangers for the workforce. Heavy loads, ceiling-high shelves, sharp objects, and moving vehicles like forklifts are just some of the dangers a warehouse worker has to be on the lookout for.


A big part of the problem are business owners who are at first reluctant to invest in safety improvements because they regard them as too expensive. However, once a worker gets injured and a lawsuit soon follows, owners swiftly change their mind. In order not to be a bad boss, you should implement the following safety measures that are, contrary to popular belief, actually cost-effective. Saving lives and saving money go hand in hand in the warehouse business!

Frequent check-ups
It is free to look around and that is exactly what your management and workers should do regularly. Basically, you probably have a safety system in place but are you sure that it is enforced the way it should be? That is why you have to conduct regular inspections to check if the employees are wearing reflective vests or if the fire extinguisher is where it’s supposed to be and if all fire exits are passable. A heavy crate next to the emergency escape exit may spell disaster, so be sure that all the procedures are put into practice.



Safety barriers
If you have watched those CCTV camera online videos, you might have noticed that even the slightest contact of a forklift or other vehicle with the shelves could bring about a catastrophe. That is why the use of safety barriers is essential because you never know when a malfunction of the equipment could destroy the entire warehouse. Bollards and guardrails are the two most frequent types of barriers that are placed where someone can fall from height or to protect sections of the supporting structure against vehicles in motion. Steel floor guards are usually placed at corners of shelves to prevent the forklift from scraping against their edges.

Maneuvering the forklift
A warehouse worker’s best friend in terms of machinery is definitely the forklift. They come in all sizes but the small ones are most used because they are easily maneuverable. A seasoned forklift driver can do magic inside the warehouse, saving hours of time necessary to transport goods. However, a forklift can also be problematic if not operated properly. You must take great care of the maximum weight a forklift can transport in order not to overturn it. Modern forklifts come with a load weight indicator that will prevent overloading. An important safety feature are cages like the ones NFM Forklifts have, which are there to protect the driver from injury and falling objects.


Employee training
You cannot expect your workers to remain safe unless they are aware of all the safety procedures. In the labor market of today, there is a greater flow of workers, so not all of them get the chance to go through the basics of workplace safety. That is why your HR department should do their job and hold frequent safety briefing so each member of the staff will know how to protect themselves, their co-workers, and the firm’s property. Apart from the knowledge and expertise necessary for carrying out their everyday tasks, the workers should know how to act in case of a fire or a medical emergency. This can also be achieved by holding fire drills that are organized in coordination with the local fire department. Finally, the workers need to learn to communicate among each other, as sharing information is the best way for them to stay safe. If the staff on the floor now that an oversized cargo is bound to arrive, they will be ready to move out of its way when it passes them by.

All the right signs
Although they have gone through rigorous training and they have been briefed a dozen times about safety, workers still sometimes forget to take the necessary precautions. That is why it is good they have visual reminders all over the warehouse, reminding them in a graphic way about the safety procedures. In some places, signage prompts workers to use safety gear like headphones or eye goggles. There are even internal traffic signs warning about a blind corner up ahead. In other parts of the warehouse, the signs can alert about potential dangers, like an increased risk of a fire which forbids smoking or a hazardous material stored behind a particular door. Not only are signs useful reminders but you are also required by law to place them at specific sections of the warehouse.



As you have seen from the measures listed above, warehouse safety will not cost you an arm and a leg. In most cases, you will only have to prioritize safety, and not splash huge amounts of cash.

 About the author:

Liam Smith is a young and aspiring Australian blogger with a passion for everything related to home, design and lifestyle. He has a B.Sc. in Interior design and is an avid reader.
General Safety Issues

Why is Health and Safety Important at Workplace?


Health and safety is an important aspect of corporate world. You might not realize it like this but health and safety is majorly being taken care of at workplaces throughout the world. It is so important that the US government has written separate set of rules and a proper act to encourage healthy and safety at workplaces. However, people are not really aware of the importance of the health and safety at workplace even though there are a lot of reasons for which health and safety should be encouraged at workplaces at all costs.

To avoid haphazard at workplaces

A lot of hazards can occur at workplaces. These hazards could include mishandling of machinery, chemicals, electronics or any other equipment included during daily work. However, implementing health and safety policies at workplace helps to prevent such hazardous activities and ensure a safe and struggle free environment at corporate setups. Companies which do not follow these health and safety rules face a lot many incidents as compared with the rest of the companies.

Decreases legal liabilities

All the laws in the world majorly support the victims of workplaces activities. Companies support the health and safety act for workplaces to avoid unwanted situations as well. If any employee gets hurt during working hours in accidents at the expense of professional work then the company is accountable for the expenses. Additionally, if the injuries are severe and irreversible the company can come under legal liabilities. Therefore, it is better to implement health and safety policies to avoid legal liabilities of such sorts.

Reduces absents and leaves of employees

By implementing health and safety policies at workplaces, the employers help the employees to avoid unnecessary injuries and illnesses which also decrease absenteeism and leaves. If an employee gets hurt during working hours, he would be liable to get absent without any objections and this can reduce the productivity rate of work. Therefore, safety policies are highly beneficial for both personal and professional reasons for the employees.

Increases productivity during working hours

Health policies increase productivity at workplace since the employees would be perfectly fit and well to continue their daily tasks with great attention and efforts. When healthy environment is promoted at organizations employees are less likely to fall sick which not only improves their attendance but also affects their work performance for professional tasks. Therefore, employers must implement health and safety policies at all costs in companies so that the employees are healthy and well to perform at a high level.

Avoids minor injuries and accidents

Minor injuries and accidents by furniture can also happen and those situations can get pretty bad sometimes. Therefore, if proper health and safety rules are followed and implemented, then these minor injuries can be easily avoided and uncertain situations are much more controlled.

Improves brand reputation

Companies that implement health and safety measures at workplaces indirectly promote the safety of their customers and clients. For instance, if we are talking about a supermarket, people would not prefer to go to a place which is too congested with the furniture placed too closely increasing the chances of accidents and injuries. Similarly, any restaurant which does not work by the rules of health and safety and cooks cleanly reduces its own chances of attracting the customers. No one would like to eat food which is cooked in dirty spaces. Therefore, health and safety at workplaces not only benefits the employees and employers but also the outsiders like clients and customers.

Some safety tips to be adopted by the workers

The health and safety for workplace act should be strictly implemented and followed by the employers and administrations of organizations but it is a wise idea that the employees take care of themselves on their own as well. Following are some of the tips which you can follow to ensure your own safety:

⦁ Understand the risks included in your field of work.
⦁ Manage workplace stress.
⦁ Take regular breaks.
⦁ Wear protective equipment and clothing according to your field of work.
⦁ Communicate your concerns with the higher management and administrations.
⦁ If your field is mechanical, then handle the chemicals and equipment with a lot of care to avoid injuries and burns.
⦁ As an employee you have several rights while being at the workplace and even after that and you should clearly understand them in order to avail the benefits.
⦁ Know the architectural space of your workplace and learn all the emergency exits.

Workplace health and safety is an integral part of the corporate world and employers that do not implement the act in their organizations often face several consequences as well. There is a lot of importance of these rules and few are discussed above as well. Along with that employees should stay vigilant too in order to avoid such incidents.

AUTHOR BIO
Mitchell Starc is an experienced researcher at Essay Writing Service with double masters in social sciences. He is an avid reader and habitual writer to facilitate the newbies in the professional world. He has been writing for over 20 years.

Uncategorized

Now Select Electricians According to their Specialization!

Written by Eada Hudes

Emergencies can come knocking at your door anytime. The main problem occurs when you are not at all prepared for it. Similarly, electrical emergency can occur any day and at any time. No matter in what scale electrical emergency shows up, it always causes a lot of inconvenience. It doesn’t matter whether it’s just one light flickering every now and then or some spark leading to complete blackout, the sooner steps are taken to put things back in order, the better it is for everyone.

Electricity can be very dangerous if it comes in direct contact with human beings. Handling electrical complications without having proper skill and tools can prove to be fatal. So it is always advisable to never touch electrical wires and always seek help from an emergency electrician. Ambient Electrical based in Sydney promises to provide you with emergency electrician without wasting any time. They provide 24/7 service and there is no third party involved. You will just be asked a few quick questions by the owner to have an understanding of your electrical emergency.

Various specialization of electricians:

Like any other jobs, even electricians have certain specialization. An electrician dealing with industrial machineries might not be well acquainted with household complications and with the problem of overloading. So, before seeking help from a licensed electrician in Sydney, make sure to mention the exact kind of electrical emergency you are facing. The company will make sure to send someone having complete knowledge on how to handle the specific problem. Else if they send someone who is not well acquainted with the issue, it can complicate things unnecessarily. Here are a few specialized electricians you might want to hire:

⦁ Commercial: These kinds of electricians have a specialization of working with the electrical systems found in commercial stores, offices and commercial buildings. The scope of commercial electricians is bigger than that of residential electricians, especially when it comes to various installations. Commercial electricians hardly work under the supervision of a private individual contractor; rather they work under electrical or private company. Their job includes installation, upgrading and troubleshooting electrical systems.

 

⦁ Residential: Residential electricians are the most common kind of electricians. Their work is mainly constricted to residential areas and it ranges from fixing or replacing a socket that has been broken to planning and designing wiring system for installing in homes. They might either work independently or under the supervision of a contractor. Residential electricians mainly works in apartments, condos, houses or any other residential building for installing lights, ceiling fans or fixing the electrical system.

 

⦁ Industrial: Industrial electricians are the ones who mainly take up big projects, unlike residential electricians. However, their work is mainly restricted to industrial facilities like big factories and processing plants. Their work mainly incorporates making sure that all the heavy machineries are working without any glitch and handling programmable logic centres that are nothing but specialized computer systems that has control over features like security systems, lighting and various other industry specific processes.

⦁ Maintenance: As the name suggests, maintenance electrician do not work on new buildings instead they are responsible for maintaining the existing or old buildings, electrical wise. Along with maintenance, they are responsible for repairing and upgrading the existing systems. However, their work is not restricted to just residential buildings but they also work in industries. Sometimes, some private companies hire long term electricians for maintenance purpose to ensure that all the systems and machineries are working smoothly, without any glitches.

These are the few specializations of electricians whom you might hire according to your specific need. There is a few more kind of electricians apart from these too. You need to make sure that you are specifying your needs explicitly to get the right kind of assistance.

General Safety Issues

Checklist: Top 8 Things You Must Do for A Safe Work Environment

There are many benefits to having a safe work environment. Not only does it prevent employees from getting injured, it boosts productivity and efficiency as well. People work better and produce higher results when they are comfortable in their surroundings and when they don’t need to worry about various threats or dangers.

Creating a workplace safety checklist is the first step you should take to ensure that your business is safe. Identify potential hazards and share solutions or procedures that detail how to handle these issues with your employees. Start crafting your list now.

A Few Things to Remember

Before you get started, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

  1. Read and learn about the health and safety regulations that apply to your state and industry. You can find information by state here.
  2. Keep an organized and accessible binder of regulations that your employees can access at all times.
  3. Include health and safety checklists in the binder mentioned above.
  4. If there are any emergency procedures that your employees need to know, have them read it during their on-boarding process. Regularly review these procedures as needed.
  5. Stay accessible for any questions or concerns that your employees may have regarding the company’s safety standards.

Top 8 Things You Should Have in Your Workplace Safety Checklist

  • Keep the Floors Clear. You should have clear walkways at all times. Your employees shouldn’t struggle to get from one place to the other. If your organization constantly receives packages or boxes, be sure to have a designated area for them. Inform your employees to immediately clean up any spills or leaks that may happen. If you work in an industry that works with oils, be sure to educate your employees on how to properly clean and dispose of that.
  • Keep the Stairs Clear. Similarly to your floors, your stairs should always be clear. A crowded stairwell could cause accidents or prevent employees from being able to exit in the event of an emergency. Your stairwells should also be properly lit and have a handrail installed.
  • Install Proper Lighting. Whether you’re working on a construction site or in an office, it is imperative to have good lighting. Most employees feel safer in brightly lit areas. Having good light will also prevent falls and other accidents from taking place. Your outdoor parking area should also have good lighting to keep employees safe when getting to their car.
  • Require the Proper Dress Code. Wearing the right attire could prevent someone from getting seriously injured. If you are working in the construction industry, require your workers to wear steel-toed boots and shoes. They should also be the proper sizing. If you are working in the food industry, make sure to note that the kitchen staff should wear long sleeves and pants to prevent burns. They should also invest in non-slip shoes.
  • First-Aid Kits. Buy or create first-aid kits for your offices. Depending on how big your work environment is, you may need multiple kits. Each kit should have things to help wrap up cuts and scrapes, as well as, ointment to prevent infections.
  • Emergency Procedures. Email your employees important emergency procedures. You should also keep a set of the posted and accessible at all times. Your emergency exits should all be clearly marked. You should also inform your employees where the emergency equipment, like fire extinguishers, are housed in the office.
  • Keep the Office Clean. Make a conscious effort to keep the office as clean as possible. This doesn’t just mean tidy. This means keeping it clear of food, waste, and more. Not emptying out your trash frequently could cause insects and other critters to come into the building. The last thing you or your employees want is an unwelcome rodent infestation. You should also make sure that the bathrooms are cleaned daily.
  • Lock All Doors & Windows When Leaving. Your office or work environment should be secure at all times. In your safety checklist, provide a “closing office” checklist as well. Instruct your employees on how they should close down the office when the day is over. It is especially important to lock all your doors and windows so that none of your equipment gets taken or stolen. If your windows have blinds, they should be drawn closed so that people don’t see the valuables that you have.

 

Getting injured at work is not entirely preventable, but there are definitely steps you can take to decrease the chances of it happening. Follow these 8 tips and take the first stride to make your environment a safer one.

To learn more about what you can do if you were to get injured at work, speak to a workers compensation attorney.

 

Uncategorized

How to Make Your New Office Safe for Employees



For many employers, the safety of your labor force is only considered important if you are in the construction or in the manufacturing industry, where people have to manage giant equipment. Industries need to start understanding that employees want to be reassured that they will be safe in all senses of that word. This means both physically and otherwise.

An employee should be able to feel that their office is not just built well but harbors an environment where they are able to express their opinions safely. It does not matter what the size of your operations are or how many different types of departments work under you. The safety of your employees should be one of the top priorities of running a business.

Here are some of the top ways you can do that.

Evaluate Where the Problem Areas Lie

The first step in making your office more safe and secure is by analyzing where the problem areas in your office really are. Think about how the area is built, and where most likely will people hurt themselves. After this, it helps if you make a list of all the safety procedures that need reviewing. It is very important that your managers get the necessary and constructive input from your workers. This is more efficient and helps cover areas or things that you may have missed. Therefore, always work from the bottom instead of implementing procedures from top down.

Because your employees spend time in an area more than you. Even if it is their first day at a workplace, they know that they are going to be spending most of their time in this place and are likely to examine it keeping in mind everything they will use and space they will venture on a daily basis.

One very important place that most business owners overlook is their emergency protocols. If the place you bought or rented for an office space does not have an evacuation plan, make one. The truth is that many safety plans in office buildings have been outdated for a while. If you have never had to go through an emergency situation before, you are probably not even going to think about this. Therefore, the people who work for you have no idea how to act or where to go in an emergency evacuation. This is why it is so important that you consider holding a yearly review of all safety protocols and equipment in place with your staff.

Secure all Equipment

Currently, the most common ways employees get injured in the workplace is because of equipment. Offices need to list and update the most basic equipment that ensure safety. These include fire alarms, fire extinguishers, gloves, first aid kit, warning signs for wet floors, back braces for those who lift heavy items, ladders or step stools so that your employees can place and reach for things placed on higher shelves.

Furniture can also cause injuries. Sometimes, handles of cabinets may hurt you if they have a nail or some piece sticking out. It may injure you while opening it. Office movers of Florida can set up the furniture in your office safely.

The best way to go about ensuring office safety is to get rid of the cause of these hazards. After all, prevention is better than treating later. The office equipment should help in avoiding the escalation of minor issues.

Train Your Staff

No matter what program you are introducing, training is extremely vital in order to make sure that the people who work for you are on the same page as you. Without this, all the hard work that you have put into making the place safer may not work, if for example, your staff does not know how to work a fire extinguisher.
These tips will help employees stay safe even at home. It’s important to keep your house clean but it’s important to keep your office clean as well.

It works if you hold a brief meeting regarding this topic once a month. It is necessary that the program you have drafted for this training progresses by offering more thorough instructions as time passes on.

These training meetings should also have test runs done to see how your employees act in an emergency, or when another colleague needs assistance. The best part about this is that your employees will not spend precious minutes wondering what they need to do to get to safety, ensuring that things run smoothly and in a productive manner.

Always Review

There is always room for improvement. Here safety programs are no exception. Managers and business owners will always commit to a consistent pattern and review all safety and emergency plans. This should take place at least once a year, owing also to the fact that most safety equipment require to be updated in 12 months’ time.
You should not stop yourself from constantly addressing and at the same time redefining the needs of your company, as they may evolve or change. A good idea would be to get bulletin boards and suggestion boxes which assist the management is staying on top of environmental hazards and impending shortages in equipment.

 Author Bio:
James Crook is a passionate technology and lifestyle blogger. He loves to get engaged with the readers who are seeking for home, lifestyle, and tech-related information on the internet. Currently associated with NYC moving company All Around Moving which specializes in arranging and assembling services of professional and skilled local movers locally in New York City as well as areas in New Jersey, Connecticut and the Miami Dale area in South Florida for their blog operations. Follow @jamescrook911 for more updates.
Home Safety Products

Don’t know where to start when you need to do a risk assessment in the kitchen?

Don’t know where to start when you need to do a risk assessment in the kitchen?  Well, here’s what you need to do!

The kitchen is a place which is not only the busiest, but also the most dangerous and life threatening when the appropriate control measures aren’t taken.  A risk assessment is the best way to ensure that the kitchen is a safe place.  It’s not only made mandatory by the law, but also a crucial step in providing protection to your kitchen team, and also a safe working environment for your staff.  Kitchens can be especially hazardous workplaces — so you need to make sure that the assessment is done on point.

Risk assessments help you identify the major potential hazards present in your kitchen and help you focus on those hazards which can cause real pain to your employees.  Once you decide on carrying out an efficient kitchen risk assessment, ACSUK Group will help you with a full risk assessment of your kitchen and have you covered.  It shall help you identify, analyze, and resolve the potential hazards in your kitchen.  Once you decide on the services, you can now start to take the necessary steps to control the risk.

Steps to conduct a risk assessment:

In a perfect kitchen, food delivery is at one end, and finished meals are at the other end.  A risk assessment considers the probability of a hazard and the final consequences in case that hazard occurs.  It will take into consideration what the existing control measures are, and what future measures can be further implemented so as to lower the level of risk as much as possible.  Well, luckily for you, there are quite a few services which offer to carry out efficient risk assessments, as well as industrial cleaning in Manchester.

  •  Hazard identification:  A great starting point is to walk around your kitchen and note down whatever hazards that are common to your view.  These can include slippery floors, burns from exposed heat sources, sharp objects etc.  You should always check on the manufacturer’s’ instructions as they tell you clearly what hazards can take place.  Check up on your past records of incidental accidents and also consider long term health hazards such as chemical impacts.
  • Who is to be harmed:  Now that you have a clear idea regarding what the hazards are, you need to consider next how it can harm an individual.  You need to identify how bad and whom the hazard will impact.  You can ask your staff on this matter, and take into consideration what they think about the hazard. They might offer a separate perspective and help you look into a matter which you otherwise wouldn’t have noticed.
  • Evaluate risks:  Now, you need to pay attention to the risk, and decide if you can eradicate it completely, or lower it down to an unharmful level.  You can do this by options for a less risky alternative, or organizing work in a better way or preventing chances of the hazard or providing first aid or offering protective gear etc.
  • Note down findings:  The next step is to record your significant findings regarding the hazard and how it can harm your people and how to prevent it.  Keeping a written record of your findings shall help you review it in the future.  It shall help you at a later date in cases of changes in the law or business expansion etc.
  • Update assessment:  Workplaces keep on changing and more than you realize, you will be bringing in new changes starting from newer team to newer equipment and process.  This can be the reason of newer hazards propping up, and that’s the reason you need to review it and update the assessment process on a regular basis.  Your records need to be up to date and you need to ask yourself a few important questions.  These questions involve if there are any improvements needed or significant changes that took place, or if workers have noticed any trouble etc.

So, these were the main steps that you need to follow for an efficient risk assessment process.  You need to follow each of these religiously, plan out an effective strategy and make sure everybody in your kitchen is very much involved.

General Safety Issues

OSHA-Based Solutions for Construction’s “Fatal Four”

Even the phrase used to identify construction’s deadliest hazards is enough to emphasize their danger. But make no mistake, it’s not just a fear-mongering tactic. The “fatal four” is how the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) refers to the four most common causes of death on the construction site.

 

OSHA has attributed 59.9% of construction deaths to the fatal four. These hazards, and the percent of deaths caused by each in 2017, are:
⦁ Falls (39.2%)
⦁ Being struck by an object (8.2%)
⦁ Electrocution (7.3%)
⦁ Caught in/between objects (5.1%)

 
OSHA certified training programs have dedicated entire courses to the prevention of the fatal four, which have so far proven effective. In 2016, fatal four related deaths on the construction site were 4% higher.
 
Still, there’s a long way to go, and OSHA estimates that eliminating these hazards would save 582 workers’ lives in the US each year.  Although completely eliminating them may be impossible, there are definitely strategies to prevent against them.

Falls
As can be seen by the above numbers, falls are the deadliest of the fatal four. There are a number of specific work site habits that contribute to the abundance of falls, such as:
⦁ Unstable ladders
⦁ Poorly secured scaffolding
⦁ Unguarded roof edges
⦁ Unindicated roof/floor openings

 
Ladders and scaffolding should always be tested for security. Similarly, personal fall arrest equipment should be worn on upper levels of a construction site. While many workers and employers overlook this, it can be life-saving. By strapping a harness around themselves, workers are anchored to the construction in a way that ensures any falls will be protected while still providing full mobility.
 
Many workers also overlook the indication of floor openings. These should be covered and labeled, whether with orange cones or caution tape. On multi-level structures, guardrails must be placed along the edges – this is not just a suggestion, but an OSHA requirement.
 
If the aforementioned precautions are taken when it comes to falls, nearly 381 workers’ lives could be spared.

Struck by an Object

 
Construction sites are filled with cement trucks, tractors, and other heavy-duty moving objects and vehicles. Therefore, it’s no surprise that injuries and deaths caused by objects are so abundant. At the very least, workers should wear their reflective vests at all times, increasing their visibility for other workers operating this machinery.
 
Personal protective equipment also matters. Safety goggles might seem like a small feat, but they can go a long way toward preventing blindness where falling and flying objects are present (whether it be sediment or sawdust).
 
Most importantly, however, are hard hats. In an 8-year study, traumatic brain injuries accounted for one-quarter of all construction fatalities. While concussions might seem like a commonplace occurrence on the worksite, it shouldn’t be. And there’s no telling when what seems like a simple head injury could lead to dire circumstances.
 

Electrocution
Electrocution on the construction site typically occurs when a tall object, like an aerial lift, crane, or scaffold, comes into contact with a power line. For this reason, electrical sources (be they power lines or transformers) should always be marked and identified prior to beginning construction.

 
This way, when planning the layout of equipment, it will be kept well away from those structures.
 
Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) should also be used when installing the electrical work on a building. They are programmed to trip or shut off automatically when they sense a “ground fault”. A ground fault is a connection between an electric conductor and a ground wire caused by an accidental electric path (i.e. a human body).
 
As a result, GFCIs are regular fixtures on construction site due to their immense effectiveness in preventing shocks and electrocutions.

Caught In/Between
Displacement of land is almost always necessary where there is major construction. Wherever excavation leads to trenches, there is always a hazard of cave-ins or slipping sediment that can cause workers to get trapped.

 
For this reason, trenches deeper than five feet must always be equipped with one of the following protective systems:
⦁ Sloping for easier accessibility
⦁ Shoring to hold up a weak or unstable object that has a risk of collapsing
⦁ Benching to level access to the trench by adding steps/stairs
 
This hazard also accounts for workers who get caught in/compressed by equipment or moving machine parts, such as miter saws, conveyor systems, or rotating pump shafts. Proper machine safeguards should be implemented to prevent amputation or more dire circumstances.

Extra Precautions
The best precaution of all is to ensure that workers are properly trained. OSHA’s website contains countless resources for workers and construction site managers on how to combat every hazard imaginable. Third-party OSHA-approved providers can also delve into deeper detail regarding prevention methods.

 
Of all the workplaces, the construction site calls for the most diligence. A survey of construction leaders by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2018 attributed 58 percent of dangerous work sites to unskilled workers. However, it is up to these construction leaders to ensure their employees are getting the proper training.
 
With construction leaders and management setting the right example and training requirements, the impacts of the fatal four could surely be diminished.
 

Ellie Batchiyska is a writer for Advance Online, the first web-based training provider to be accepted by the OSHA Outreach Program for DOL OSHA completion cards.
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Important Safety Factors to Consider When Operating a Crane

Technology has made using cranes safer than ever, but there’s only so much the right tools can do. Most of the responsibility still lies in how they are operated. There are lots of things that can go wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here are some of the most important things to watch out for.

1. The organization

 

Organization is the heart of the whole process. Good coordination is what it takes to avoid any accidents, which is why it’s important to have someone at the head of the operation. This person is called the lift director. Before getting anything off the ground you have to assign a lift director. They bear the brunt of the responsibility for the crane lift and they have to keep everything in check.

 

As the lift director, he or she has to be able to provide the necessary directions to anyone on the project, including the crane operator. They have to provide answers for any questions regarding the lift and reassure everyone that safety precautions have been taken. Most of the time, the lift director is responsible for any successful crane lifts, but their primary role is making sure every person working and every piece of equipment is safe.

 

 

2. A dedicated spotter

 

The actual process of lifting is the next thing you should focus on. When it comes to getting cranes to lift things, increasing spatial awareness should be one of your primary goals. For starters, get yourself a dedicated spotter. This person will be your eyes and ears during the project, but they will mostly be your eyes. It’s not just about the movement of the crane and load, it’s also about anything that can get in the way of them.

 

The crane operator has to know if they have a spotter underneath them. Without a spotter, you will risk harming more than just the heavy load being transported, there’s significant risk involved for other workers and structures. If there is no spotter and the crane operator’s vision is obscured in some areas, you must come up with another way to assist them.

 

3. Proper equipment

 

The lift director doesn’t just organize the lift in question, they also make key decisions when it comes to the equipment being used for the process. Every worker has to have personal protective equipment on them. Companies like OSHA in the United States have strict requirements on the quality of equipment used on all job sites. This equipment works to reduce worker exposure to hazards in the job site, and lifting with cranes exposes them to a lot of hazards.

 

The most important piece of equipment during a crane lift is the crane itself. If there’s anything you shouldn’t cut corners on, it’s the crane. Not every construction company has the highest quality cranes on disposal, which is why some opt to use the services of companies such as Advance cranes to hire a crane. Whatever your source, you should make sure it’s the best choice you can get.

 

4. Hazards exist

 

Every kind of risk on the job site has to be recognized and taken care of. Explain to your workers all the different things that can go wrong and guide them towards reducing the risks involved. The first thing that comes to mind is the crane failing and dropping its load. This isn’t the most common type of risk on the job site, but it’s still important to never have anyone below the load.

 

Other kinds of risks include problems with terrain and environment. Cranes weigh many tons and if the ground isn’t stable, it might sink or tip to one side and cause injury. The load might not directly harm anyone, but shrapnel is a real risk. It can destroy a structure or anything on the ground, causing pieces of those things to spread far and wide while moving at incredible speed. It’s a recipe for worker injury. This is part of why you need to equip your workers with proper safety gear. Exposure to fumes from equipment also needs to be taken care of.

 

Conclusion

Having an important project underway sometimes gets people in a hurry. Lifting things with a crane is one place you have to be patient. Things can go wrong fast and you don’t want to file workers’ compensation claims. With this in mind, follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to have a safer work environment.

 

About the author
Liam Smith is a young and aspiring Australian blogger with a passion for everything related to home, design and lifestyle. He has a B.Sc. in Interior design and is an avid reader.
https://twitter.com/LiamSmith2034
https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamsmith2034
General Safety Issues

Benefits of Having a Hazard Free Workplace

Workplace security is important, especially for many electrical suppliers in Metro Manila. Now that the typical workplace is incredibly automated, there will always be at least a few hazards that will be found in some places. Of course, many companies have ongoing efforts to create a safer and hazard-free workplace.

By making sure that workplace hazards are almost non-existent, you’ll avail yourself of the many benefits that come with it! Your workplace is not just a place where your employees work, it’s also the place where they’ll be spending the majority of their day in. That is why you should ensure that your work environment contributes to keeping your employees safe.

 

Take a look at what you can get just by making sure that your workplace is virtually hazard free!

 

 

Less Stress

 

The feeling of being secure and safe within your workplace goes a long way. It can give you the freedom to do some of the things that you wouldn’t normally do! For example, an office that is equipped with GFCI receptacles is protected from any kind of electrocutions that might happen because of spilt liquids—so you don’t have to worry too much about getting shocked every time you spill your coffee.

 

Much of what strains employees are the different possible problems that they might encounter during their workday. That includes the simplest of accidents and injuries from hazards that weren’t accounted for. Taking out hazards from the workplace will surely have an impact on the amount of stress that your employees will get!

 

Higher Productivity

 

A work environment that is safe from any kind of obstacles should show in their performance. Companies that makes sure that their workspaces are free from distractions and hazards will most likely have a better time doing their work!

 

Remember, your employees would probably find it easier to work when they don’t have to worry about anything too much. Focusing on a task is very important for any worker that needs precision and accuracy at their job. The less they have to think about, the more engrossed they can be to their work, the better their outputs will be!

 

Happier Workforce

 

A workplace that is devoid of any kind of hazards will eventually lead to safer and healthier work environment. Complimented by the two mentioned above, and you’ll get an incredibly happy workforce! When your workers are content and satisfied with the many benefits that working for your company brings, they will show it in how they work and how they act.

 

By removing the things that would be deemed as a hazard, a distraction, or a problem from the workplace, your employees should become happier with what the company provides, eventually leading to a stronger, more efficient workforce!

 

Key Takeaway

 

Every electrical supplier in Metro Manila values workplace security. It’s in their best interests to make sure that everyone of you knows the benefits of having a workplace that is free from any kind of hazard. Your workforce is what keeps your company going. Don’t let the simplest of hazards prevent them from working at their maximum capacity.

 

Author Bio:
This article was sent in by Sharlene Andrade, a freelance writer who specializes in workplace safety, electrical hazard prevention and anything precautionary related.