Tag Archives: Work Safety

General Safety Issues

6 Ways Employers Can Reduce the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace

In the workplace, many employers tend to overlook work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, MSDs are the most common form of workplace injuries and they account for up to 30% of all workers’ compensation claims.

So as an employer, it’s your duty to provide your workers with a safe and healthy workplace. This means that you should improve their work environment to mitigate their risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. In this post, I’ll highlight 9 ways that can help you accomplish this goal.

What are Musculoskeletal Disorders?

The World Health Organization defines musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as conditions that affect an individual’s locomotor system, which comprises of the muscles, bones, joints and related tissues like tendons and ligaments.

To put it simply, these are health problems that compromise your mobility, flexibility and dexterity. As the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work explains, these disorders mainly affect the back, neck, upper limbs, and occasionally, the lower limbs. The most common musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace are:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Ligament sprain
  • Tendonitis
  • muscle  or tendon strain
  • Tension neck syndrome
  • Rotator cuff tendonitis
  • Epicondylitis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated disc

Reducing the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace

1. Identify the Causes

Recognizing the specific causes of musculoskeletal disorders affecting your workers can help you tailor the solutions. In other words, you can implement policies that address the specific risk factors causing MSDs.

As an example, a common risk factor in the workplace that leads to MSD is the frequent application of excessive force, such as when lifting heavy equipment.

Most cases of muscle strain and overexertion occur when the force needed is greater than what a worker’s body can handle. The higher the amount of force required, the higher the risk of injury.

If you’ve identified this as the cause, look for equipment that eases the task of lifting bulky machines. Items like wheeled vehicles, dollies and trollies take the hard work out of lifting and moving office equipment.

 

2. Scheduling Breaks

Another solution for reducing the incidences of musculoskeletal disorders is to schedule breaks for your workers.

The benefit of doing this is that it interrupts the extensive periods of repetitive or monotonous workloads and periods, which increase risk of MSDs. When scheduling breaks for your staff, pay attention to:

  1. Frequency of breaks: In a recent study, it was found that workers who took more frequent work breaks experienced less fatigue and stress resulting from work.
  2. Duration of breaks: The length of the work break is vital to the recovery of tissues and muscles. A study was done to investigate the impact of micro-breaks (lasting between 1.5 and 2 minutes) amongst surgeons. Researchers discovered that these small breaks helped to reduce musculoskeletal pain significantly.

3. Education and Training

Training is one of the most effective ways of preventing MSDs in the workplace. Essentially, by providing your staff with the necessary knowledge, they’ll be able to better exercise caution and avoid work-related risks on their own.

The best way to impart this knowledge is to offer practical training on the job. This entails training workers how to:

  • Understand the risk factors associated with common MSD in the office, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, back and neck pain etc.
  • How to reduce the risk of injury when interacting with office equipment
  • Follow best practices when it comes to sitting, standing, and computing.

4.Provide an Active Environment

A practical way to minimize the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers is to provide an active environment. An investigation was done to determine the effectiveness of exercise in reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

The study focused on specific physical activities such as resistance training, Pilates, postural orientation among others. It revealed that taking part in 20-minute resistance training sessions 3 times per week led to a reduction of  musculoskeletal pain felt in the shoulders, wrists, cervical, dorsal and lumbar spine.

You can encourage your staff to exercise by:

  • Conducting standing or walking meetings
  • Hire a trainer to come in weekly to conduct short fitness classes
  • Incorporating inexpensive mini-stepper devices in areas like conference rooms
  • Positioning trash cans and printers farther away to help your employees walk more steps

5. Advocate for Early Reporting

Employers should also encourage their workers to report cases of musculoskeletal disorders early.

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the most common symptoms of MSDs are:

  • Joint stiffness
  • Muscle tightness
  • Redness and inflammation of the affected area
  • Numbness
  • Decreased sweating of the hand

If an employee starts to experience any of these signs, they should report it immediately. Early intervention is necessary because it enables the victim to receive the necessary treatment  before the muscle tightness and numbness becomes a full-blown musculoskeletal disorder.

An important point to note is that MSDs develop over a period of time. This then means that it’s possible to nip the health problem in the bud before it gets worse.

6.Implement Organizational Changes to Eliminate Repetitive Tasks

As we mentioned earlier, one of the things that increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders is engaging in repetitive tasks.

During the course of work, most staff have very minimal influence on their speed, sequence of tasks and break schedules. For instance, for assembly line workers, retail cashiers, and those who deal in loading and unloading equipment, they cannot abandon their stations without being replaced by another individual.

This forces them into a cycle of repetitive work, which causes muscle fatigue. With insufficient recovery periods, the muscle fatigue often causes irreversible damages to musculature.

To prevent risk of MSDs resulting from repetitive jobs, introduce these organizational changes:

  • Shortened Job rotation- this is a structured approach of alternating workers between tasks. This means that the workers rotate between workstations or duties at shorter intervals, hence reducing exposure to the repetitive nature of the job.
  • Job diversification – this entails training your employees to perform an array of tasks that may be related or unrelated to their specific skill sets. Job diversification gives your workers opportunities to take part in non-repetitive tasks, which don’t carry any risk of MSDs.

Final Word

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates that one in every two Americans suffers from a musculoskeletal disorder. This goes to show just how rampant the health problem is.

Luckily, employers can take several measures to protect their workers from the risk of MSDs. Practical solutions include assessing the risk factors, providing breaks, fostering an active work environment and implementing an ergonomics program.

About the Author: George Chiang

George is the senior editor and ergonomist at Ergonomic Trends. You can find him hitting the gym or the yoga studio when he’s not working hard at a café as a digital nomad.

Uncategorized

How to Stay Safe When Working With Chemicals

Written by Liam Smith

Laboratory work can be dangerous and even potentially life-threatening. This is why safety is paramount in any environment that includes work with harmful chemicals. A great majority of laboratories experience spills every single week, despite safety protocol. The reason for this is that neither personnel nor management is completely familiar with the way they should handle dangerous substances. To increase safety in the workplace, you need to adhere to a set of common-sense safety procedures that will help keep chemicals in their containers and workers safe from harm.

  • Follow procedures to the letter.

While employees are never enthusiastic about having to deal with complicated protocol, it’s an essential part of safety in the workplace. It’s especially important when it comes to dealing with dangerous substances and caustic chemicals.

Always read through the instructions that come with any new chemical that enters your lab. This will give you a good idea of what you’re up against. If it’s something particularly toxic, you’re going to be notified and you’ll know to handle it with care. Countless accidents and injuries occur due to personnel not taking new chemical shipments seriously. This is easily remedied with a little light reading. Once you’re familiar with the chemical, you can follow protocol for this type of hazardous substance.

  • Wear protective equipment

Before you even come close to being in contact with any chemical agent, you need to make sure you have adequate gear that will protect you from any potential damage. If you’re familiar with the chemical in question, you should know the exact gear you have to use to handle it. If it’s a new addition to the lab, reading the instructions will often tell you what kind of protective equipment you’ll want to use.

Personnel sometimes disregard safety gear, whether it’s because there isn’t enough gear for everyone on a given day or the substance isn’t too dangerous. However, there are protective pieces you must wear when handling specific kinds of chemicals. Safety goggles are absolutely essential when working with flammable agents like acids and bases. There’s no telling when they might react with an unexpected substance in the environment.

Spills aren’t at all uncommon in laboratories and industrial settings, which is why having a protective coat is also crucial. Without one, you constantly at risk of exposing your skin to a chemical spill.

  • Keep it clean and tidy

A clean workspace is a safe workspace. Accidents and spills don’t just happen out of the blue. There are factors that influence the likelihood that a chemical will be mismanaged. The state of the work floor is one of them. A cluttered and dirty workspace can very easily cause employees to trip and fall while handling delicate chemical containers. When this is allowed to occur, spillages become more frequent.

Make sure that the work floor is given a thorough cleaning on a regular basis. Laboratories shouldn’t be too cluttered and overcrowded, as this only further increases the risk of an accident. Have adequate storage for paperwork and materials so that they aren’t kept in inopportune places. Bio-friendly detergents are recommended for cleaning, as frequent scrubs will increase the amount of harmful fumes in the air.

  • React swiftly

Working with chemicals always entails a certain level of risk. Even when every safety precaution is taken and protective gear is applied, it’s still possible for some exposure to chemicals to occur. In these scenarios, you have to utilize your training to prevent any serious damage from occurring.

Should a chemical find its way outside of its container and near personnel, make sure that employees can quickly find their way to a safety shower. Clearing the chemical spill should be your second priority. Utilize emergency spill kits to take care of most of the hazardous spillage and clean up the remainder of the substance that is left over. It’s crucial that the spill isn’t able to cause additional harm to personnel.

  • Label items properly
  • One of the first mistakes personnel make when dealing with hazardous chemicals is to delay labelling them. A lot of times, you’ll receive a shipment of chemicals that need to be transported, but they will have scarce labels or their next container won’t have any. This is something that is very easily remedied with something as simple as a sticky note.

Optimally, proper labels should be applied, which contain a handy message or symbol that will let other personnel know what they are handling. Delaying this process will only endanger the next person that has to transport the chemical.

Conclusion

Dealing with harmful chemicals is a dangerous, but necessary job. To prevent dangerous situations from occurring, management and cleaning crews need to make sure that personnel are given ideal working conditions where they aren’t likely to be injured. Even in the unlikely case of spillage and exposure to hazardous materials, there should be precautions in place that prevent things from getting out of control and causing significant injuries.

General Safety Issues

What Risks Are Associated With Lone Working?

It is generally accepted the lone working raised the risk profile of an employee, but what are the risks associated with lone working, and why is this the case?

According to the Health and Safety Executive, a lone worker is classed as anyone working without direct supervision of their supervisor or line manager.

Many people believe that just because a lone worker is paired up with a colleague, or surrounded by clients, they are not, in fact, lone working. However, this is not correct.

It is true that there is safety in numbers, and so a lone worker who is working with another lone worker is less vulnerable than those who are truly alone. Nonetheless, they are still without direct and immediate guidance or support from a senior colleague should they run into difficulty.

So, let’s have a look at what the risks of lone working are and who each one affects.

1) Abuse Or Assault

One of the risks of working alone that most people know of is being subjected to abuse or assault from the public, customers, service users, or sometimes even colleagues.

Lone workers, particularly those who deal with the public regularly are at risk of being verbally or physically assaulted. This is especially true if they are doing a job that involves people with complex or specific needs, or jobs that involve carrying out tasks that make people emotional.

Examples of job roles at risk of abuse or assault:

  • Professionals doing home visits, such as midwives, meter readers, or maintenance people
  • Probation and prison workers
  • Social housing staff
  • Hospital staff
  • Bus, train, or taxi drivers
  • Shop assistants
  • Teachers and nursery assistants
  • Bailiffs

What Are The Consequences Of Abuse Or Assault Against Lone Workers?

Abuse can take many forms and is a difficult risk to define. What one person finds threatening and upsetting, another may shrug off.

The way the ‘abuse’ is perceived will also be determined by the setting it happens in. For example, a jokey, off the cuff remark from a colleague will be perceived entirely differently from the same words said by an ex-offender on probation.

But whether the abuse was genuine or perceived, a lone worker on the receiving end will still feel the consequences, such as:

  • Physical injury
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Not enjoying their job

Lone workers are more vulnerable and susceptible to abuse and assault because if it did happen, they might find it difficult to remove themselves from the situation without ‘back-up’.

2) Ill Health

A lone worker isn’t more likely to injure themselves or be ill, but they are more at risk of the consequences of suddenly being taken ill or injuring themselves than anyone else.

This is true especially if the lone worker is truly alone for long periods such as:

  • Remote and home workers
  • Sales staff off-site
  • Field scientists or engineers
  • Farmhands
  • Warehouse staff
  • Haulage drivers
  • Security staff

Imagine that one of your team trips and bangs their head hard enough to knock them unconscious in a remote corner of the warehouse or farm. How long might they lie unattended before someone notices they haven’t returned?

Or they fall and sprain their ankle and don’t have a signal on their mobile phone. Unable to summon help, it could be hours before they are found. This leaves your colleague vulnerable to secondary risks.

Or, the worst-case scenario that I have known happen, a colleague has a heart attack and is unable to summon assistance.

Obviously, we all want to hope that nothing this serious ever would happen. But working alone does mean that if it did happen, help might just be too late.

3) The Environment

Some specific environmental hazards might come from:

  • Bad weather
  • Road accidents
  • Machinery
  • Remoteness (for example, getting lost or stranded)
  • Lack of phone signal

Why Are Lone Worker At Risk From Their Environment?

Lone workers are more vulnerable to their working environment than others because, again, they are less likely to able to call for help. More than this though, it could be a long time before anyone really notices they are not where they planned to be.

You might only check in with your lone worker each morning. If they became lost or stranded with no phone signal, it could be 24 hours before you realise, or at least 8 hours when they fail to return home.

If they did fail to return home, would you know where they had been specifically? Specifically enough to tell the police?

How To Protect Lone Workers?

Lone working is a health and safety issue and, as such, should be risk assessed and the risks controlled.

There is a guide and template to a specific lone worker risk assessment here.

This is the minimum you should do. You could also consider a lone worker policy, a buddy system, or even a lone worker device.

About Alicia:

Alicia has worked in the lone worker sector for over 10 years, helping organisations find the right solution to protect their staff from these types of hazards.

She is the Sales and Operations Director of First2HelpYou, a lone worker solutions provider in the UK.

General Safety Issues

5 Ways to Make Your Company Office More Secure

Workplace security is the process of protecting employees from injuries, illnesses related to work and intruders. Having a workplace security plan is important because it ensures that important information, equipment, data, networks and other company assets are protected. In the recent years, the rate of cybercrimes and theft has been on the rise.

Generally, a company office that is secure improves productivity and performance in the long run. This is because employees don’t have to work in fear of being intruded or losing their personal belongings. An organization that does not prioritize security will definitely perform poorly and end up with nothing in long run.

According to edubirdie review, a secure company office reduces the turnover rate. Employees will definitely leave a company office that is insecure. No one wants to risk his or her life for a job they can swap whenever they want.

Plus, high turnover rate is a huge expense for the organization because of the interviewing process and training. An organization that retains its employees will attract best candidates which will ultimately lead to improved productivity and performance.

Another important aspect is insurance. A research conducted by college paper review found that insurance is an important aspect of security in your company office. Enhancing security in your company office will reduce the amount of premiums you have to pay every year because the risk of employees being injured will be low.

Employees are the most valuable assets of an organization. An organization is not the office, furniture or equipment. An organization is the people behind it. Without your employees, there’s nothing much you can do to keep your company moving forward. So, isn’t it not wise to protect your employees?

For every company in the world, safety and security are big issues not only for the managers but for the employees and clients as well. All companies should have a security policy in place to avoid wastage of time and money in the long run. Security is a big issue because just like a car accident, you can never see disaster coming. It’s the person who has everything in check that will survive through a security breach.

How can you make your company office more secure? Here are five proven tips that will enhance security in your premises.

  • Organize and lock everything

Before leaving your office, it’s important to take a few minutes to arrange things on your desk. The same also applies to your employees. Ensure you’ve locked your computer to make it harder for intruders to access your files.

Also, lock confidential papers in a cabinet where children and intruders can’t have easy access. You should dispose documents that you don’t need on your table. A paper shredder can do this job for you perfectly. Once everything is organized and locked up, check the windows and doors and lock them if necessary.

  • Protect your data

As bestessayservicereviews reports, your confidential data is just as important as your physical property. It’s important for you to hold confidential information about your employees, clients and yourself on a secure server. You should also consider installing an antivirus, using a firewall and limiting access. There are tons of online software that can help protect your data quickly and easily.

You should keep all the important passwords private or hand them over to someone who you trust. You should avoid giving all your employees passwords because the risk of giving them out goes up higher. Once your security is compromised, it will take some time for you to reach the level you were.

  • Label office equipment

You should always label your office equipment with stickers or ID with your logo or inventory number. Keeping a comprehensive and updated list of all the items in your office will help you keep track of everything and maintain order at the workplace. Your employees will also have an easy time when looking for an equipment.

  • Identity badges

According to australian writing, all your employees should have their names boldly written on their badges. Identity badges are important especially if you have a big organization or hundreds of people coming into your organization every single day. You should also have identity badges for your clients. With these badges, you’ll know who is walking in or out of your premises.

  • Go for alarm systems

Adding alarm systems is one of the most effective ways to enhance security in your office. Installing alarm systems will prevent people with insidious motives to walk away.

People will be careful how they come in or go out of your organization because no one wants to sound an alarm and embarrass himself or herself. The best thing about alarm systems is they alert the authorities anytime criminal activity is traced. Thieves and trespassers will also avoid visiting your premises.

Additional Tip: Emergency plan

As the popular saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. You should always have an emergency plan in case things go haywire. If you notice any suspicious activity in your premises, you should not wait until the alarm goes on or the activity takes place.

Delaying can lead to serious consequences that could be difficult to reverse. You should contact the police or your office security immediately for the investigations to start.

Conclusion

Huge amounts of money are being lost every year due to security breaches. While you cannot be entirely secure or risk free, it’s important to do what you can to reduce the risks as much as possible. The more you protect your employees and other assets, the better your organization will be.

In case of any issue, you can always contact your security company or the police to avoid disaster. With the five tips discussed above, your company will be a safe place to work in. Go for these items today!

Author Bio

Michael Gorman is high skilled freelance writer and proofreader from UK who currently works at academic writing services uk and best assignment writing services. Being interested in everyday development, he writes various blog posts for dissertation writing services and paper writing service and discovers new aspects of human existing every day. He can be reached 24/7 via Facebook and Twitter.

General Safety Issues

9 Tips on How to Improve Your Workplace Safety Culture

Workplace safety is one of the most sensitive topics that employers must never neglect. When you run a company, you’re responsible for everything that’s going on, especially your employees’ wellbeing.

When an employee gets hurt, you may often get blamed for it because of your poor workplace safety culture. Many times, things can get nasty. Some employees will leave your company and sue you at the same time.

If there are more than a few accidents that are related to your company’s policies (or lack thereof), your brand’s reputation will also be damaged. In that case, finding new reliable and hardworking workers will be harder than you might think.

For these obvious reasons, you should treat the workplace safety aspect with a great deal of attention. In today’s post, you’ll learn 9 insightful tips on how to improve your workplace safety culture. Pay close attention and start applying everything you learn here!

Properly Document Your Safety Procedures

The documentation of your safety procedures isn’t difficult at all. The most important thing you have to do is keep your employees’ contact information updated in order for your managers to be able to immediately get in touch in case something bad happens. Nevertheless, other basic safety measure documentations include:

  • Ensuring that all the equipment is properly checked by performing regular routines
  • Making sure that vital information such as access codes are available to more than one person
  • Keeping all the sensitive information in secure places
  • Placing first aid kits in every department and making sure they are easy to reach
  • Changing the security passwords and codes on a regular basis

Moreover, you need to ensure that your company leverages reliable emergency disaster plans. If you’re not familiar with those or if you believe that they need to be improved, a wise move would be to hire professionals to do that for you. Some services I would recommend are:

Keep the Workplace Tidy and Safe

To reduce a lot of potential problems, try to keep your workplace as tidy, clean, and safe as possible. What you should aim to do is keep your landscape, buildings, and worksite neat and in good repair. A well-tended business is often avoided by thieves because it looks professional, and professional places are often well-guarded. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Keep boxes and furniture away from windows. In case of a fire, your employees will have big troubles escaping.
  • Keep all your windows and doors in perfect condition.
  • Implement safety signs and informational posters that will let the newest employees know what to expect.
  • Start relying on video cameras. Place them over all exits and entrances, but also in the rooms where you handle and store your money.
  • Make sure that you have exterior lights outside the building.
  • Regularly check your fences
  • Regularly repair your buildings

Help Fresh Recruits Understand the Safety Protocols

When a new employee joins the company, he should go through an educational safety procedure. That means that you or your manager should clearly instruct the new workers what they must and mustn’t do while establishing the expectations. Let your new employees know that you’re not encouraging or tolerating the principle of results over safety.

Involve Your Employees in the Process

Involving your employees in the process means giving them little responsibilities that can contribute to a safer workplace. For example, some of your workers should be responsible with the regular reassessment of the safety protocols, while others may be responsible for the behavior or work ethics of their colleagues.

Make Your Employees Reliable Whisperers

As an employer or manager, you won’t be able to see or hear everything that’s going on. For that reason, you should involve all your employees by asking them to report anything that they consider to be wrong:

  • Suspicious individuals that keep scouting the surroundings
  • Equipment that needs to be replaced
  • Slippery floors
  • Dark spots that need more light
  • Colleagues who are doing something wrong
  • Colleagues who are under a lot of stress

Adopt a Zero-Tolerance Policy Towards Bad Behavior

Toxic employees can do a lot of harm. They can induce stress and turn your other employees into sloppy workers. The cumulative effect of bullying and threats can lead to even more extreme behavior like violence. To avoid that, simply adopt a zero-tolerance policy in your company. Don’t be afraid to fire employees who don’t respect others!

Organize Safety Control Meetings

By organizing regular meetings where you and your employees or colleagues are assessing the safety-related events that happened during the past can give everyone the opportunity to learn how to act in future situations.

Moreover, by organizing these short meetings, you’re raising the expectations concerning the safety procedures that everyone must respect.

Establish Money Handling Protocols

If you run a business that is constantly handing cash, you might already be leveraging basic money–handling procedures. If you don’t, it is highly advisable that you start establishing strict rules for each of the employees that are handling cash.

Varying time and routes while depositing cash is one of the many safety procedures you’ll want to adopt. Establish exactly the amount of money that your employees can handle at any one time and make sure that they understand exactly how to record the documentation and reports.

Discourage and Punish the Employees Who Don’t Abide by the Rules 

When I used to manage an academic service that had specific rules, I had to fire my best essay writer. Why? Because he was constantly neglecting the company’s policies. Once I did that, the other employees have started to care more about the company’s rules.

Be firm and punish the employees who don’t really care about the safety procedures. Give them a warning first, let everyone know of their warning, and make sure to respect your word and cut them loose in case they commit the same mistakes!

Takeaways

A stable and well-organized company will always put its clients and employees first. By optimizing your safety procedures and plans, you’ll attract more reliable buyers in the close and far future. The health and continuity of your business are highly dependent on the way you handle the workplace safety procedures, so make sure you start leveraging today’s tips and tricks and get everything right!

Sharon is a business consultant and the best essay writer who works for https://bestessayservicesreview.com/bestessays-review/. She is also a regular blog post contributor and the manager of Dissertation Writing Services Review. She loves to sing, read, write, and travel.

 

General Safety Issues

Safety Tips For Those Who Work Around Conveyor Belts

Written by Eada Hudes

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/logistics-stock-transport-shipping-852935/

It’s true that conveyor belts and rollers can make the production process easy and smooth but there are certain risks that come along with it too. Just like safety measures in the workplace, there are certain safety measures that you must take while working around conveyor rollers.

Here are some of the safety tips to keep in mind while working around conveyor belts.

  1. Awareness

This is a safety measure that needs to be taken at the managerial level. Inform and make your workers or employees aware of the fact that conveyor belts can be hazardous and dangerous. Tell them that it is important to be careful while working around them. Educate them about the hazards and risks involved.

  1. Signs and Markings

Put up enough signs, warnings and markings so that there is a constant reminder of workplace safety near the belt conveyor. Informing your workers of hazardous zones and dangers with the use of sign boards and markings will ensure that they are aware of the conveyor belt dangers at all times.

  1. No Games

Make sure that everyone is well aware and warned that conveyor belts are no games and it’s completely prohibited to sit, stand or walk on conveyor belts. At times, workers may play games or just have fun with conveyor belts which can actually be very dangerous and hazardous.

  1. Check all operator controls

Assign someone to check the conveyor belt operator controls first thing in the morning before starting work so that the smooth operation of the same is ensured. The emergency stop button must work at all times because that is the first and foremost saviour, in case something goes wrong.

  1. Regular Maintenance

You must ensure regular maintenance of the conveyor belt because irregular and improper care of the conveyor roller can cause multiple problems with the smooth functioning of the conveyor and  result in more accidents.

  1. Workers’ Clothing

Workers have to be careful about the kind of clothing they wear around the conveyor belt and rollers because it can also cause accidents and hazards in the workplace. Advise them to wear tight and fit clothing instead of baggy attires and not to wear jewellery at the time of work. Jewellery like watches, bracelets, rings, earrings can easily get stuck in the conveyor rollers and cause mishaps.

Advise workers who have long hair to keep their hair tied and tucked under a cap. There are always chances of long hair getting stuck in conveyor rollers, so make it compulsory for everyone to wear caps and tie their hair if they are of shoulder length.

  1. Training

All workers who have to work directly with conveyor belts must be trained and educated properly. They must receive regular training to brush up on their operation and safety skills to ensure they are operating the machinery correctly and safely at all times.

  1. Signal At The Start Of The Conveyor Belt

There should be an audible signal that is sounded at the start of the conveyor belt to ensure that everyone becomes aware and knows that now the conveyor rollers are starting. You can also assign a staff member to make an announcement in the local language that everyone understands.

Conclusion

Safety around conveyor belts and rollers is extremely important to ensure that no accidents take place. There are different types of conveyor belts and each type poses a different kind of threat, hence there are certain precautions which are essential in a workplace that has conveyor belts and rollers around it.

General Safety Issues

Dangers of Intoxication in the Workplace

Written by Ellie Batchiyska

You’ve started to notice something about your co-worker. Some days they’re fine, cheerful, and on top of their work. On others, they’re slurring their words, seeming out of sorts, and having problems with basic cognitive tasks.

While it’s not unusual for someone to have an off day – maybe they didn’t get enough sleep, are sick, or taking a medication that’s affecting them — the signs of intoxication on the job are usually pretty telling. They include:

  • Lowered inhibitions (doing/saying things they normally wouldn’t)
  • Slurred speech (too loud or too fast)
  • Poor balance (struggling to get their footing)
  • Glazed-over, glossy appearance to the eyes
  • Nausea and/or vomiting

It’s easy to see how these symptoms of drinking can deeply impact work performance. However, it’s still a sensitive issue to address, and one that must be handled gently. It should immediately be taken to a manager or a Human Resources representative.

Risk factors

There are multiple risk factors for alcoholism in the workplace. Some of them can be issues in the individual’s personal life, but others can be direct changes in the work environment. These can include:

  • Extended shifts, and changing work environments
  • Isolation in the work environment; employees who have little contact with other coworkers, clients, or their work space is away from the majority of employees
  • Hostile workplace environment; an employee feeling bullied or harassed may seek out alcohol as a way to dull the feelings of depression or anger they feel at work
  • Lack of proper supervision
  • Changes to job; a change in department, expectations, or structured environment may lead them to feel unneeded or disvalued

In general, male workers between 14-29 years of age have the highest risk of showing up to work inebriated. Even more concerning, it’s more common in tradespeople and manual laborers in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction – fields where inebriation can have detrimental, or even deadly, effects.

Dangers inebriated employees can pose

Drinking can not only harm the employee’s productivity, but it can endanger them and their co-workers. Employees that must operate heavy machinery pose the largest risk. Being struck by an object accounted for 8.2% of construction worker deaths in 2017. This risk is already prevalent where heavy machinery exists, but even more so when that machinery is operated someone who is being cognitively stifled by intoxication.

Falls are the deadliest hazard in construction, accounting for 39.2% of deaths. Lack of balance is one of the biggest side-effects of drinking, meaning intoxicated employees are even more prone to this already widespread hazard.

Inebriated employees will make careless mistakes, especially in manual labor professions. According to the RAND Corporation, employees who drink alcohol at least three times per week are more likely to experience injury at work.

It sounds like common sense, but it is still so heavily overlooked. Many employees are afraid to report this behavior for the sake of workplace camaraderie, but reporting it to a manager or HR could save you (and fellow employees) from immeasurable harm.

Responsible drinking at workplace events

Maybe there’s a holiday or your company is celebrating a major milestone. As such, you may want to bring alcohol into the workplace. Nonetheless, you want to ensure things don’t get out of control and that everyone is drinking responsibly, but how do you do that?

There are a number of preventative measures that ensure responsible drinking in the workplace.

  • Hire a certified bartender. A certified bartender trained in the proper distribution of alcohol, and will remain objective and sober throughout the duration of the event. This means they can take the necessary measures to cut off individuals that have had too much, or contact emergency services if someone gets alcohol poisoning. They’ll also pour more reasonable portions.
  • Set drink limits. Don’t make it an “open bar.” Supply employees with drink tickets, and allow two beverages per employee. Or, have the bartender issue a stamp for each drink an employee buys.
  • Choose the alcohol selection wisely. Forego offering liquor at company events, and keep it at just beer and wine. Also avoid serving fruity, sugary drinks such as fruit punch, which can disillusion employees about the amount of alcohol they’re consuming.
  • Make sure you’re covered legally. Should an incident occur, make sure your company insurance policy will cover it. You might even want employees to sign off on a document before the event that reminds them they are liable for their own behavior and alcohol consumption.

We’ve heard “drink responsibly” on vodka commercials for ages, but some people have a hard time putting that advice into practice. Whether their intoxication on the job is a result of personal hardships or a one-time occurrence, it must be immediately addressed for the welfare of the company, fellow employees, and the worker in question. Although it may be an uncomfortable issue to tackle in the moment, you will be thanked for it by all those concerned later on down the line.

General Safety Issues

Learn Why Contractor Safety Equals Good Business

When you’ve been in the construction business long enough, you already know all the nuances, subtleties and shortcuts out there. You know dos and dont’s as well as priorities. And you absolutely know that keeping up with all the safety regulations is a must if you are a contractor.

The learning curve tends to get very steep for those who do not comply with these safety regulations. If contractors constantly neglect, ignore or fail to look after safety regulations, they are essentially in danger of running out of business. They are risking their careers greatly by putting the reputation on the line. And these records will not just go away as if nothing has happened if you choose to simply change the name of the firm and try to start over.

We are here to outline some of the consequences of keeping up or not following safety regulations strictly. They are directly connected with the success of you as a contractor or owner.

Everyone Should Be Held Accountable

Being an owner is not an easy task to fulfill, by any means. They carry a lot of responsibilities on their back since they need to concern themselves with potential risks of all sorts. Employees, tenants, property, and contractor all depend on the owner in one way or another, and she or he has to concern herself or himself with all of these things.

That’s why it’s crucial to make sure that the roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities are clearly defined. Demand only the best from the people you’re working with. Make sure to hire only the companies which have proved time and time again that they can carry out the task properly and satisfy the high standards by implementing the safety procedures and following the mandatory laws, among other things.

How Exactly Are You Saving Money By Following Safety Regulations Strictly?

A lot of contractors and owners try to cut costs by not complying with these safety regulations strictly. But what they are actually missing out and not realizing is that they are only losing money with this type of behavior – and not to mention that they are putting employees in great danger.

It is a common misconception that implementing and maintaining safety programs is both expensive and time-consuming. In reality, overhead costs and insurance and hidden costs of accidents are greatly reduced if the contractor implements various safety procedures such as fall protection, confined space entry, respiratory protection, hazard communication, etc.

If you are an owner, you just need to make sure that the contractor is fulfilling these regulations which are already mandated by law.

If You Are An Owner, Choose Only To Deal With ’Safe Contractors’

This is the main reason why you want to choose the so-called ’safe contractors’. They are the ones who put a great deal of time and effort in following all the safety measures and programs out there.

For instance, companies like Jonishan contractors in Sydney are a good example of how to do these things properly. This is something which eventually only works to your benefit as an owner. Be sure to remember that this is not only about your reputation, but also about saving the lives of employees and money.

The Contractor And The Owner Should Work Closely On Safety Issues

It is often said that good communication is the key to success. It’s really no different in this line of business as well. When both the owner and the contractor are working closely together, they should be on the same page all the time.

Make sure to create an environment where safety procedures are a number one priority. Continue to insist on following all OSHA rules and laws throughout the whole time. This really is the only way to maintain the status and reputation for the upcoming tasks. Be sure to remember that no business is really successful without tightly following the safety regulations.

Conclusion

If contractors are not making efforts to fulfill their obligations under OSHA or the rules of civil liability and tort law, they are not just jeopardizing their careers, but they are ultimately risking people’s lives. You simply cannot overly stress the importance of safety work regulations and laws. When fatal injuries at work sites happen as often as they do in this day and age, you simply must pay more attention to this burning issue.

General Safety Issues

Material Handling Safety Tips that Increase Productivity

Written by Liam Smith

When it comes to the issue of safety, most entrepreneurs focus on its effect on the wellbeing of their employees or the fear of a potential lawsuit that would come from an accident. What they fail to realize is the fact that safety tips and productivity tips end up being one and the same. With that in mind and without further ado, here are seven reasons why this is usually the case.

  • Ensuring that the load is secure

This simple safety tip is there to ensure that there’s no fall risk when it comes to materials that you’re handling, however, it also comes with a hidden productivity perk, as well. You see, if the material falls down to ground you’ll have to pick it back up and chances are that this won’t be as easy. Usually, materials come in containers or are on pallets that are supposed to make their picking up (for instance, with a lift fork) a lot easier. Picking it up from the ground may take more work and more time, thus causing a decline in productivity. Also, there’s the risk of damaging the material in question which causes a massive problem on its own. Therefore, the security of the load makes all the difference.

  • Compare the weight of the cargo to the carrying capacity of the equipment

One of the biggest losses of productivity comes from your plans to cut corners. In theory, the more you pack on the forklift, tow tug or a trolley, the quicker you’ll get done, however, what happens if the equipment crumbles under all that burden. In that case, you would either have to repair it or replace it, both of which take time and money. Other than this, the risk of a serious injury drastically increases this way, which means that, once again, safety and productivity go hand in hand.

  • The safest speed

Previously, we discussed the urge to wrap things up as quickly as possible. Now, there are scenarios in which this manifests in overburdening the carrying equipment and those in which people speed up in order to get things done. Rushing is one of the essential ingredients in a recipe for disaster. Even on foot, a person is less stable, less focused and less careful when they’re in a rush. Imagine just how much more dangerous it all is when a person is behind dangerous machinery.

  • Restricting access to hazardous materials

Another tip you need to keep in mind is that restricting access to some parts of your production facility with the help of useful safety barriers may also influence productivity. First of all, it creates optimal pathways within the complex, meaning that there’s no loss in downtime caused by an inefficient itinerary. Second, it eliminates the risk of an injury in a scenario where such a thing would increase with proximity to poorly stacked, mishandled or overall loosely fastened materials. Finally, it reduces the chance that someone who is undertrained will tamper with items that should be off-limits to them. Sure, this barrier is not an impassable obstacle yet it might dissuade your staff from accessing restricted areas.

  • Making sure that the person is trained for the job

Perhaps the most important safety/productivity tip of them all is to ensure that the person is trained for the job at hand. You see, an employee who failed to undergo a basic training lacks the knowledge to handle these materials properly. This means that other than being a risk for themselves and others, they also lack the knowledge on how to handle these materials with the greatest efficiency. By increasing the efforts that you put into your training process, you can make your workplace more efficient as well as make sure that the place is a lot safer for work.

  • Clear visibility

One of the main reasons why accidents happen is due to the limited field of vision of the person operating the machinery/handling the materials. The problem with this lies in the fact that a person might also injure others and cause damage to your assets. This is why you need to carefully examine the entire material-handling process and create an ideal scenario in which this leads to a productivity increase. Overall, what you need to do is make sure that the person operating the equipment has clear visibility of their surroundings. The way in which this affects productivity is more than obvious.

  • Make sure you leave everything in its place

The last thing you need to understand is the fact that if everything is not in its place it’s A) harder for you to find it and B) a safety risk. Think about it, ideally, everyone would look where they’re going all the time but chances are that people will sometimes govern themselves by their instinct and act as if they know where everything is, even when not watching. While this is unsafe, it’s something that you’ll never be able to completely root out.

In conclusion

    At the end of the day, an injury will also cause an employee to be absent from work, which will cause a substitute to fill in for them. Keep in mind that this substitute is, most likely, not skilled and experienced enough for the job at hand, which causes additional problems further down the line. Overall, handling materials in a safe and proper way are the optimal course both when it comes to safety and productivity.

Author Bio 

Liam Smith is a young and aspiring Australian blogger with a passion for everything related to home, and offline business 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

How EHS professionals can promote workplace mental health

As the debate continues over whether mental health should fall under EHS professionals’ responsibility, we look at both sides of the argument and find out the best ways to promote good mental health in the workplace.

On 6th June 2018, Safety+Health Magazine launched apoll titled Should Mental Health in the Workplace be Part of the Safety Pro’s Responsibility? Six months and 248 comments later, the results are nearly even: 52% respondents voted yes and 48% voted no. The poll is still open, but it’s far from a decisive result.
Should the EHS professional be responsible for worker mental health?

The question that’s divided the EHS community. In the poll’s comment section, there are a myriad of opinions.
One commenter wrote: “No the safety professional should not be responsible for the workers [sic] mental health issue. They can direct them to an [sic] HR representative if a concern arises. We are not babysitters.”

 

And another wrote: “As safety professionals. It is our duty to maintain a health relationship with all of our employees … If we as safety professionals are ignoring a person’s mental health, we might as well ignore all hazardous conditions that aren’t tangible.”

 


Screenshots of comments on the Safety+Health Magazine

At the moment, mental health and physical health are treated unequally under Health and Safety Regulations 1981, with a greater focus on the latter. However, despite mental unwellness being an “invisible” illness, its brunt can be felt in working environments.
How poor mental health can impact the workplace
It’s arguable that poor workplace mental health can cause safety risks. According to the World Health Organization, mental health problems can increase error rates and accidents, and result in substandard decision-making.

 

It can mean reduced productivity and working days lost. In the UK alone, 12.5 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2016/2017. Mental health problems can also present itself as physical conditions, including heart disease, ulcers and skin rashes – which may result in further days off.
And finally, poor mental health can result in bad working relationships and an increase in disciplinary problems.

 

But what is the economic impact? For UK employers, it costs £35 billion a year – that’s £1,300 for every employee. The largest portion of this cost is the reduced productivity of staff continuing to work with their mental illness, and the second largest is job turnover.  300,000 people with long-term mental health problems leave the workforce each year.

 

What causes poor workplace mental health?

 

One in four people will experience mental disorders at some point in their lives. At any time, 450 million people worldwide are suffering suffer from a mental illness – making it one of the main causes of disability and ill-health around the globe.

 

Anxiety and depression are the most common; and while stress is not a psychiatric diagnosis, but it is closely linked to mental illnesses. Mental health problems can cause stress, and stress can cause mental health problems or make diagnosed mental illnesses worse.

 

Workplaces can be a breeding ground for stress – up to a staggering 80% of American workers suffer from substantial work-related stress.

 

The following workplace factors can cause stress:
⦁ Long hours,
⦁ Overload of work,
⦁ Complex tasks,
⦁ Lack of variety,
⦁ Poor workplace ergonomics,
⦁ Unfavorable working relations and organizational culture.

 

In response to these undesirable work factors, the individual worker may experience the following:
⦁ Feeling unable to enjoy yourself/depressed
⦁ Having a sense of dread
⦁ Feeling neglected or lonely
⦁ Finding it hard to concentrate
⦁ Eating too much or too little
⦁ Smoking or drinking alcohol more than usual
⦁ Experiencing sleep problems
⦁ Experiencing headaches
⦁ Experiencing chest pains
⦁ Having panic attacks
⦁ Feeling irritable or aggressive

 

© Mind. This information is published in full at mind.org.uk.

 

Contrary to mental illnesses, employers are legally required to protect staff from workplace stress. HSE have a risk assessment document for employers to carry out and act upon if required.

 

How the EHS professional can promote workplace mental health
While mental health may still be in the pipeline for inclusion in health and safety regulations, there are still actions you can take.
HSE recently launched their updated mental health first aid guidance – mere days after business leaders submitted an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for legislation in protecting workplace mental health.

 

It is recommended to follow the HSE Management Standards approach in reducing workplace stress. Identifying stressors, then minimising or eradicating them will result in happier and healthier employees.

 

The Standards approach involves looking at six key areas of work design: demands, control, support, relationships, role and change. Poor management of these areas has been proven to result in poor health; lower productivity; and an increase in accidents and sick days.

 

Thriving at Work: The Stevenson/Farmer Review of Mental Health and Employers, designed six ‘mental health core standards’ to be used by all employers, regardless of company size and industry.
They advise to: develop a mental health at work plan; raise employees’ awareness of mental illness; have support available; provide good working conditions and people management; and monitor mental wellbeing amongst staff.

 

Mental health charity Mind have also published their own Wellness Action Plan for Line Managers, which you can access here.

 

One Barbour webinar invited professionals to discuss their workplace mental health initiatives. Each company cited the importance of developing a thorough mental health plan, then sticking to it. Employers must show commitment to get employees on board.

 

In conclusion
Whether or not you believe employees’ mental health should fall under the employer or EHS professionals’ responsibilities, there’s stacking evidence as to how workplace mental health and stress can carry an impact, not least as a safety risk.

 

As we are moving towards a greater awareness of workplace mental health, tools are out there to act proactivity. It is much easier for an employee to stay in work if the situation has not reached crisis point.

 

Mentally well employees mean a happy workforce with increased productivity levels and a reduced safety risk, plus a healthy economic impact. It’s time to act now and strive towards good workplace mental health.

About the author

Holly Callender is a Digital Marketing Executive at Pro-Sapien Software, an EHS Software solution on SharePoint & Office 365. Visit the website at www.pro-sapien.com.