WORKPLACE ACCIDENT PREVENTION: EVERYONE BEARS RESPONSIBILITY

When it comes to accident prevention in the workplace, you are your brother’s keeper. You have a responsibility to make sure that the co-workers around you, or those who use the same tools, equipment or materials that you do, are not injured because of your negligence. Furthermore, to make the workplace as safe as possible for everyone, all workers need to keep their eyes open for any dangerous situations in their midst.

Keep the following in mind to make your workplace as safe as possible:

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• Warn a worker who is in a dangerous position. Sometimes inexperience can cause a worker to perform a task in a manner that might result in injury. If you see this happening, don’t just explain to your co-worker what he or she is doing wrong; demonstrate the right way to do it.
• Call attention to a task if a worker seems distracted. Conversation and noise can present serious distractions. If a co-worker seems not to be paying attention to the task at hand, go over and try to gently re-focus his or her attention.
• Set a good example. Always use tools and equipment in the intended manner. Never joke around when handling tools or equipment. Remember, younger co-workers can be influenced by the behavior they see in their older peers.
• Keep machine guards in place. Machines usually have moving parts that might accidentally come into contact with a worker’s body. When this happens, the worker can be killed or maimed. Machine guards prevent contact with moving parts during the normal operation of the machine.
• Report tool/equipment defects to your supervisor. Continuing to use a defective tool or piece of equipment instead of reporting it could result in possible injury to you or a co-worker.
• Encourage co-workers to report every injury. Sometimes an injury that seems insignificant can escalate down the road. If an accident is not reported at the time it occurs, it might not be covered by insurance if it is reported at a later date.
• Encourage co-workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Your employer provides PPE so that you will be protected. Always wear it if it’s necessary for the task being performed. Ask co-workers to wear it as well.
• Ask questions if you are confused about what you have been asked to do. Never perform a task unless you are completely sure of the correct way to do it. Ask your supervisor to show you the proper method.
• Take safety suggestions in the cooperative spirit in which they are made. Co-workers are responsible for each other’s safety. If a suggestion is made about the way in which you are performing a task, don’t respond with anger. Instead, thank the co-worker making the suggestion for caring enough about your personal safety to take the time to correct you.

When all workers look out for themselves and others, everyone’s safety is enhanced.

SAFEGUARD YOUR HANDS FROM WORKPLACE INJURIES

You probably aren’t aware of how complex a piece of equipment your hands are. There are a total of 27 bones in your hand and wrist. These bones are joined together by ligaments, which also hold the joints in place. Nerves carry messages from your brain to your hands and fingers to help them move. All of this intricate machinery is wrapped up in a layer of skin. The skin provides a barrier against foreign objects, as well as heat and cold. The skin on the back of your hand is thin and elastic, but on the palm, it is thicker to provide traction, cushioning and insulation.

Just like any other delicate piece of equipment, your hands need to be safeguarded while you are working. The most common sources of injury stem from mechanical hazards from tools, equipment, machines, structures and vehicles such as:

• Chains, gears, rollers, wheels and transmission belts
• Spiked or jagged tools
• Cutting, chopping and grinding mechanisms
• Cutting tools such as knives and presses
• Falling objects

You can make your hands less vulnerable to these risks by following these safety tips:

• Work at a pace at which you feel comfortable - The number of hand injuries you will have is in direct proportion to how quickly you work.
• Keep alert - Stay focused on what your hands are doing whenever you are using tools or machinery.
• Use a push stick to feed a circular saw.
• Handle the tools and equipment you work with properly - Never take shortcuts.
• Use wrenches that properly fit the nuts and bolts you wish to tighten.
• Use long magnetic poles for retrieving items from places that are too dangerous for hands to reach.
• Don’t hold the work piece in your hand while using a hand tool because the tool could slip and cause injury.
• Never try to repair power tools or machinery without first checking that the power is shut off and the machine is locked out.
• Wear the appropriate gloves when handling chemical substances.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use special cleansers, especially after direct contact with a chemical substance.
• Don’t wipe your hands with chemically contaminated rags.
• Don’t operate machinery if you are taking any medication unless your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. Some drugs can slow your reflexes, which makes your hands vulnerable to injury.

RELY ON YOUR BRAIN POWER FOR ON-THE-JOB SAFETY

Everyone has heard the old adage “Experience is the best teacher.” Although it’s true that you remember what you learned from an experience, especially a bad one, you might not like the other consequences that are part of the learning process.

This is especially true when it comes to on-the-job safety. Learning from a bad experience usually involves injury, and sometimes death. This shouldn’t have to be the case. But unfortunately, not exercising proper caution and not paying careful attention can lead to these outcomes.

You probably hear a supervisor tell you or your co-workers, “Be careful,” or “Pay attention” any number of times during the day. The next time you hear those words, stop a minute and think of all the reasons you should be careful. Then follow that supervisor’s advice, so you can avoid having an accident that might be the last thing you ever learn.

You might be thinking, “I’m experienced, I don’t have accidents.” If you are, you’re setting yourself up for a bad learning experience. Accidents happen when you least expect them, and no worker, no matter how experienced, has any special immunity from having an accident. That’s why it’s so important to follow safe work procedures. They are designed to help you avoid the causes of possible injury while getting the job done correctly. That’s also the reason your employer provides you with personal protective equipment (PPE), because using it prevents or minimizes the probability that you will be injured.

Always remember your brain is your best defense against injury. Let it remind you to:

• Follow proper work procedures at all times. Never take short cuts, even if you think that they will save time. All of the time you save will be lost if your short cuts cause you to be injured.
• Concentrate on the task at hand. That means giving it your full attention until it’s completed. Avoid any kind of distraction, such as talking, or joking around with co-workers because they can result in your being seriously hurt.
• Use PPE whenever appropriate. Be sure it fits correctly, and that you wear it in the manner it was intended.