Workplace Safety Hazards: How to Prevent Them

Workplace safety should never be an afterthought as it helps prevent accident-related injuries and ensure the safety and well-being of employees. Making it an integral part of your company’s culture also guarantees higher productivity.

However, strict compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) training standards and observance of sensible precautions can help prevent workplace accidents and injuries. Here are several of the most common workplace safety hazards you should be aware of.

1. Slips, Trips, and Falls

Uneven floor surfaces, loose cables, and wet floors are workplace hazards that can increase the risk of tripping, falling, and slipping, which lead to injuries at work. These mishaps can result in costly lawsuits, where the injured person seeks legal compensation with the help of a qualified Peterborough injury lawyer.

However, workplace injury caused by slipping, tripping, and falling can be easily prevented by strict observation of safety regulations. Keep in mind that it is every employer’s responsibility to ensure a safe working environment for their employees.

Prevention:

  • Ensure cleanliness of the surroundings at all times
  • Clean up spills
  • Put equipment properly back into its place
  • Improve lighting system
  • Provide workers with slip-resistant footwear

2. Machinery and Tools Hazards

The use of machinery and tools are common in the construction and transportation industries. Lack of training, use of faulty equipment and vehicles, defective products, and negligence of stipulated safety precautions can cause accidents in the workplace. Be sure to provide employees with regular safety training in Oshawa.

Prevention:

  • Organizations must perform regular risk assessments.
  • Perform routine maintenance of tools and machinery.
  • Replace faulty parts when necessary.
  • If your company involves transportation of goods, be sure to service your truck regularly or book a truck repair in Milton to ensure the safety of the driver.
  • Provide incident report forms in every department.
  • Use appropriate personal protective equipment at all times.
  • Conduct regular training on the proper use of machinery and tools.

3. Electrical Hazards

Electrocution often results from faulty and out-of-date wiring and improper use of extension cords. Damaged electrical cords without insulation can also be an electrical hazard.

Prevention:

  • Always look for broken cords, uninsulated wires, and exposed electrical circuits in the working area.
  • Never use faulty electrical equipment.
  • Ensure workers to wear PPEs in the working area.
  • Detach electrical equipment from the power supply before working on them.
  • Create a prompt system to report and document incidents of electrical shocks in the workplace.

4. Exposure to Toxic Substances

Exposure to toxic substances (either by skin contact or inhalation) can cause harm to one’s health. Sawdust, asbestos, insulation, gasoline, paint, and other harmful substances can pose health risks.

Prevention:

  • When the job involves handling chemicals, enforce the wearing of PPEs in the working area.
  • Create a work roaster to limit workers’ exposure to harsh and toxic substances.
  • Use safety review forms to monitor daily employee safety.

5. Fire Accidents

Poor housekeeping standards and lack of equipment maintenance can result in fire accidents. Devastating fire incidents not only damage buildings and stocks but also put the lives of the workers. Follow safety precautions to prevent it from happening.

Recognizing potential hazards is the first step to preventing a fire outbreak. Here are several fire hazards to look out for:

  • Faulty Electrical Equipment: Electrical fire is often the cause of many workplace fire accidents. It can be destructive and difficult to contain as it spreads quickly spread.
  • Clutter: Fire outbreaks can also frequently happen in untidy work environments. Poorly ventilated areas and littered inflammable materials can cause fire accidents in the workplace.
  • Combustible Materials: When using combustible materials, make sure to take extra safety precautions. Improper handling of these materials can increase the risk of fire outbreaks.

Prevention:

  • Create plenty of fire exits in the workplace. Fire exits must be appropriate to the size and composition of the building.
  • Install fire alarms, smoke detectors, and extinguishing systems.
  • Never place inflammable materials near electrical outlets and power circuits.
  • Implement routine compulsory fire drills.
  • Inform your supervisor about fire hazards using an incident report form
  • Never overload power circuits.