By definition, accidents are unintentional. No one wants them to happen, least of all office managers or business owners. The responsibility for these industrial accidents falls on the shoulders of the project manager and the business owner. That is why most construction projects, for example, will require their workers to follow safety precautions and wear safety gear. These reminders are not only for the protection of the workers but for the business, too.
When handling cartridge heaters, for example, workers should be wearing heat-resistant gloves. How do you make sure that your workers follow such guidelines? In the haste of doing their work, many of them may forget to put on protective clothing. Those who have worked in the industry for long may also feel invincible. They know how these things go, after all. They feel untouchable.
But no one’s untouchable when it comes to accidents. One minute, you’re standing on a rail and shouting instructions to other workers; the next, you’re free-falling because a cable has snapped. Although accidents are unintentional and unforeseen, they can be prevented. According to studies, many workplace injuries are direct results of not following safety precautions.
Keep the Workplace Clean
Simply making sure that the cables are kept away from the walkway will diminish the probability of accidents. Messy and cluttered work areas create a hazardous environment for the employees. Putting everything in proper order and places will ensure that the workers can maneuver in and out of the area.
Be Conscious of Safety
The government created a guideline for safety measures that have to be taken in the workplace. Find the particular guideline suited for your industry and follow it to a T. Make sure that your workers are also being guided by these rules. Make this guideline a part of your onboarding process. Post a copy of it on every corner of the room so that the workers are properly guided.
Hire Skilled Workers
Skilled workers demand higher compensation than non-skilled workers. Hiring managers may be compelled to hire non-skilled employees to save on costs. But most of the time, employees get prone to accidents because they are not suited for the jobs they are doing. Matching people skills to the demands of the job is important in reducing the chances of accidents.
Demand Discipline and Accountability
Workers should also be responsible for the safety of others. When workers don’t follow safety measures, they also put their colleagues’ lives on the line. Also, take disciplinary action against those who flout safety measures. There should be warnings and, in the worst cases, terminations if they continue to ignore safety precautions.
Check Machines and Equipment
There’s a periodic maintenance schedule for your equipment and machines. Making sure that you follow the schedule for testing and repair will reduce the chances of accidents in the workplace. It seems such an obvious thing, but many companies refuse to spend on the maintenance of the machines.
Many workers do shortcuts because they are too familiar with the jobs that they shrug off these precautionary measures. Do you know the best way to get their attention? It is to incentivize them when there are zero accidents during the quarter. This is a good way to encourage them to follow the safety guidelines.
