Worker safety is important for businesses of all sizes. Every company wants to protect its employees from any potential danger that may occur while on the job. Mishaps can happen anywhere and at any time. The cost of worker injuries can also be high. 

According to the National Safety Council, work-related injuries cost $163.9 billion in 2020, so it is important for businesses to have a plan in place in case of an emergency.

In this article, we will explore worker safety solutions that businesses can use to keep their employees safe.

Why Should You Make Workers' Safety a Top Priority?

No matter the kind of organization, its size, or its sector, worker safety is essential. Companies risk losing workers, customers, and income if they don't take worker safety seriously.

In addition, if workers aren't taught how to keep themselves safe, there is a high risk of injuries and even fatalities occurring on the job. So, it’s important to ensure workers’ safety at work.   

Here are some worker safety solutions that can be very helpful for you to keep your workers safe.  

1. Conduct a Risk Assessment of the Working Conditions

Before implementing any safety measures in your workplace, perform a job hazard analysis to identify what risks your workers may face. 

This analysis will help you identify and prioritize safety concerns and determine which safety measures may be most effective at reducing those risks. For example, by reviewing available data on slips and falls, you’ll be able to determine that the most effective safety measure at your facility would be to install a slip-resistant floor surface.

2. Make Use of Technology

Using safety technology to monitor and track your employees’ safety and efficiency can save lives and reduce the likelihood of future incidents.

SafetyIQ's technology provides businesses with a systematic way to ensure the security of their workers. SafetyIQ offers an additional level of protection through automated processes that reduce human error/reliance on human input and improves reaction times in emergency situations.

SafetyIQ offers excellent worker safety solutions in every industry. It provides powerful safety features such as journey management, digitised risk assessment, seamless communication, and more. By enabling remote employees to manage real-time reactions, the SafetyIQ system helps to reduce the number of traffic accidents, injuries, and hassles.

Cost-effective and simple to implement, SafetyIQ fosters efficient human resource management for businesses of all sizes. 

To Know More About SafetyIQ Or Request a Free Demo, Click Here.

3. Identify the Objectives of Safety Measures

If you don’t know what your safety goals are, you cannot be sure that you are consistently staying compliant with OSHA. Determine your top priorities for safety, and then map a way to measure your progress towards them. This requires a consistent process, so be sure to start with a blank slate.

This process must be ongoing, as you’ll need to evaluate your compliance every day. If you have multiple goals, make sure that you are evaluating just one goal at a time.

4. Make Sure Everyone has the Necessary Protective Gear

Another key worker safety solution is safety equipment. Employees should be provided with the appropriate safety equipment for their jobs, and they should be trained in how to use them properly.

When workers are in the field, they’re going to encounter hazards that aren’t necessarily visible to the naked eye. When they do, they can’t afford to rely on their sense of sight alone. In the case of chemical spills or other dangerous chemicals, they may have to wear a PPE that doesn’t permit any direct contact with the environment.

OSHA requires that companies make sure their employees are protected from hazards and are equipped with the right tools to do the job, and there are other requirements that employers must meet.

For example, employers must provide face and eye protection for jobs that require high-risk exposure to dust, chemicals, or other airborne particles. If your workers are going to be exposed to a high-consequence risk, they need to be protected.

5. Conduct Frequent Safety Training Sessions

One of the most important worker safety solutions is training. Employees need to be trained in how to safely perform their jobs. This training should include general safety information, as well as specific instructions on how to safely operate any equipment that the employees may use. In addition, employees should be trained in how to respond to emergency situations.  

According to OSHA regulations, workers must get training sessions at least yearly. In some industries, there may also be exceptional situations that demand more frequent training. 

You’ll need to train your employees on the specific equipment they’re using to do their jobs, and you’ll also need to retrain them if they don’t understand or if there are any changes to their job requirements. 

If you regularly train your employees on the importance of safety, you’ll see a dramatic improvement in their knowledge and skill level. This will make them more confident in their abilities to identify and react to potential safety risks, and more likely to share this knowledge with colleagues if they see an issue in the field.  

Create a safety manual and make sure to inform your employees regularly about it. The company’s safety manual should be updated as new regulations or industry standards are introduced into the marketplace. 

6. Identify Potential Danger Areas and Mark Them

Designated areas that are to be used by authorized personnel only should be clearly labeled. Any signage that is placed should be visible and easily understood. Some industries have designated areas that they don’t want other personnel to enter.

For example, a hospital may have a specific area for patients to enter and a separate area for healthcare workers to enter. These areas need to be clearly labeled.

As long as there is a hazard present in these zones, the owner of the business is likely to be held responsible for any accidents that happen in these zones. This is because the owner has a duty of care. 

7. Ensure that all Emergency Exits Are Accessible

It’s important to keep emergency exits clear and accessible in case of an emergency. While it’s tempting to use a fire extinguisher or some other kind of emergency tool when you’re in a hurry, it’s important to remember that those are only effective for a short time. Be sure to make sure everyone is aware of the emergency exits, and that they know how to use them.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your workers safe is important. There are many ways to keep your employees safe, and these are just a few of the most important. Maintaining a strong workplace safety culture, following the OSHA regulations and standards, implementing a safety manual, regular training sessions, and ensuring emergency exits are accessible are all important steps to ensure your workers' safety. 

If you’re interested in implementing some of these safety practices, it’s important to find the right safety solutions for your business.  

Contact SafetyIQ today to learn more about worker safety solutions.