No matter where you work, or what your job role is, it is always important to feel safe and happy in the workplace. It is a proven fact that we all perform better at work when we feel completely safe and secure, without the worry of an accident or injury.
Some roles may automatically feel safer than others, such as working in an office. Others may have a sense of risk or danger around them, such as working on a construction site. However, we can all do our bit to feel more safe and happy at work, without very much effort at all.
Take Note of Warnings and Signs
Your workplace should already be set up with health and safety warnings, and signs, to help prevent accidents.Many laws state that there have to be signs and posters for things like:
- Fire safety
- Near dangerous chemicals
- Around heavy equipment or machinery
- To warning of high voltage electrics
You may notice other signs around your work, depending on the type of industry you work in, but these will be the main ones encountered on a daily basis.
Take some time out of your working day to get accustomed to all of the warning messages, signs and posters, dotted around your workplace. Don’t just skim read all of the fire safety messages, or walk past the high voltage electrics signs; really have a proper look.
When you’ve read them all you will feel as though you’re prepared for any kind of emergency, probably a lot more than anyone else! This will help you feel a lot safer at work, which in turn will make you feel happier too.
Look Before You Leap
It may seem like a really obvious thing to say, but just looking where you’re going can prevent so many accidents in the workplace! There are nearly a quarter of a million injuries at work, in the UK, the majority of these being slips and trips.
It could be due to a wet floor, a bag someone has left in a walkway, or just tripping over your own feet. Nearly half of all these injuries result in people taking 3 days off work, normally due to spraining or twisting a muscle.
Although a few days off work might seem like a great idea, it tends to be more hassle than it’s worth! Over £13 billion a year is lost due to work related injuries such as this, which has a long term impact on our quality of life.
When we’ve tripped or slipped at work we then feel unsafe and unhappy upon returning, which can make us feel really negative. Staying vigilant around the workplace will help stop those little falls and keep us feeling positive at work.
Protect Yourself
Depending on the industry you work in, you may have access to a whole range of protection equipment. Use it! There are millions of people in the UK who suffer from work related diseases such as:
- Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
- skin diseases
- respiratory diseases
- and even asbestos related diseases
This is why there are now tighter regulations on supplying protective equipment such as ear plugs or noise cancelers, goggles, gloves and even full body suits.
The equipment is there for a good reason and can stop you from suffering with work related diseases later on in life. There are around 4,000 asbestos related deaths in the UK every year, as well as another 8,000 occupational cancer deaths too. It may sound daunting, but hopefully it will make you realise that protecting yourself is vitally important at work.
If you’re not provided with the right safety equipment then make sure you ask for it. If you’re still not provided with it then you can refuse to work and even take the company to court over their actions.
Remember, staying safe at work can help prevent accidents, injuries and illness. Not only that, but it will make you feel so much happier and positive at work, knowing you’re not in any danger or putting yourself at risk. A happier day at work means a happier evening at home, which certainly can’t be a bad thing!
My name is Dominic. I work at Axiclaim Solicitors, we help people who have become victims of an unsafe working environment. Thanks for reading my post; I hope that it helps to prevent any accidents in your workplace.
Fire training courses teach how to use firefighting equipment like fire extinguishers, how to activate the fire alarm, and how to work as a team, as well as learning what one’s own responsibilities are.
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