5 New Year's Resolutions for Improved Workplace Safety

With a new year right around the corner, there's no time like the present for employers to analyze their workplace safety policies and procedures. Each year, some 2.9 million men and women are injured on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While many of these injuries are minor, involving nothing more than small cuts and bruises, others are more severe. Regardless, employers should prepare for the new year by following these safety resolutions.

Provide Workers with Safety Equipment

Safety equipment isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide all employees with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). So if a respiratory is needed for a worker's job, the employer must provide him or her with it. Make sure your employees have the appropriate PPE for their jobs.

Encourage Reporting

Workers should also be encouraged to report safety hazards and injuries, as doing so reduces the risk of future injuries. Unfortunately, many workers turn a blind eye to hazards and injuries, choosing not to report them. But if the employer doesn't know about a hazard, how is he or she supposed to fix it? Reporting and safety go hand in hand, which is why workers should feel comfortable about reporting such hazards in the workplace.

Maintain Clean Floors

We've talked about this before on our blog, but it's worth mentioning again that slip and falls are one of the most common types of work-related injury. Whether it's same-level or elevated-level, slip and falls are an all-too-common occurrence in the modern day workplace, resulting in tens of thousands of injuries each year. But the good news is that most incidents of slip and falls are easily prevented by maintaining clean, obstruction-free floors.

Maintain Equipment

Equipment and workplace safety are closely related. When equipment and heavy machinery isn't properly maintained, it creates a serious hazard for the workers whom use it. So, go through your equipment and ensure it's properly maintained.

Identify Common Injuries

Not all workplaces are susceptible to the same types of injuries. Construction workers, for instance, are probably more prone to slip and falls, while electricians are more prone to electrocution. This is why employers should take the time to identify the most common types of injuries in their respective workplace. Only then can employers make the necessary changes to prevent such injuries from occurring.