The Top Tips to Prevent Injury at Work

Slip or trip accidents maybe seen by some as a comical event but these figures show how slips and trips in the workplace can have catastrophic consequences:

1. 2 people suffer fatal injuries in the workplace every year as a result of slips and trips
2. Slips and trips account for over 34% of all major injuries in the workplace
3. Following 20% of injuries an employee will be absent from work for over 3 days
4. Accidents in the workplace cost employees a massive 368 million per year in lost production and other costs

Most slip and trip injuries occur in the food and drink, repair of consumer goods and vehicle industries. However, all types of workplace and industry are affected by this type of injury with most slips occurring due to poor housekeeping. Solutions to the problem are often simple and cost-effective.

These include, Planning. Effective management systems in place can identify risks and goals can be set to make improvements. This can include selecting equipment and work practices that contain slip and trip hazards and if possible prevent them occurring.

Organisation. Getting workers involved in and committed to reducing risks is a great way to help reduce risks. This can involve giving people responsibilities to make sure that areas of the workplace are kept safe. It is also important to make sure all staff members are aware who is responsible for each area.

Control. Keep records of cleaning, maintenance and repair work and encouraging good health and safety practices will also go some way to help reduce risk.

Monitor and Review. Keep an accident book and look at it on a regular basis to learn from incidents that have occurred. This way you can see what happen, why it happens, identify trends and make suggestions for improvements.

Examine slip and trip risks. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommend a multi step way to deal with risk management when dealing with slip and trip risks including looking for hazards around the workplace such as uneven floors, trailing cables and areas that are sometimes slippery due to spillages. They also suggest you should also decide who might be harmed and how including not only staff by visitors to your workplace.

Another step includes considering the risk and deciding whether you already have precautions to deal with the risks and recording your findings if you have 5 or more members of staff.

Finally, the HSE suggest a regular review by undertaking a risk assessment and if any changes take place make sure that precautions are in place to deal with the risks.

Communication. Communicating details of risk management to staff and having systems in place to deal with accidents is crucial. People in change of health and safety need to make sure your key employees know who to contact in the event of an accident happening whilst making sure tools to aid communication are in place.

Modern businesses including factories are ideal for communication tools like Two Way Radios and Walkie Talkies. Not only do these allow business owners and staff to keep in touch but they can also save companies money as once the handset has been purchased there are no rental or call charges.

Two Way Radios which are ideal for the workplace include the excellent Kenwood TK3201 which is a robust, portable and highly reliable way for business to stay in touch and stay safe. 2 Way Radio Technology which is available from the likes of Apex Radio Systems Ltd is used by schools, factories, universities and leisure centres to name but a few and the reason why is because two way radios like the Kenwood TK3201 gives them an affordable and highly effective communication system.

Reducing and dealing with injuries in the workplace is vital and by following these tips and taking advantage of the technology that is now available the workplace can be a safer place than ever before.