Darren Pawski

Workplace safety should be one of the main priorities for any company. Aside from generating revenues, companies should be mindful of how they should take care of their greatest assets–their workers. As technology continues to develop, there are lesser work hazards that occur every year. However, this should not be an excuse for firms to be lackadaisical about their workplace safety standards.

According to Hunter Law Group, a known personal injury attorney Tampa, here are some interesting workplace safety statistics that companies should take note of:

• 41 percent of workplace injuries are caused by operating vehicles or machinery – relatively common for delivery businesses and manufacturing, these workplace injuries can be easily prevented by attention to detail and regular maintenance of equipment.
• Falls are the most common workplace accidents in the construction industry – since most workers do jobs on multi-story establishments, falls can be quite common. A way to prevent this is to provide safe scaffolding, walkways and give safety gear to all workers.
• The most non-fatal injuries include breaks, cuts, and bruises – workplace injuries like these can still require medical assistance. It can be costly to a company if the injury is severe as most workplace injuries are shouldered by whole or in part of the employer.

As we understand more about workplace injuries and how to prevent them, personal injury attorney Tampa company Hunter Law Group suggests these 5 practical ways to improve workplace safety in your company.

5 Ways To Cheaply Improve Workplace Safety

1. Installing rubber mats to avoid hard surfaces

One of the most affordable ways to prevent severe injuries during slips and falls is an installation of rubber mats. In some companies, purchasing puzzle mats will do, but others would require the installation of custom-cut rubber flooring. This is helpful for companies in healthcare, childcare, manufacturing, and other industries that involve a high risk of people coming in contact with the floor surface. Rubber mats help provide an insulation in case a person falls to the ground, and will prevent injuries compared to having regular flooring.

2. Placing poster instructions for handling equipment

Posters are a great, cheap and informative way to help orient your workers and even clients on how to proceed with safety when handling equipment. This is especially helpful for first-time workers who may not easily learn the ropes through demonstration. Some workers are hesitant to keep on asking for help even when they need to because they don’t want to appear incompetent. Provision of instructional posters can help them memorize the steps that they need to take in operating equipment or practicing safety guidelines while in the work area.

3. Placing reminders on equipment and workplaces

Quite different from the posters, reminders in workplace serve as a cautionary measure to help workers proceed with safety in mind. For example, you may give reminders that certain surfaces are hot and shouldn’t be touched with bare hands. This can be done in the form of placards or stickers near the equipment or on the equipment itself. These simple reminders help employees become aware of the work hazards which prevent workplace injuries.

4. Providing appropriate gear to all workers by buying in bulk

For some industries, giving reminders and posters will not be enough. You need to provide safety gear such as helmets, vests, gloves and even shoes so that workers will be ensured with utmost protection when doing their job. To help save in these protective gear costs, you can try to purchase them in bulk from a single supplier. This will incur lesser costs in the long run, especially if you have a high volume of workers.

5. Having regular drills for emergencies and first aid response

Another way to prevent further losses due to workplace hazards is by scheduling regular drills. Fire drills, emergency drills, earthquake drills, and other skills such as basic life support can help workplace injuries become less severe. When your workers are prepared, they can be better equipped to save themselves and others in an event of an accident. Doing drills will cost nothing much, and basic life support training is a great investment.

By following these affordable methods for workplace safety, you can prevent the severity of hazards in your company.