Health and safety tips for the workplace

Injuries at work are a common occurrence and on average, two-four people are seriously injured at work in each state. Some even lose their lives. Each year, thousands of workers file compensation claims for work related injuries and illnesses Medical care and wage replacement for these injured workers amounts to billions of dollars annually. The indirect costs to the worker are even larger. Some may be permanently injured, others may have a poor quality of life, others may go bankrupt and the business may close. To prevent work related injuries, there is a great effort by the Occupation Safety and Health Association (OHSA) in preventing work related injuries. OSHA has put forward numerous rules, polices and regulations and strictly enforces these polices. While all the polices are too numerous to mention, there is a certain onus on the employer and the employee to use common sense and judgment at work. A safe and health environment is of benefit to both parties.

The basic foundations to a safe and healthy environment should include a program for accident prevention, Personal Protective Equipment, First-Aid, and Hazard Communication Program.

It is important that in every workplace there are manuals on prevention of work related injuries. These should include materials for respiratory protection for those who work with dust, eye and face protection for those who work in the presence of fumes and chemicals and hearing protection for those who work in conditions of loud noise. There should be a monitoring system implemented to sample the sound intensity and duration.

In any work environment, hazard communications is essential. Accident prevention signs or symbols should be placed and hazardous areas should be marked as such. In any working environment where there is a potential for injury, the employees must know CPR and First aid training. In the absence of a health care facility within a few minutes of the work place, it is essential that there be someone who can administer first aid.

And last but not least, if possible the employer should provide for ergonomically designed furniture to prevent injuries from sitting on cramped chairs and working on the computer.

This article was written on behalf of Claims for you who deal with injury claims and road traffic accident claim