3 Safety Measures You Might Be Forgetting

Don’t forget, safety first!

Sometimes the simplest of procedures get shoved under the rug and forgotten. Hopefully these tips can be helpful reminders for getting your safety measures back on track.

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is essential to minimize exposure to hazardous materials, chemicals, and/or machines in a work environment. Common PPE consists of gloves, safety glasses, shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, coveralls, vests and full body suits.

• What needs to be done to ensure the best PPE practices are in use:
  1. Make sure all PPE is clean and reliable
  2. All PPE should fit comfortably to help encourage employee use
  3. Worker should be trained to know
     • When it is necessary to use their equipment
     • What kind of equipment is necessary
     • How to properly put it on, adjust, wear and take off equipment
     • The limitations of the equipment
     • Proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the equipment

2. Occupational Noise Exposure

• Choose low-noise tools and machinery (e.g., Buy Quiet Roadmap (NASA)).
• Maintain and lubricate machinery and equipment (e.g., oil bearings).
• Place a barrier between the noise source and employee (e.g., sound walls or curtains).
• Enclose or isolate the noise source.
• Hearing protection devices (HPDs), such as earmuffs and plugs

3. Worker Fatigue

With almost a quarter of Americans spending over 40 hours a week at work and almost 15 million working full time on evening, night, rotating or other irregular shift work schedules may cause workers fatigue. See what OSHA says to address these hazards within the work force.

• Know the signs of fatigue
  • weariness
  • sleepiness
  • irritability
  • reduced alertness, lack of concentration and memory
  • lack of motivation
  • increased susceptibility to illness
  • depression
  • headache
  • giddiness
  • loss of appetite and digestive problems
• Limit extended shift and increase of days employees work
• Plan to have an adequate number of personnel available in order to enable workers to take breaks, eat meals, relax, and sleep
• Plan for regular and frequent breaks throughout the work shift.
• employers must ensure that employees are not exposed to hazardous chemicals or other agents in excess of health standards.

The workforce is very taxing and can be a toll on employees physical and mental well-being. These simple tips and guideline may prevent workers injuries and keep your employees productive and efficient.

By: Paul Roxas

Source: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/index.html