Look around your office or factory floor – does everything look safe?
Even if so, you may be missing some of the most common workplace hazards, many hiding in plain sight. This list of the top five workplace hazards will help you recognise hidden dangers and most importantly, help you get rid of them.
Workplace Hazards
- Chemicals – Sure, you probably have any caustic chemicals used in your products or services labelled and stored safely, but what about your cleaning products? Common cleansers, detergents and drain clearing solutions can have health consequences when stored improperly, and when leaks happen they can make people very ill – especially when they vapourise and/ or mix together. Treat your cleansers with as much care as you would treat a bottle of arsenic – make sure they are labelled, stored upright and in a safe location.
- Fire – Quick, do you know where all of your fire alarms are located? Do you have extinguishers in every room, and have they been serviced recently? Do all of your staff members know exactly what to do in the event of a fire? Chances are, you answered “no” to at least one of these questions. Remedy this immediately in order to mitigate risk.
- Electrical Hazards – While anyone who works directly with electricity will be familiar with safety procedures, but what about any other employees? Are they well versed in how to treat open wires, extension cords and electrical outlets? Host a training session in order to ensure everyone is clear on how to avoid electrical hazards.
- Falling Objects – If you have any objects stored at or above head level in your office, warehouse or workspace, you need to be vigilant; these can fall and potentially injure (or even kill) a person below. Make sure that all objects are tightly secured and that your employees know how to safely retrieve them, and that they wear appropriate safety gear when doing so.
- Leaks and other tripping hazards – Just a few millilitres of water on the ground can be a potentially fatal tripping hazard, and so too can just one tangled electrical cord. Have cleaning staff pay special attention to all floor surfaces, and instruct employees to pick up all detritus and rubbish from the ground.
