In 2013, work-related injuries cost the Australian economy over $61 billion. Job site hazards slow down production, threaten worker safety, and hurt a company’s bottom line. You cannot afford to overlook safety. Take every precaution to maintain good standards for injury prevention. Regardless of the project you’re working on, failing to reduce unnecessary risks will have costly effects. Take a closer look at the top 7 job site hazards to look for and eliminate.

Working in High Places

Falling is the largest culprit of work-related injury. If the nature of your work involves operating in high places, the risks are even more serious. Using ladders and scaffolding may be unavoidable. But they present serious yet avoidable job site hazards. Each piece of equipment must be thoroughly inspected before use. Check the ladder for structural weight integrity and only use scaffolding equipped with the appropriate guardrails or toeboards. Make sure to choose the right sized equipment for the job at hand as well. Make use of body harnesses and safety nets as further precaution against a potentially deadly fall. Keep your workers secure with a combination of safety measures and they’ll be able to focus on bring productive.

Electrical Hazards

Misused extension cords are major job site hazards that can start fires, cause an employee to trip, and lead to all kinds of injuries. Be mindful of electrical issues when creating a safe work environment. Extension cords should only be used as a temporary power solution. If you’re relying on them for weeks or months on end, it’s time to develop a new strategy or reconfigure your space to allow proper use of electrical outlets. It’s also important to ensure that you’re using the correctly rated cord for the task. The heavier the gauge, the more power it will be able to supply without overheating. Likewise, your power strip may not be equipped for all the wattage you’re attempting to run through it. Just because there are available spaces doesn’t mean you should cram all your electronic equipment into them. Regularly inspect your power strips, extension cords, outlets, and breakers. Replace any damaged or worn out pieces.

Chemical Storage and Transfer

If your business uses chemicals for any purpose, you must be vigilant with your storage, handling, and transporting practices. Failure to do so could cause serious health problems and contaminate your facility. Familiarize yourself with the specific duties to manage the risks associated with using chemicals and create a safety plan that fits the needs of your company. Be mindful that chemicals affect people in different ways. Your workers should know about all the potential chemicals they may encounter so they can access their own exposure risks. Those with allergies or skin sensitivities may require extra protection. Keep an accurate inventory that includes the expiration dates of any chemicals in your facility to help safeguard against danger.

Repetitive Motions

The risks associated with performing the same task over and over again sometimes get overlooked, but the strain they can place on your body make them a serious job hazard. Many workers don’t realize their health has been compromised until an injury occurs. Employers must not miss these ergonomic trouble spots. Workers who sit for long hours, stand in uncomfortable positions, strain their eyes in bad lighting, or perform tasks requiring repeating the same physical actions are at high risk. To minimize their exposure, employers should allow employees regular breaks and consider job rotation strategies that engage different muscle groups throughout the day.

Failure to Inspect Properly

In general, a work environment will only be as safe as the people in it. Maintaining a risk-free space begins with those in charge. To avoid job site hazards, be a good safety leader at work. Close inspection is time-consuming, but it will prevent more costly errors and accidents. There should be a transparent and thorough process for making sure each piece of equipment works and is properly stored when not in use. Check for missing pins, loose screws, frayed cords, wet spots on floors, or any other potential hazard. Being proactive will help you manage your team better and increase productivity because you eliminate much of the worry about accidents before they happen

Poor Upkeep

Similarly, failure to maintain good standards of cleanliness and order is a major job site hazard. Clutter that blocks exits, shelves haphazardly stacked, and neglected spills all create opportunities for disaster. Insist on cleanliness in your facility and you’ll eliminate a major safety risk. Train workers to handle their own messes without relying on the sanitation crew. Make sure your employees are properly trained to manage any cleanup that requires more than basic practices. Display the contact information for biohazard removal or any other specialty service that may be necessary.

Failure to Wear Proper Safety Gear

Hard hats, harnesses, goggles, and gloves must be worn every time a job requires them. Create a culture of safety by insisting on observing routine precautions. Don’t allow your employees to become so comfortable in their day-to-day tasks that they neglect these practices. Even if the job in front of them is quick or seemingly routine, there is no room for shortcuts. Similarly, don’t sacrifice safety for speed. Make sure everyone is operating equipment in the manner and at the pace it was intended. Complacency is one of the most frustrating and entirely preventable job site hazards. Hold yourself and your staff accountable for valuing safety first.

Eliminate Job Site Hazards

We believe that safety matters most in creating a productive work environment. Our mission is to reduce workplace injury by providing the best safety solutions to a wide range of industries. As a family-owned business, we care about your needs just like you care about all your employees. And we’ve been able to apply our personalized customer service to some of Australia’s largest companies as well as small businesses. Don’t let workplace safety issues set your business back any longer. Browse our catalogue to check out our vast selection of safety solutions and contact us to see how we can help you.