If you have any concerns about Health & Safety within the workplace or if you observe anything which you think may cause injury, it is important to report your concerns to your supervisor or Health & Safety manager.
Slip, Trips and Falls - Things to be aware of around the workplace:
- Be vigilant at all times and remember, even the smallest of defects can lead to a hazard, which has the potential to cause personal injury. If you need to move around your work place, for example walking from one building to another, don’t rush or run as this can lead to accidents and injury.
- Keeping corridors and doorways free of obstruction will help to avoid injury to work colleagues and visitors who may be unfamiliar with the layout of your work place.
- Make sure all spillages are cleared up straight away. If it is not possible to clean an area before others approach, make sure visible signs are put in place to warn others of the hazard.
- If you have any suggestions that will improve the layout or safety of an area of work or public meeting place you should make these known to your supervisor or the person in charge. By doing so you will be protecting yourself and others around you from the risk of personal injury.
Personal Safety
As well as having a responsibility for our own personal safety, we also have a duty to do what we can to ensure that others are protected from the risk of hazard in the workplace.
- Eye protection is one aspect of worker safety that is so often overlooked. It is just as easy to make sure that everyday tasks are carried out safely to prevent injury and damage to eyes as it is to perform a task without paying proper attention to safety procedures.
- Workplace assessments are used to ensure that the layout of your work space is ergonomically designed to be comfortable and an effective and safe place for you to work in. These should include posture, seating arrangements and setting the correct distance from your seating position to your computer screen.
Here are just a few suggestions about what we can actively do to protect ourselves.
-
Don't stretch for an item that is out of reach, use a step ladder or a platform instead.
-
Avoid carrying out tasks that you have not been trained for.
-
Always ask for help from a work colleague if an item is too heavy to lift by yourself.
-
Be aware that trolleys and carrying or mechanical handling equipment should be provided by your employer.
-
If you are uncomfortable about undertaking any task, ask a colleague for help.
-
Make sure there is adequate light to carry out everyday tasks.
-
Make sure natural light does not reflect off computer screens.
-
Ensure that proper attention is given to the humidity levels in the workplace. These should be at a range of between 30-70% to avoid irritation to eyes.
Electrical, Flooring and Furnishing Hazards
Hazards of all kinds can be found lurking in and around the workplace so it is important to be aware of some the more common of types of hazards that cause personal injury. These can include:
-
Loose or trailing wires
-
Damaged, defective or broken electrical sockets
-
Flickering lights.
-
Lifts or creases in carpet flooring
-
Loose or worn flooring or tiling
If you are concerned about any issues that may affect your safety at work, you should contact your line manager or your Health and Safety officer who should be in a position to provide advice and assistance.