Maintaining Worker Safety is Everybody’s Job

In the time it takes you to read this paragraph, five people will be hurt on the job so severely that they’ll miss a significant amount of time from work. They might require life-saving surgery, extensive physical therapy, or just bed rest and some aspirin, but they won’t be on the job. That puts the burden of doing their work onto you and your already busy co-workers. Thankfully, there are things you can do today to dramatically reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illness—even if you’re “just” an office worker…an admin…a mail clerk…or maybe even a CEO.

According to the National Safety Council in 2017, workers were injured on the job at a rate of one every seven seconds, which led to a total of 104,000,000 lost production days for American businesses. Just that stat alone proves why worker safety should be a top priority for every employer.

This Thursday, September 26, 2019, is Mesothelioma Awareness Day so today we’re going to examine some of the most common workplace safety hazards as well as some that might be affecting you at the very moment, and you may not realize it.

More importantly, we’ll discuss how YOU can be a vital part of maintaining a safer workplace so you and your co-workers can stay happy, healthy and on the job.

Beware the most common workplace hazards

Work-related disabilities happen most often by:

• Misuse of equipment and tools
• Trips, slips, and falls
• Damages in buildings that can cause breaks and exposure

Maintaining proper procedure and a safe work environment saves time, money, and increases productivity. It is crucial that your company set strict rules and regulations on the job site to protect you and your co-workers no matter what industry you’re in.

You don’t have to be in construction or heavy manufacturing to be at risk. Office workers have their own issues they need to be aware of even if it’s a little more mundane than operating a crane while building a skyscraper.  

Equipment, tools, trips, and falls

Cleanliness is a key factor here, as messy workplaces can contribute to accidents on a job site. Do you have boxes stacked up in an unused office or on that empty desk in your area that resembles a rickety Leaning Tower of Pisa ready to topple over? Or, are there tools lying around that should be stored in a specific and safe spot? I once worked in a warehouse as a teenager that was a breeding ground for open box cutters lying on shelves. We order fillers could have easily cut ourselves reaching onto a shelf for products, but we were lucky.

Never leave tools laying out and once a machine is done with for the day, remove the keys and return them to their designated area. All employees should be respectful of the workplace in order to not misuse anything, which could lead to further harm.

In 2016, the National Safety Council reported that nearly 700 workers died as a result of falls and that 48,060 workers filed for a workplace-related injury due to slips, trips and falls that were severe enough to require time off. And don’t think the fall has to happen from a higher level to a lower one because 134 of those 700 fatalities were falls and slips that happened on the same level.

Reduce the risk of falls, slips, and trips by clearly marking potentially hazardous areas and educating everyone who might travel through them about being safe. Label the areas where foot traffic occurs the most and keep them free of clutter.

Building breaks, damage, and exposure to asbestos

Further, the actual building architecture and space may be conducive to occupational hazards. Those in construction, home renovation, and other demolition work could be prone to coming in contact with building materials that are toxic. Testing any material prior to these jobs is key to enacting safety measures.

Asbestos was a popular additive for insulation and drywall between the 1920s and 1980s. However, the asbestos mineral was later found to be the source of mesothelioma. This cancer is primarily associated with occupations that deal with building construction and for people who are in the military or in industrial factories and plants.

For workers who find themselves handling asbestos-contaminated products, or who are located in factory or construction sites, they should be highly cautious. Asbestos, undisturbed, is harmless, but contact with these fibers could make them airborne. Once they are inhaled, they stick to internal organs. This then leads to tumors, but as mesothelioma does not reveal itself for 10-50 years, by the time it is discovered, most people don’t have a long life expectancy. Since this is preventable, the time to end asbestos exposure is now.

There’s more than asbestos to be wary of, however

Along with this, most paints predating the 1980s contained lead. You may be thinking that 40-year old paint might not be much of a hazard, but you’d be surprised how many older buildings still have lead paint in them. The problems arise when the paint starts to peel, chip and flake off and lead-filled dust floats through the air. And yes … it’s still a problem in 2019.

Other hazards include heavy metals, dioxins and mold which may cause major conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease and more. Short-term illnesses include fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, or even more critical defects including damage to blood vessels.

Safety wear

After introducing and reviewing these occupational hazards, companies can be proactive in avoiding issues by offering facial masks or respirator masks if the workplace has environmental problems. Inhalation of dust and other construction materials has been linked to respiratory issues. They can also issue protective eyewear and construction helmets. Employees should always wear protective equipment when danger or potential danger is present.  

What to keep in mind

Management should administer and fulfill these regulations. They should be transparent and accommodating to overcome occupational hazards. Rules should be explicit for employees to follow, and there should be an open discussion about the dangerous conditions of these environments to improve the welfare of workers.

Often, work efficiency becomes prioritized over work safety, which can lead to expensive disasters or even get in the way of a corporation’s productivity. Although this will mean more employee training and regulation meeting attendance, it’s worthwhile in the long run.

Some companies have designated safety officers to oversee these actions, whereas others leave employees in charge of their own health. In general, the best practices for employee health include training materials, safety evaluations, and other programs to highlight safety innovation. 

Mesothelioma Awareness in the month of September

Mesothelioma Awareness initiatives intend to inform others about the hazards of asbestos exposure, especially with the health and safety of employees. As mesothelioma is preventable, corporations should be conscious of any products or places that could expose workers to this destructive mineral. Despite what you may think, the U.S. has not entirely banned asbestos use and the current administration in the White House has rolled back previous regulations.