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Erika Remmington
Erika Remmington has written 7 articles for SB Informer.
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Six Common Workplace Hazards All Business Owners Should Know About

Erika Remmington

October 14, 2014


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If you are a business owner or manager, you have a lot of responsibilities to fulfill, and you likely wear a lot of hats. There is one area that many find easy to overlook, and that is employee safety. While we all find ways to take shortcuts to get the job done more quickly, your employees could be engaging in dangerous behaviors, and, if they get hurt, it could cost the company thousands of dollars as well as a hit on your reputation. There are six common workplace hazards that you should be aware of and take measures to prevent.

1. Office Politics

Communication is key to ensure an efficient working environment; however, when office politics are allowed to escalate to a violent manner, you run the risk of employees engaging in physical violence. While this may seem extreme, it happens more than you might realize. To circumnavigate this potential danger, it is a good idea to require all employees to go through training to help them understand how to both recognize and deescalate these scenarios.

2. Muscle Strain

You should learn to understand the various job duties each of your employees perform. For example, if someone spends more than half of their day typing reports at the computer, they run the risk of developing muscle strains. Repetitive motions, even if done sitting down, can cause back pain, and this not only reduces productivity, but it also gives your employees less incentive to be at work. Hold a training class on ergonomics and ensure all new hires are also trained.

3. Working With Machinery

If you are the manager in a factory setting, there are numerous dangers all around the building. Before allowing employees to work on the floor, they should be extensively trained on the handling of equipment. Furthermore, they should be required to wear protective attire such a steel-toed boots, earplugs, and hardhats at your discretion. It is helpful to show your employees photos of what happens when precautionary directives are not taken to truly express the severity.

4. Random Hazards

Regardless of whether you work in an office, factory, or outdoor setting, it is the responsibility of management to ensure that the workplace is free from obstacles that can create potential for workplace injuries. For example, tables and chairs situated in a walkway create a great opportunity for a foot injury. Teach employees to keep their work areas free of obstacles and perform regular maintenance to ensure the office is free of obstacles.

5. Keep Gravity in Mind

Head injuries can be severe, and they can cause significant damage to the victim. One of the most common causes of head injuries in the workplace is falling objects. Whether a book falls from a high shelf in an office setting or something falls unexpectedly at a construction site, it is important to take precautionary measures. Ensure that anything high off the ground is positioned safely, and, if necessary, require the use of hardhats.

6. Number One Workplace Concern

Of all the workplace injuries, overexertion is consistently the most common. The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index reported that it makes up 3.4 million of injury benefit dollars every year. Make sure you are offering your employees regular breaks and pay close attention to those who appear fatigued, overheated, or unusually slow.

This old adage certainly rings true when it comes to workplace hazards. Not only do you want to avoid expensive situations, but you also want to ensure your employees are safe and happy, and these six tips can help you achieve both.

Information credited to Torbet & Tuft.


                   



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