Shortcuts at work are your worst enemy. Allowing shortcuts in the workplace reduces its overall safety and increases the risk for your workers. Both are potentially costly and will hurt productivity and profitability.
Maintaining a safe workplace can be difficult and confusing. However, there are regulations and best practices to follow, and it’s up to you to determine which of these makes sense for your facility.
Although there are plenty of safety shortcuts that can make improvements in your productivity and add to your company’s bottom line, it’s not worth the risk. And it’s easy to convince yourself that it’s your responsibility to ensure that your business is profitable.
However it makes good business sense to ensure that all your employees are taking the proper safety precautions and not using dangerous shortcuts that could lead to injuries, or worse.
Why shortcuts at work are your worst enemy
Here are a few of the most common safety shortcuts at work that you should eliminate right now:
Lifting without help
It takes extra time to find someone to help with a lift or to retrieve a piece of equipment to do the lifting. Instead, some guys (yes, it’s usually guys) will attempt to lift something that is beyond their limits, and that can result in a severe back injury.
Using the wrong tool
Some of your people may be tempted to take a shortcut by using whatever tool is handy, rather than taking the time to get the right one. For example, one of your workers notices a nail head is protruding but doesn’t have a hammer handy. So, instead of fetching one, he or she uses an adjustable wrench to pound it down. Doing this exposes both the individual and the wrench to needless danger.
Neglecting regular cleaning
Sometimes you will be inundated with work, and keeping the shop clean will either be glossed over or avoided altogether. Failing to sweep up debris and clean up spills as they occur can lead to costly workplace accidents. Also, make sure that you wipe down all safety signs so your workers can always read them.
Skipping lunch and breaks
It’s not only the cleaning that gets ignored during busy times, but your people will sometimes skip over their breaks as they try to catch up. While this might sound like a productive idea, it isn’t!
Taking breaks helps your workers to relax, and it allows their mind and body to recover, both of which make them more productive and safer when they return to work.
Failing to provide follow-up training
Many companies give their new hires the training they need for the job. There may or may not be extensive safety training. If there is, it’s usually a once-and-done safety shortcut. While it’s essential to have safety training initially, it also needs to be refreshed and updated regularly. It’s the most effective way to keep everyone focused on safety for their entire employment at your facility.
Looking for More Safety Tips?
For more tips on avoiding safety shortcuts in your facility, thus ensuring a safe workplace, check out our workplace safety posts here.
