Home » Safety Best Practices 101

Safety Best Practices 101

As you audit safety practices in your workplace, consider the following:

  • Fall protection—Injury and death rates from falls are on the rise worldwide so–if you focus on one safety area this year–plan to step up your fall protection efforts, particularly if it’s deemed a high risk in your profession.  Keep in mind, though, that with the graying of the workplace, falls becomes more of an issue in any workplace.  Provide wellness classes that focus on core stabilization to guard against these easily preventable falls due to weakness.
  • Hearing protection—While studies indicate that hearing loss rates remain constant, experts point to the fact that fewer people being employed accounts for the decline in workers’ compensation cases.  Keep those earplugs handy–and your efforts to protect workers’ hearing robust!
  • Respiratory and vision protection—In general, accident rates in these areas are holding steady or declining.

Safety manager’s responsibilities are likely to escalate in the years ahead as a result of global corporate consolidation and a rising tide of regulation.  Focus efforts in the areas below which have proven most effective:

  • Shift your workload to vendors.  That’s right: identify vendors that provide built-in record keeping, safety promotions, site hazard identification, program development, and training.  This will free you up to focus on the other components of a successful safety plan.
  • Obtain PPE for workers that is reliable, comfortable, well-fitting, and well-designed.  Sourcing Personal Protective Equipment that meet these criteria is the best way to keep workers safe.
  • Look for vendors with diverse product lines that can meet most or all of your needs.
  • Work closely with upper management.