4 Key Topics for 2019’s National Safety Month
June 19, 2024
4 Key Topics for 2019’s National Safety Month
Discussing workplace safety is something that every company should regularly do with their employees. As National Safety Month quickly approaches us, what better time than now to take the opportunity to review some important issues? This year, there are four key subjects: hazard recognition; slips, trips, and falls; fatigue; and impairment. Each of these topics contribute to the safety of your employees, machines, and general workplace—and through strategies and initiatives, you can majorly improve these aspects of your organization.
1. Hazard Recognition
In industrial workplaces, there are often many hazards around. It’s critical to know how to identify them, as well as prevent them from occurring in the first place. Hazard recognition training is something that each organization should conduct, especially if your workplace has a variety of machines, tools, or other items in it. You should always be collecting information about workplace hazards, inspecting your facilities, and identifying potential health hazards, too.
2. Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common causes of injury and death in the manufacturing, industrial, and construction industries. It’s no wonder why these types of accidents are a key topic for this year’s National Safety Month. Fall prevention is extremely important—and there are many ways to include it in your workplace. From proper safety equipment to essential training, you can help your employees create a safer facility while minimizing the risks associated with falling. It is also important to be OSHA compliant to prevent citations or fines associated with not following the rules and regulations.
3. Fatigue
Getting enough sleep can be a difficult task. Arguably, it is one of the most important things for our health. Being sleep-deprived or fatigued can have many repercussions in our day-to-day lives, especially if you need to be fully alert at work while operating machinery. According to the National Safety Council, more than 43% of workers are sleep-deprived—with those who are on the night shift, working at irregular times, or working long hours being most at risk. This is a major concern in the workplace as safety decreases the more fatigued you are.
4. Impairment
Something that isn’t as commonly talked about in the safety world is impairment. This could be being impaired at work, while driving, or operating machinery. Most often, impairment comes from the use of alcohol—but can be influenced by drugs as well. Being impaired at work or while operating machinery is very dangerous—not only for yourself but for others around you. As an organization, you need to make sure you are consistently emphasizing the importance of coming to work fully alert in order to reduce risks associated with impairment.
Safety Strategies & Initiatives
As we take a glance at what the key topics are for this year’s National Safety Month, it’s important to discuss strategies and initiatives that will reduce these risks and safety issues within your own organization and workplace.
Utilize Proper Equipment
Using quality safety equipment and accessories can help to prevent falls in the workplace, safeguard your machine operations, and reduce several other risks. Having the proper equipment is a critical first step in reducing hazards and preventing injury or death in the workplace.
Regular Formal Training
Training is arguably one of the most important tools you can use to protect your employees. Without proper training, your workers won’t know how to use machines correctly, be able to recognize hazards, or execute the correct plans and procedures for safety. Training should never just stop after the first time either; it should be a continuous process that’s updated as new best practices arise. This will help to ensure that the information provided is constantly fresh in the mind of each employee.
Incentive Programs
To improve safety within the workplace, consider implementing an incentive program. Incentivising safety will encourage employees to maintain a cleaner, safer work environment. Your incentives could be anything your employees might find rewarding, such as extra vacation time, working half-days, or gift cards. Conduct a survey to see what might be the most appealing incentives for your specific organization.
Educate on Certain Topics
Continuous education is critical for safety and can benefit your organization in many ways. With this year’s safety topics, there are many subjects you should be educating your employees on. Throughout the month, consider using each week to focus on a different key topic. You can host lunch and learns, seminars, or other activities to provide information about each subject in a more engaging and enjoyable way.
Facilitate a Fatigue or Impairment Management Program
If you find that fatigue or impairment is a major issue for your organization, having some sort of management program could benefit you. Forming mentoring programs, conducting surveys, or hosting different educational events are all great options for managing these two issues. Keeping these programs voluntary will ensure that you’ll have participants who truly care about the topics and want to improve upon them.
Safety Solutions from Stronghold Safety Engineering
Celebrating safety never stops here at Stronghold Safety. With dedication and passion, you can protect your employees and equipment while maximizing productivity. From machine guarding assessments to fall protection services, our industrial safety services will help you develop a customized safety solution that fits your business and production goals. If you’re ready to get serious about creating and maintaining a safer workplace, contact us today!