Every day you go to work you have the right to a safe workplace. If you feel like this is not the case, then you should speak to a legal consultant. You may have a case against your employer if your health is at risk. Your employers are due to look after you when you are at work, but you should also look to play an active role in this so that you and your colleagues remain safe throughout the day. Here are a few things that you should expect from your workplace in order to remain safe.
Reporting unsafe conditions
You can be unsure if you should report unsafe conditions and hazards in the workplace to your superiors. You may have fears that either you or a colleague will be in trouble. However, this behavior is not conducive to the work environment and increases the chance of an accident. You are expected to report all unsafe conditions as soon as you see them help protect you and your co-workers.
Keep a clean work area
You should avoid having your workspace cluttered at work. Only have the tools that you need in your workspace and store the rest away safely. A way to keep organized at work is to clean up after any task that you have completed. You can sanitize the area and clean up any spillages that may have occurred. If your workspace is not cleaned regularly then you will likely create a slip, trip, or fall hazard. These account for around 35% of injuries in the workplace every year in America.
Wear your protective equipment
It may seem obvious, but it is important to remember that you should always wear the personal protective equipment provided by your employer. It can be easy to feel too comfortable at work and forget to wear your equipment, but this is a huge risk when you are at work. No matter how inconvenient it is to wear it, even if you are only doing a quick job, put it on. This is essential to being safe in the workplace.
Take breaks
Some of the most common accidents happen at work due to workers being overworked and tired. You need to take your breaks so that you are rested and recharged when you are working through your tasks. Tired team members are a risk not only to themselves but to you as well. They are not able to focus on the task at hand and maybe even hurt themselves when they are using dangerous tools. This is particularly true if you are a driver of a heavy vehicle. Make sure to rest yourself no matter how busy you are.
Staying safe in the workplace
Nobody goes to work expecting an injury. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that some people leave for work one morning and never return. If you don’t want to be like this, then you need to look after yourself. If you feel your space is not safe, then speak to your supervisor. If they do nothing, then speak to legal advisors.