Despite all the effort that is put in place to train and educate the workforce to operate in a safe and hazard-free environment, in reality, nothing can replace common sense and a conscientious attitude when trying to prevent or avoid a workplace accident. Even with the tools in place to record incidents and efforts made to avoid repeating the same steps that resulted in an accident or physical injury, there still remain inherent risks.

The work environment can be charged with a sense of urgency. People are rushing from point A to point B. New employees may perform tasks that have known risks without utilizing the proper safety equipment. Yet, even with all the precautions that can be put in place, human complacency tends to lull us all into a state of unintended carelessness that may have an impact on ourselves or an unsuspecting third party.

A best practice is to assign the duties of safety officer to one employee who maintains a safety log intended to record any incidents of accident or injury. Workplace safety rituals should be in place to provide training and help to educate employees so as to avoid the most obvious hazards, such as those commonly found at construction sites. At a minimum, holding monthly safety meetings where safety memos can be distributed to elucidate the more insidious hazards, or those specific to the workplace, is one way to ensure that the level of importance on the subject remain high. Safety posters with high visibility are another front-of-mind effort to keep the subject prevalent.

Another best practice is to work clean, regardless of the job classification. Cleaning up messes as you work reduces the chances of being hurt as a result of limited workspace due to clutter or debris, despite potential slip and fall hazards; the most common cause of workplace injury. Always be mindful of the condition of the floor, particularly around water sources or after mopping. Use of highly visible caution signs is recommended to warn persons approaching from any direction.

Keeping walkways clear of clutter sounds easy but the natural tendency is to fill the empty spaces without considering egress. Access to emergency exits must never be compromised by careless stocking or messy methods. Employees watching out for each other are by far the best method of maintaining a safe and hazard-free workplace. That extra set of eyes that catches the mishap before it happens is never annoying when it prevents harm.

If there isn’t someone placed in charge of identifying the known risks, then all the employees should be apprised of how to safely perform while on the job. Foot fall hazards are often overlooked until someone takes a tumble, such as the one or two boxes left by the delivery guy or the pile of electrical cording that one can step into far more easily than they are able to step out of. Optimal safety measures are those adhered to by all members of an organization. The daily challenges of the regular work day will also go more smoothly when the effort is made to keep a safe working environment.