During the first half of 2019, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported a dip in workplace-related fatalities compared to minor injuries sustained while at work. While no one ever anticipates accidents at work, it’s always best to stay prepared. Here are some ways to ensure you’ll stay safe while earning a living:
1. Have a healthy lifestyle outside work
While we devote only a third of our lives at work, what we do outside the four corners of our jobs affects our job’s disposition. Try these workouts and hobbies for a change:
- Going to the beach
- Jogging or taking long walks
- Volunteering at a community
2. Stay abreast of your company’s latest safety policies
When it comes to ensuring the ultimate workspace, your company would know the best way to protect their employees. Hazardous working environments require suitable equipment and warning signage in strategic areas. Several label-printing services in Singapore can provide visible signs to warn people about off-limit areas in their workspace.
Read your handbook and attend the company’s safety workshops so that you can be aware of their safety policies and procedures. These workshops have simulations and supervised demonstrations to prepare everyone for emergencies. Your company should equally provide updated safety equipment, along with the development of the latest technologies at work.
3. Be entirely aware of your working conditions
Your working environment depends on your location’s weather. This is applicable, especially when your job entails outdoor work. This is why zoning adjustments are also necessary.
Consequently, there will be adjustments made in your building when it rains, snows, or when the temperature outside is too hot. Be vigilant in learning about your workplace’s safety set up (e.g., the inclusion of a “Slippery when wet” signage on floors, installation of detachable aluminum frames on windows in case of severe storms, etc.).
In the construction industry, organizations should always abide by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority’s Code. There are thorough and detailed procedures to be applied. The Code should serve as the exact peg for any company to follow. Each occurrence was laid out in the Code, such as possible falling debris, collisions, etc. The responsibilities and assigned trainers have also been itemized.
As an individual who sees himself or herself working in this industry, you should consider this as your professional guidebook. This should keep you protected from accidents and reap the full experience of the industry.
4. Know how to use your first aid kit
Every work zone has hazards or injuries which an employee might suffer from. If a restaurant employee works at the grilling and frying sections, then he or she will be prone to cuts and burns. The corresponding first aid kit should then include wound cleaning supplies such as disinfectants, iodine solutions, burn creams, and gauze.
There should never be a single first aid kit in the workspace, especially when it has various functions and departments. If the need to use them arise, the appropriate mending materials would then be easier and faster to find.
5. Collectively aim for work safety
A safe workspace cannot only be managed by one person. Since there are various departments in a company, each person can perform safety checkups in his or her assigned spot. You can even organize a discussion board so your colleagues can share their observations and suggestions to improve the safety situation of their designated areas.
You can finalize and update your safety procedures with periodic meetings and consultations. This should keep everyone updated and engaged in ensuring a safe working environment. You can also impart the value of being proactive when it comes to coming up with ways to keep your space safe and equally productive.
Ensuring a safe workspace involves a hundred percent commitment and compliance among employees and their organizations. This should help you minimize accidents and, worse, fatalities. Stay involved with the current trends on organizational safety, and you’ll be making a huge step in gaining the most out of your job.
