Safety in the Workplace

Safety in the workplace is a primary consideration in being able to avoid personal injury accidents. Safety awareness begins with the individual but the workplace also has responsibility to insure the individual has a good safe place to work. People should arrive at work in a rested state, ready to go to work and be able to give full attention to their job, especially if it involves working with tools or machinery.
The safe way to do a job is the right way to do each job, shortcuts at the expense of safety are never a good idea. Knowledge of procedures and practices, especially in the factory environment, are the best way to insure safety. Training and authorization to use the right equipment are essential.
In the work environment, the company should be responsible for keeping all areas clean, safe and in proper order. Aisles and passageways should be kept clear, and so should exits and areas in front of exits. There should be no dark corners in rooms, and rooms should be properly lighted. If you see a hazardous situation, report it immediately to your supervisor.
Any broken implements, especially glass, should be cleaned up with a broom and dustpan or special equipment like a shop vac designated for that purpose. Trash containers should be regularly tended to and heavy gloves worn when dealing with placing trash in containers. Floors need to be spotless and free of oil slicks or debris.
If these conditions are not met, personal injury accidents can occur. Sometimes they occur anyway in the best of conditions but it is a good idea to minimize the risk by taking extra care while at work. If you suffer an accident at the workplace, and experience injuries that have caused pain and suffering as well as financial loss, you may be able to file for a personal injury compensation claim.

Preventing Repetitive Strain Injuries at Work

In her article entitled "Preventing the Number 1 Occupational Health Problem: Repetitive Strain Injuries", author Teresa Long outlines the importance of having and maintaining a proper work station. She claims that it is imperative to have an ergonomically correct work station. By this, Long means that all equipment that will be utilized throughout the day is comfortably positioned to ensure that you do not have to strain, stretch, or twist in a way that could cause pain or injury to the body. Additionally, Long claims that a top priority and task which often goes overlooked when a new employee is hired should be determining whether the work station the employee will be using is ergonomically correct for that employee. Any modifications that need to be made to the work space should be done as soon as possible, as to avoid any injuries.

Long cites OSHA in her claim that repetitive strain injuries are the nation's most common and costly occupational health problem. This type of injury costs roughly $20 billion a year in Workers' Compensation, and billions more in lost productivity and employee turnover, among other things.

To read more from Teresa Long, check out http://www.workerscompensation.com/compnewsnetwork/news/preventstraininjuries.html