OSHA reports an average of 14 workplace deaths per week. Figures like this offer a clear perspective on the challenges of keeping people safe at work at all times. In today’s busy world, where every second counts, how can safety become a priority that’s regularly assessed and improved? What environments have reoccurring accidents?
Settings prone to accidents can include –
• Warehouses
• Distribution facilities
• Automotive repair shops
• Stockrooms
• Manufacturing plants
• Rooftops
• Construction sites
• Leisure or concert venues
• Factories
The impact that workplace injuries – or accidents in any setting – are felt in a multitude of ways, some of which aren’t as obvious as a physical injury. Employees who sustain injuries that aren’t life threatening but require recovery time off – sometimes referred to as ‘lost days’ – means coverage must be found for the position which the injured employee formerly held, resulting in extra recruitment costs and training time. Businesses may also be prosecuted or fined because of a lack of protection for all on-site employees. Companies also experience reputational challenges if safety issues become publicized, a strong deterrent for new talent.
What can be done to ensure high safety standards?
- Sign posting throughout any space
- Incorporating proper signage to direct foot traffic to safe zones, away from dangerous spots
- Restriction of unsafe zones
- Proper barriers like a Tensabarrier®
A wall mounted barrier takes up very little space and can be rolled out as needed. Free-standing retractable safety barricades are a good way to restrict access to loading bays or parts of an airport where passengers are not permitted.
Wall-mounted and free-standing barriers are available with industry-standard yellow-and-black and white-and-red webbing (or tape), ensuring warning messages are instantly-understood by anyone who sees them. Working at night can be particularly dangerous, especially in roadside areas, which is why NightView™ webbing is frequently deployed to improve visibility in darkness.
There are also a number of solutions, developed to meet the needs of specific industries and requirements. HSE-approved and compliant pit protection systems provide a clear warning to personnel working near open pits, such as car service areas, and heavy-duty impact protection barriers are suited to sites where vehicles and machinery are in operation.
However, it is not only harsh industrial environments that demand robust safety stanchions. Using Tensabarrier® free standing posts and wall mounts, events teams can build rigging for a concert, while cleaners and maintenance staff are able to work in a designated area, without risking public safety.
As well as equipping teams with appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and delivering ongoing training, safety barriers are another way to comply with health and safety laws.
Practice and review
Tensator suggests regularly reviewing safety materials. A quarterly evaluation and maintenance assessment means any safety officer will be certain that all solutions are working properly and effectively. Evacuation drills that help employees understand proper egress processes via marked exits and pathways would help to reduce panic and accidents in an emergency.
Ensuring a safe workplace doesn’t need to be a practice that causes stress for managers, safety officers or others in charge of on-site employee or public well-being. By practicing proper safety processes including regular safety materials assessment, emergency practice drills, choosing solutions that work for your space and directly reinforce your safety goals, you can create a safe environment that helps avoid accidents, increases productivity and leads the way for a healthier setting overall.
For more details on our workplace safety solutions, click here.
