How to Ensure Health and Safety at Work
Today’s world is unpredictable. You may be working in an office, a construction site, a retail store, or even at a salon, but you can never be too far from a potential hazard at your workplace. You may slip, fall, fracture, burn, or injure yourself in any way even at the seemingly safest workplace out there.
Understanding the rights and responsibilities of an employee and employer in matters of health and safety at work will give you an insight into how to navigate it. In case, you unfortunately get a workplace injury, you can always ask solicitors for guidance on how to claim the compensation that you are owed.
As an expert workplace injury solicitor, Bonnar Accident Law wants to ensure that you work at a safe place which keeps your body, mind and emotions safe and healthy. We have chalked out a few tips on how you can ensure health and safety at your workplace.
Read on to get yourself acquainted with health and safety protocols and best practices you should follow at your workplace.
What Constitutes a Workplace Injury?
Workplace injuries are more common than you might think. In the UK, thousands of workers are injured each year, leading to significant personal and financial costs. Common injuries include slips, trips, falls, musculoskeletal disorders, and exposure to harmful substances. By being aware of these risks and taking proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your chances of getting hurt.
A Few Ways You Can Ensure Being Healthy and Safe at Work
Here are some practical ways in which you can ensure that your workplace is a safe and healthy environment for you and your colleagues:
1. Read up on your rights and responsibilities
As an employee, you are legally bound to follow all safety protocols in effect at your workplace. But at the same time, your employer should provide you with the right protective equipment, accurate safety training, and guidance on how to safely use the equipment available to you at work. For further information, do read up on the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 here and here.
2. Use the proper PPE kits always
A proper set of personal protective equipment (PPE) will include the right kind of attire, gloves, helmets, high-visibility clothing, and footwear you will need to wear to function safely on your job. Make sure your employer provides you with these before you set foot in an accident-prone area. As an employee, you must get PPE that fits you properly.
3. Keep your workplace clean and organised
Clutter is often the cause of unforeseen incidents at work. Keep your work area organised and clean. Put away equipment and tools in their right place once you are done using them. Never block the pathways, walkways, and emergency exits. If you work in a high-traffic work area, ensure that you have the walkway clear for everyone to safely and easily cross.
4. Report hazards immediately
Reporting a hazard or a malfunction is a shared responsibility that falls on everyone involved. If you see a potential hazard, don’t hesitate to report it immediately to your supervisor or the concerned personnel. Even if you are ending your shift and going home but you see something that may cause an accident, alarm everyone else and report it, so you can save others from getting injured as well. Our workplace injury solicitors advise that you always follow the reporting protocol.
5. Use your equipment properly
Whatever equipment you use at work, it is your duty to know how to use it safely. If you are unaware of how to handle a certain tool, machinery, or piece of equipment, ask for help and get yourself properly trained on its functionality. In places where training may not be available, always read the manufacturer’s instruction manual before handling the equipment. Even a tech company’s office which seemingly looks safe may have faulty laptop batteries, short circuiting cables, etc. So never operate any equipment without training.
6. Always be aware of your surroundings
Be vigilant and careful when you are at your workplace. Keep your eyes open for any sudden changes in your surroundings. Whenever you step into your area of work, observe keenly what may go wrong and if you see any loose ends, report them immediately. Look for safety exits and an escape route. Mentally map what you would immediately do in case a potential hazard befalls. Preparing your mind beforehand always helps in proactive action.
7. Always participate in safety drills
Never skip safety and healthy training sessions and emergency drills. Even if you think you have participated a hundred times before, always show up and listen carefully. It is very common for experienced employees to not listen too keenly to the instructions being given since they may have participated in the same drill multiple times before. It is always good to keep your mind refreshed and listen to new instructions or protocols.
How Employers Should Ensure Safety
As an employee, it is your utmost duty to rigorously follow all safety protocols at your workplace. But what do you do if there aren’t any protocols set in place? Or if they aren’t accessible to you? So, when it comes to workplace accidents, workplace injury solicitors advise that you push your employer in the right direction to make your workplace safe and healthy for you and your colleagues.
Here are a few things your employer must do:
- Risk Assessment
It falls on the employers to ensure that proper risk assessment has been done to identify potential hazards. There are teams and specialised personnel who inspect workplaces and create reports on what could go wrong and how it should be dealt with. If your employer hasn’t done it yet or recently, ask them for it. - Health and Safety Training
Your employer should conduct regular training sessions for health and safety, be it for fire hazards, work accidents, or any other particular drill that may be required in your specific locality or industry. Since new employees keep joining every week, it is imperative to conduct the same drills frequently to keep it refreshed in older participants too. - Correct Equipment and PPE
As an employer, they must provide you with the right personal protective equipment for the job and the duties you perform. If you work with heavy machinery, tools, and other equipment, you should have the right PPE to perform your job safely and without any incident. If you have been provided PPE, always use it. - Service and Maintain Equipment
Your employer should always have the equipment regularly maintained and serviced for quality checks. Any small malfunction can lead to a disastrous or even fatal end. If you see equipment that has a breakdown or is near a breakdown, immediately report it so it can be serviced and put back once it is safe to use. - Foster a culture of safety for employees
An employer may be doing everything right but if there isn’t a safe environment where anyone can walk up and report an incident or malfunction, then all safety training and PPE will be of no use. Every employer needs to provide you with a safe space to immediately report hazards and near-misses.
When to Get Help from a Workplace Injury Solicitor
If you are injured at work, you may be entitled to compensation. A personal injury solicitor from Bonnar Law Accident can help you through the legal process. We will ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
It is important to report your injury to your employer as soon as possible and keep detailed records of the incident and any medical treatment you receive.
When Mental Health and Wellbeing are Crucial Too
What most people get wrong is that a workplace injury can only be a visible one on your body. However, the truth is that workplace injuries also include any disturbances to your mental health and well-being.
If you have faced trauma, stress, anxiety, or even burnout, you may not be fit enough to function properly at your job. Not only will it affect your job performance but it may take away the focus and the accuracy you need to operate certain equipment, machinery, or tools.
Here are a few pointers on how you can ensure that you are mentally well:
- Take regular breaks. Get tea, gum, a snack, or even scroll through your favourite social media platform. These breaks, no matter how short, will help you perform your job better, maintain focus, and manage your stress.
- Set clear boundaries and never take work home. Clearly define a boundary between your work life and your personal life. This will prevent you from burning out. Don’t think about home at work and work at home.
- Seek support when you think you need it. Don’t fight the battle all on your own. It is great to be a warrior but there is no need for you to be a martyr. Ask your colleagues, your supervisor, or whoever else you can, for support. There is no shame in accepting that things are becoming overwhelming for you and that you need help.
We hope these tips will help you.
How the Workplace Injury Solicitor at Bonnar Accident Law Helps
Follow these steps to get in touch with our workplace injury solicitors if you have been in a workplace accident. We will assess your case and help you get the workplace injury claim you are owed.
- Discuss and get an expert legal review for your claim.
- We prepare your workplace injury claim for you.
- We pursue your workplace injury claim.
- We run you through the court proceedings to inform you
- We hand you your cheque if your claim is successful, after apportioning an agreed percentage of the lump sum we win for your claim.
Take a look at our claim process.
Get in touch with our workplace injury solicitors to claim your workplace accident compensation.
