Any workplace safety hazard, no matter what it may be, has the potential to cause an accident that results in serious injury or even death.
Regardless of your position and job responsibilities, it’s imperative to fully understand the many safety hazards you could come in contact with throughout your workday. With this knowledge, it’s much easier to avoid trouble.
Here are a handful of workplace safety hazards to become familiar with:
- Working at height: Do you work on a ladder for the better part of your day? How about scaffolding? What about on a roof? Working at height is dangerous for one main reason: You could fall to the ground.
- Lack of housekeeping: As the hours go by, it’s possible your place of employment could become littered with debris and additional safety hazards. A perfect example of this is a construction site, where debris often litters the ground.
- Tools and other equipment: For example, power tools can be dangerous if not used in the appropriate manner. The same holds true for equipment such as forklifts. Anyone who is using tools and equipment must understand how to do so in a safe and responsible manner.
These workplace safety hazards are among the most dangerous, but there are many others that could come into play at some point.
If you’re injured on the job, report the accident to your employer and receive immediate medical treatment. You don’t want to do anything that could worsen your injury. As you recover, learn more about your legal rights, such as your right to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Source: Safety and Health, “7 common workplace safety hazards,” accessed May 02, 2018