Preventing Accidents in the Workplace is an IPPTS Report which discusses a whole range of workplace safety issues and solutions. It includes, preventing accidents, causes of workplace accidents, and developing a workplace safety culture.

1. Workplace Safety – Preventing
Accidents In The Workplace
The CULTURE of SAFETY and How to Implement It
STEVE SYMES steve@ippts.com
Principal http://atexanddsear.co.uk
ATEX and DSEAR Services Co.

2. WORKPLACE SAFETY –
PREVENTING ACCIDENTS IN
THE WORKPLACE
Workplace Safety – Preventing accidents about four times higher
Accidents In The Workplace than a workplace that is
hazardous. To increase workplace
The Culture of Safety and How to safety, the following will help.
Implement It
5 chapters of information and
safety improving ideas and
suggestions, to help you improve
your workplace’s safety record for
the good of all.
Introduction
What you will learn from this
document:
1# Principles of Accident
prevention: We discuss taking
risks, making shortcuts, safety
handbooks and other guidance, the
dangers of "winging it" at work,
and planning for safety.
Big accidents are prevented by #2 The Top Causes of 10
small precautions. It is also a fact, Workplace Injuries: People fall
dumb acts are likely to cause victim to very common workplace
2

3. injuries every day. With simple In our last section and following
precautionary measures though, the creed that workplace safety is
you can diminish the chances that the right of every employee,
your employees will meet whether they are working in
accidents while at work. In this relatively safe environments or in
chapter we describe the top 10 workplaces that constantly expose
workplace injuries them to physical and health
hazards. Learn and apply these
#3 A Checklist For Making The tips and you will be well on the
Workplace Crime And Violence way to a better safety record in
Proof: Learn the overall your business.
requirement for a safe workplace
in which all employees look out for DISCLAIMER: We have taken care
each other has not got a chance of to use only general principles here
working properly. and avoid Safety Industry and
safety professional's language. All
#4 Workplace Safety – Tips On readers must ensure that they use
Manual Lifting: Lifting objects is the safety regulations which apply
common when performing a task locally. The contents of this
and a huge number of hours are document cover general
lost due to back injury, so all considerations and
offices need to understand the non-professional opinions only.
simple techniques which we all
must use to avoid injuring This information is provided "as
ourselves. Beyond ordinary files in is". The author, publishers and
boxes, there are many items that marketers of this information
are moved around every day in the disclaim any loss or liability, either
workplace, often without the use of directly or indirectly as a
lifting aids. In the section your will consequence of applying the
learn the basic precautions to information presented herein, or in
protect you back, and which you regard to the use and application
need to pass on to others at work. of said information. No guarantee
is given, either expressed or
#5 Top Tips On Maintaining implied, in regard to the
Workplace And Colleague Safety: merchantability, accuracy, or
3

4. acceptability of the information.
1# Principles of Accident prevention
Taking risks
This is a fine attribute. In fact,
nothing substantial in the world
has ever been achieved without
some risk taking. However, when
risks are taken without a good
understanding and a good
evaluation of the consequences,
risks could be just that, risks.
Better not take it. Even when
substantial bragging rights will be
in order, nothing is better than
having all the limbs and parts in
the body working well together. It
is not worth it. Never worth it.
Making Shortcuts
Cutting edges and making short
cuts are not always efficient aside
from potentially endangering the
workplace and the people in it,
too. Remember that an accident
4

5. usually involves more than one These are all essentiually safety
person aside from reputation, handbooks and are excellent aids
investigation, reports, litigation, to achieving a better safety record,
and other expenses. It is the problem oftentimes is that
understandable to finish on time rank and file employees seldom
but always the best way to do that reads these documents. If ever,
is by being safe. If an employee the employee will likely open the
gets a kick from working faster handbook when a problem has
than time, it may be the already occurred. Never assume
employees' favorite sport. Transfer that an employee knows safety
the employee somewhere else. procedures because the employee
When belligerent, you are better was issued a safety handbook and
off without him. make sure. To reduce accidents in
the workplace, supervisors must be
provided time to discuss the safety
precautions and other work related
issues with his subordinates.
Winging It
New employees in particular are on
most occasions timid and would
not ask too many questions. This is
basically the fear of losing face.
This attitude is more pronounced
with Asian cultures. To assume
that the new employee would "wing
it" instead of being sufficiently
informed on safety measures
employed could prove fatal.
Disorganized Workplace
The Safety Handbook Safe Working
Protocols and Safe Methods of Working Poor housekeeping is always an
accident waiting to happen.
5

6. Remove hazards and other items
where it should not belong. Keep
materials, equipment, and tools in
their places and keep it that way.
Sooner, even disorganized
employees would catch on. What is
more, a safe, orderly workplace
instills pride even among slobs. It
is so easy to add mess to a place
that is already disorganized. On
the other hand, workplaces that
are properly kept have the
tendency to win the cooperation of
workers to keep it that way.
Remove Distractions
There are jobs that could do with
little distractions while there are There is no substitute for tasks
jobs that require focus. Even so, that are pre planned before the
distractions create downtime. It is undertaking. Well thought off
also a fertile area where accidents procedures and methods saved
are caused. In tasks that require countless limbs let alone lives.
much attention, even chats must
be kept to a minimum if not totally #2 The Top Causes of 10 Workplace
discouraged. Injuries
Planning Not a few people fall victim to very
common workplace injuries. The
sad thing is, these are very
common but are not really
addressed because they all seem
minor. With simple precautionary
measures though, you can
diminish the chances that your
6

7. employees will meet accidents
while at work. Here are the top 10
workplace injuries based on the
2009 Workplace Safety Index:
1.) Overexertion
Finally, is the number most
common workplace injury –
overexertion. This is mostly related
to manual handling such as
pushing and pulling, carrying,
holding, throwing, lifting and other
activities that require the use
hands and limbs. Most common
incidents filed under overexertion
involve hand and arm strain, back
pain and others.
2.) Falls On Same Level
This pertains to falls that have
happened on same level surfaces.
Common injuries filed in this
category are slipping on wet floors,
falling on snow covered surfaces,
and others. Most victims of this
accident are elderly employees
who have lesser control over their
balance.
3.) Falls To Lower Level
Falling from stairways, roofs,
ladders and other elevated areas
are the top three most common
7

8. workplace accidents in 2009. It treatment in 2009. This type of
has consistently been among the accident involves car collisions
top three incidents for the past and other accidents that occurred
couple of years. in highways and pedestrians.
4.) Bodily Reactions 7.) Caught In/Compressed By
Slips and trips are, without a These are injuries that result from
doubt, among the most common workers being compressed by or
accidents occurring in the caught in any operation workplace
workplace. These are listed as the machineries. Injuries of this kind
fourth most common accident in can also result from exposure to
2009 because at least $5.4 billion extreme heat.
were spent on giving medical
attention to employees who have
tripped or slipped in the
workplace.
5.) Struck By Objects
These involve accidents such as
tools falling directly on any part of
the workers' body as well as falling
debris and concrete objects from
elevated surfaces that resulted to
hospitalization. Accidents as minor
as books hitting the head of the
worker are also included under this
category.
6.) Highway Incidents
Official business trips account for 8.) Repetitive Motion
more than $2.5 billion spent on
hospitalization, surgeries and Prolonged repetitive motion
8

9. accounts for hundreds of forms inside the workplace, and
insurance claims filed every year. unless an employer has a
Clerical jobs and other types of management system which
jobs that require extended period prevents almost all such events
of physical repetitive work are occurring, and punishes and
often the cause of job-related neutralises the effects of any
carpal tunnel syndrome, vision digressions which occur, the
problems, and physical injuries. overall requirement for a safe
workplace in which all employees
9.) Struck Against Objects look out for each other has not got
a chance of working properly. For
$2 billion dollars were spent on this reason we make no apology for
accidents involving the employee including this chapter.
being struck against objects in
2009 alone. This category Sexual harassment, coercion,
includes accidents such as profanity, raised voices,
running into doors, windows, walls, intimidation, threat, robbery,
tables, chairs and other concrete homicide and other forms of
objects. physical harm can happen at any
given time. Commonly, it may be
10.) Workplace Violence something minor like petty theft,
but in some cases, lives are taken
It seems to many that workplace because of a disgruntled
violence is not a reality. Well, it is. employee.
Every year, many people are
victimized by violent assaults, Protect your workers from any act
sexual harassment, coercion, of violence or crime by carefully
physical attacks, robbery, planning a series of office checks
homicide and other forms of and monitoring systems. Start with
workplace violence. assessing the vulnerability of the
workplace by asking yourself the
#3 A Checklist For Making The questions below:
Workplace Crime And Violence Proof
- Does the workplace have an
Violence and crimes take many appropriate security system in
9

10. place? access to senior staff to be able to
talk to them if they are
- Do you have phone systems experiencing threatening
which can be monitored for relationship problems with their
employee behaviour should own managers and colleagues.
complaints occur?
What is the policy adopted by your
- Do you have office access company when it comes to hiring
controls to prevent entry from the and firing?
street?
Your company should prevent
- Are there adequate panic and anyone with criminal violence from
emergency buttons, sign-in entering your organization. It
policies, good lighting and is should look into employment gaps,
safety training given? educational records, and history
references before it absorbs
someone into the company.
What are your company’s
termination procedures? Do these
clearly define policies on advance
notice, placement services, and
severance pay? The company
should minimized the chances of
these causing dissatisfaction
among terminated employees.
Is there anyone in your
organization who can potentially
These should be a starting point to become a source of violence or
protect all your employees from crime?
violence coming from inside the
organization and outside the Does anyone in your organization
workplace premises, but ultimately exhibit any of the following?
all staff should be given open
10

11. - Chronic absenteeism
- Frequent raising of voice
- Depression
- Beyond normal impatience
Are the doors, windows and other
- Increased irritability entry and exit points secured?
These should be safe from
- Memory and concentration mechanical override. Your
problems company should also adopt
effective policies on reporting,
- Other worrisome and unusual maintaining and fixing broken
behaviors doors, windows and locks. Also,
additional security measures
If so, what does your company do should be placed to guarantee the
to prevent workplace problems personal security of every member
related to any of the above of the organization within and
mentioned conditions from outside workplace premises.
erupting? Does your company have
policies on handling workplace Does your company provide
violence? There should be a equipment that help secure
system in place that encourages valuable objects, belongings and
employees to report unusual information?
behaviors among their colleagues.
The management should also Are the employees secured in
provide a program that helps in common trouble spots such as
assisting employees in distress. reception areas, garages, elevators,
restrooms, etc.? Are there areas in
How about the structural integrity the workplace that have dim
of your workplace? lighting? These and other problem
areas such as blind spots should
be properly addressed.
11

12. Is sensitive and confidential hiring and firing employees, and
information safe in your workplace employee vulnerability. Lastly, this
or can outside people breach your program should be implemented
office security that can lead to and supported by all levels of
information leaks? employees, from upper
management down.
Does your company adopt a formal
document destruction policy? #4 Workplace Safety – Tips On
Manual Lifting
Lifting objects is common when
performing a task. Beyond ordinary
files in boxes, there are many
items that are moved around every
day in the workplace, often without
the use of lifting aids.
Lifting items carelessly is one of
the most common types of
workplace injury that has caused
from pulled muscles to long-term
damage to back, upper limbs and
After assessing your office's the pelvic area. Because injuries
vulnerability to crime and violence, resulting from lifting are common,
take steps to reduce this. Adopt a many companies whose business
comprehensive workplace involves moving objects includes
harassment and violence training sessions on manual lifting
prevention program which covers to their workers including posters
not only the most common in strategic locations in the work
scenarios involving violence, but area and leaflets for reminders.
also the worst-case scenarios that The following are typical manual
could happen within the workplace lifting guides:
premises. It should also
encompass issues such as physical - Tap the item or the box if you are
security, practices relating to not familiar with its content or
12

13. weight before attempting a lift. - Do not bend over as you start to
lift. Instead, bend the knees and
- Your mind and body anticipates squat your legs. Bending over
and are better prepared to lift injures the upper limbs that are far
things when you are standing weaker than the lower part of the
directly in front of an object aside body. Bending over will also never
from providing you the best provide you the strength and the
balance. balance required to lift moderately
heavy objects.
- Keep your balance in the center
of your body before attempting the - Firmly hold the item with both
lift. The feet must be at equal hands.
distance from your center of
gravity. Ignoring the center of
gravity has resulted to sprains and
injuries to the pelvic muscles.
- Use the handles of the item when
lifting.
- Always know where to drop the
item. This is mundane but lifting
items that are heavy are heavier
when you lift them a second time.
- Do not carry boxes that will
obscure your line of vision. Always
carry items below your lifting
capacity.
- Before the actual lift, tighten
your abdominal muscles as this - Start lifting using the strength of
gives you additional strength and your legs but distribute the weight
stability. of the object evenly to maintain
balance.
13

14. - Once the object is lifted, check when that is done, lower the other.
your balance once more by
adjusting your stance before #5 Top Tips On Maintaining
moving and keep the object as Workplace And Colleague Safety
close to the body as possible. The
weight should put strain on the Workplace safety is the right of
legs muscles as much as possible every employee, whether they are
and not in other areas of the body. working in relatively safe
environments or in workplaces that
- Stand up slowly and avoid jerking constantly expose them to physical
motions. Jerking will affect the and health hazards. It is also the
balance that you started with. obligation of every organization to
Avoid quick movements while you provide their employees with safe
are rising. working environments where their
well-beings are guaranteed. This is
- Start moving but do it at a why in every country, organizations
comfortable slow pace. There is exist to police the policies of
always the temptation to move fast companies that are pertinent to
when lifting even slightly heavier their employee's safety.
objects but that could upset the
item and offset your balance.
- If the object restricts or obstructs
your view, ask for a guide.
- Bend your legs as you put the
object down. The same process by
which you lift the object is the
same process used as you ease it
down. Keep your back straight and
keep a firm hold of the object.
- To prevent the fingers from
getting trapped under the item,
lower one side of the item first,
14

15. - Prevent any electrical circuit
overload.
- When using extension cords,
ensure that the cords can bear the
electrical load demanded by the
products that use them. These are
not supposed to be used
permanently and are not meant to
substitute permanent wires and
sockets.
- Properly ground electrical
appliances.
- Immediately report and repair
any damaged electrical wires or
Some tips on ensuring safety in the
outlets.
workplace
- Always hire certified electricians
There are several areas that should
for installing electric wires as well
be addressed regarding workplace
as for repairing any damaged
safety. These include electrical
wires.
safety, fire safety, equipment
safety, and others. Fire Safety
Electrical Safety
- Do not forego the provision of fire
alarms.
- Ensure that all machineries are
installed according to product
- Ensure that sufficient fire
installation instructions. Many
extinguishers are installed in
accidents happen because
appropriate places.
someone did not take the time to
ensure that the office equipment is
- Advise the employees about the
properly installed.
location of the fire extinguishers in
15

16. the workplace. protected from risks posed by
machineries, equipment,
- Conduct periodical fire drills. appliances and other accidents,
These prepare the employees for they are also protected from the
the proper course of action in case biggest threats to their well-being.
of fire.
- Track any violent behaviors of all
Colleague Safety employees. Put these into record.
Workplace safety, although mainly - The management should
focused on the structural aspects expressly adopt zero tolerance
of the office, is by no means towards violence. Otherwise,
limited to these factors alone. organization members who have
Colleague safety is also an histories of violence and who
important issue to cover. Without possess the characteristics that
paying attention to this, employees make them a threat to their
could be at a much greater risk colleagues can have a free reign on
than you realize. their behavior.
- Prevent the entry of people with
violent tendencies into the
organization during the
recruitment process. The safety of
the majority should not be
compromised because of one
employee.
- Advise the members of the
organization to always carry with
Safety from colleagues ensures them mobile phones. it is also not
that employees are not exposed to a bad idea to have a policy that
bullying, coercion, physical harm will encourage every member of
and sexual exploitation. Adopt the organization to keep tabs of
violence safety measures to ensure their colleagues' whereabouts.
that the employees are not only Tailor this idea according to the
16

17. preferences of the organization Then we dealt with Workplace
members and the management. Safety with Tips On Manual
Lifting, because so many hours are
- Ensure that dark areas in the lost due to back injury, so all
workplace are well lit. offices need to understand the
simple techniques which we all
- Hire security personnel who will must use to avoid injuring
guard the entry and exit points of ourselves. Beyond ordinary files in
the workplace. boxes, there are many items that
are moved around every day in the
Summarising what we have covered... workplace, often without the use of
lifting aids. In the section your will
What you will have learnt from this learn the basic precautions to
document if you have read it protect you back, and which you
carefully, is the following: need to pass on to others at work.
The Principles of Accident Finally we gave you our Top Tips
prevention and all about taking On Maintaining Workplace And
risks, making shortcuts, safety Colleague Safety.
handbooks and other guidance, the
dangers of "winging it" at work, We hope you found this document
and planning for safety. useful.
The Top Causes of 10 Workplace However, many people will
Injuries which by knowing what consider this to be just a start. For
they are you should have become more UK based Health and Safety
much better able to prevent them guidance, we suggest that you
happening might find a visit to the safety site
at http://atexanddsear.co.uk
How to Making Your Workplace
Crime And Violence which if this is Special Report
absent the employer has not got a
chance of improved safety targets Businesses need forms of all sorts,
being met. and increasingly they need to be
legally written so that they do the
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The surprising thing is that these
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