Your workplace needs to be fitted with all the right safety equipment to truly protect your employees. That’s what Singer Safety is here for.

Workplace Safety Topics You’ve Been Forgetting About    

Over time, it can be easy to forget the importance of workplace safety. You might even forget some rules here and there. But workplace safety is way too important to forget. Luckily, we’re here with helpful safety tips you might be forgetting about. Once you’ve gotten used to your job, you may feel like safety rules aren’t relevant or necessary. This could not be further from the truth since safety is important no matter how experienced you may be. Below are some common safety topics that you may have forgotten about.

What Are You Forgetting?

Cleanliness is one of the most important safety topics that gets ignored far too often. Keeping your workplace clean is almost universally helpful for a safe work environment. Regardless of your job, cleanliness is linked to safety. Factory workers and machinists likely understand how maintaining a clean work area ensures workplace safety. A clean area means that workers are less likely to injure themselves, especially from tripping over or stepping on dangerous materials. Jobs that involve food or chemicals have their own, unique rules involving cleanliness. These rules are especially important since they ensure the safety of customers as well as workers. Depending on your job, it may even affect the environment. Cleanliness also just makes your job easier. Who wants to work underneath a pile of trash anyway?

When you’re done making sure your workplace is clean, take a moment to evaluate your posture. Are you standing in a way that is helpful for your back? Were you straining your neck? Are you sure you’re lifting properly? All of these questions are important to consider when remembering to check your posture. During a busy work day, it can be easy to forget about healthy posture, but your back and neck are too important to ignore. Be careful when lifting heavy things and seek out help when you need it. Tools like forklifts and wheelbarrows are there to help lighten your load. In between cleaning and lifting, workers should also remember to stay hydrated. Physically demanding jobs can dehydrate you quickly, especially if you’re working somewhere warm. Water is paramount to proper body functions and you can’t exist without it. So make sure to drink plenty of water on the job. Staying hydrated can even prevent muscle strain by reducing the odds of cramping. 

Daily Safety Topics

Safety topics should be brought up daily to make sure that it’s at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Many businesses use Toolbox Talks to discuss potential safety topics. A toolbox talk is simply a group discussion about a particular safety topic. Safety discussions are the most productive when they’re relevant to the current work environment. This may mean discussing unsafe working conditions you may have noticed or updating workers on new rules. While daily safety topics should be specific to your environment, let’s go over some general topics to keep in mind. 

 Avoid shortcuts to avoid injuries. Safety rules are in place for a reason, which means it’s never okay to ignore them. Ignoring rules because they might seem “easier” can have very dangerous consequences. Whether you work in welding, construction, or even mechanics, safety rules should be followed. Shortcuts or haphazard work could get someone seriously hurt. This means that you should follow safety measures to the best of your ability. It also means you shouldn’t ignore any potential problems you encounter. Don’t be afraid to ask for help just because it might seem easier to do something on your own. If something requires multiple people or multiple steps, be sure to follow through completely. This also means using tools properly. Be careful not to use equipment for anything other than its intended use. 

Wearing protective equipment might seem like a hassle, but forgoing it is just another type of shortcut. Protective equipment like helmets, gloves, and eyewear exist to keep you safe. They even protect some of the most vulnerable body parts. Your head, hands, and eyes are often prone to injury on the job, which makes protecting them even more important. Depending on your job, you may be required to wear a face shield, steel toe boots, or other safety wear. Regardless of the type of protective equipment you wear, be sure to wear it consistently and properly. 

Safety Message of The Day

In order to keep the topic of safety fresh in everyone’s mind, some companies may promote a “safety message of the day”. These may be similar to toolbox talks. A daily safety message can be a great way to remind workers about useful safety topics. Again, these topics can be specific to your business’s needs. If someone forgot to wear their helmet yesterday, this can be a great way to remind everyone to wear their gear. If it seems like the workplace is getting a bit sloppy, a daily safety message can be used to remind everyone to keep their area clean. 

Safety Briefing Topics 

There are many safety topics that are great for discussion, whether that’s in toolbox talks, daily messages, or just helpful reminders. Let’s go over some useful topics. Cleanliness is one of the biggest, since it can have such a huge impact on the workspace. This is true for many different jobs. Self-care is another big topic that can even be broken down into smaller discussions. Self-care in general is important, but it can be made more specific by focusing on things like posture and hydration. Being aware of both of these topics can prevent strain and injury. Sometimes, it may help to revisit safety rules. Employees should be trained properly when they start their job. This applies to current employees who receive a promotion. Even though they already work there, they should be trained in their new position specifically. Totally new employees should also receive comprehensive training to ensure they are safe. Similarly, safety briefings should include any new information. As rules change, be sure to update everyone necessary.

Staying Safe at Work

While it might be easy to forget about some safety rules, it definitely shouldn’t be common. Regulations are in place to keep employees, customers, and even sometimes the environment safe. To avoid forgetting about workplace safety, try incorporating it into daily discussions. Try using toolbox talks, daily reminders, and safety briefings to remind workers of important topics. 

However, safety topics can’t do all the work. Your workplace needs to be fitted with all the right safety equipment to truly protect your employees. That’s what Singer Safety is here for. When it comes time to buy or replace your safety equipment, don’t forget our top-of-the-line products.