We are all familiar with yellow caution tape and the signs that say "Caution Wet Floor." We know how to stop, look and listen before crossing the street. Think about all the things we do — or advice we give — when it comes to staying safe.
Let's explore some other areas of safety that worksites can address. Healthy, fit employees are at lower risk of injury than those who are out-of-shape. Promoting nutritious food and daily activity not only increases productivity and health care savings, but also decreases unintentional injury and absenteeism. Healthy employees have fewer accidents and recover faster from illness or injury.
So what are ways your worksite can promote a healthy lifestyle? Offer education and encourage healthy food selections. Consider policies for food provided at meetings. Fruits, veggies, lean proteins and whole grains offer all the nutrients we need. Foods high in sugar, salt and fat may be what we crave, but typically provide way too many calories and not enough vitamins and minerals to sustain health.
Employers can also promote physical fitness. Offer education and encourage employees to be more active. Map out walking trails through the building or the neighborhood around the worksite. Offer to share the cost of gym memberships. Consider installing fitness equipment at your site. Just 30 minutes of moderate activity five days per week are all we need to maintain health. New research shows that sitting for long periods of time is quite detrimental to our health, but simply standing up every 20 minutes can reverse the negative health effects of extensive sitting.
Here are some other areas to consider:
Ergonomics: Designing work stations to fit your employees is important to prevent overexertion and repetitive motion injuries. Overexertion (at the worksite or at home) is the third leading cause of unintentional injuries in the United States, accounting for approximately 3.2 million emergency department visits each year.
Employees in any job should be aware of the early warning signs of ergonomic injuries so they can raise their concerns to their doctors and managers: pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, tenderness, clicking and loss of grip strength. Managers should work with employees who have these kinds of complaints to assess the work station and find an appropriate accommodation that will prevent injury.
Employees should also be encouraged to take frequent breaks and walk or stretch throughout the day.
Slips, trips and falls: While many of us believe that falls are caused by inattention or clumsiness, most falls are preventable and risk factors can be addressed. Falls are by far the leading unintentional injuries accounting for more than 8.7 million emergency room visits each year in the United States. So how does a business lower the risk and potential liability for falls?
This list will help you mitigate hazards:
- Keep floors and stairs clean and clear of clutter
- Maintain good lighting both indoors and on outdoor walkways
- Clean up spills immediately
- Secure electrical and phone cords out of traffic areas
- Use non-skid rugs in potentially slippery places, like bathrooms
- Install handrails on stairways, including porches
- Arrange furniture to provide open pathways
- Periodically check the condition of outdoor walkways and steps and repair as necessary
- Remove fallen leaves or snow from outdoor walkways
- Ask employees who regularly drive for your business to keep their phones on silent and wait to check them once they have arrived at their destination.
- Remind employees to wear seat belts. Drivers and front seat passengers who buckle up are 45 percent more likely to survive crashes and 50 percent more likely to avoid serious injuries.
- Avoid aggressive driving. Allow time for delays, focus on your own driving, and do not take your frustrations out on other drivers.
Source: KnoxNews.com
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