Ensuring a safe work place requires participation and vigilance from staff at all levels. While management is responsible for creating routine assessments of safety and hazards, every employee can play an important role by reporting dangerous conditions as soon as they are noticed.
How to Report
While management should welcome employee input, not everyone feels comfortable speaking directly to their supervisor about their concerns. Check with HR to find out if there is a particular way in which worksite hazards should be reported at a specific worksite. Employees may find any or all of the following reporting methods available to them:
- One-on-one communication with supervisor
- Communication with staff representative
- Voice mail
- Suggestion box
Even employees who do not feel comfortable registering a direct complaint with their supervisor should take note of how and when they first reported a dangerous situation. If the situation is not resolved in a timely way, it is important to follow up. Taking care of dangerous situations early can prevent damage or injury to people or property.
What to Look for
Hazards will vary according to worksite. Workers must be aware of their surroundings and of the safety standards for their professions. The suggestions provided here are only a small sample of the situations of which workers must be aware.
1. Ergonomic Standards
Repetitive stress injuries are common to all professions. They result from repeated awkward motions. Ergonomic standards are developed to help prevent RSIs from occurring. Such standards address workstation design, lighting and equipment. Although budgets are tight everywhere, workers can and should research the ergonomic standards for their jobs and request materials that can help protect their health, such as document holders to keep documents at eye level with a computer workstation or anti-fatigue mats to reduce fatigue in workers who stand for long periods.
2. Fall Prevention
Tripping and falling are common sources of worksite injury and are a leading cause of death at work. Workers should be aware of situations that increase the risk of tripping or falling, such as unsecured wires, debris, poorly lit stairwells and broken or missing safety rails.
3. Fire Prevention
National estimates put the loss of work time and property due to worksite fires at close to $2.5 billion annually. Workers can help prevent fires by keeping an eye out for risks such as overloaded circuits, exposed wires, incorrect handling of flammable waste and unsafe use of open flame. It is important to keep all exits open in case of fire and check smoke detectors and fire alarms regularly.
4. Hazardous Chemicals
Hazardous chemicals are used every day in a variety of ways and range from paints and solvents to corrosive cleaning substances. Workers should familiarize themselves with their workplace policies and the necessary protective gear. It is important to make sure containers are properly labeled, work areas are properly ventilated and cleaned and materials are correctly disposed of. Hazardous chemicals can not simply be thrown into the dumpster! Management must be notified immediately if there is a spill.
5. Indoor Air Quality
It is important to report strange odors immediately. In some instances, you or your colleagues may notice that you experience signs of allergies such as headaches and itchy eyes during the day which clear up when you leave work. Report these concerns to management for investigation and visit your doctor for treatment. If you are concerned about indoor air quality, find out whether the building management or your employers conduct an annual air quality review.
6. Water
Water leaks and spills are related to several types of physical risks, including the risk of slipping and falling. Report all spills and leaks to building management for cleanup. In addition to immediate physical risk, water that sits for too long can encourage mold and mildew.
Sources:
Worksite Analysis. Safety and Health Management eTools. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Fall Prevention and Protection.
Preventing worksite fires is everybody’s business.
