5 Tips for Workplace Safety and Accident Prevention in Ottawa & Across Ontario

Workplace safety is an issue employers often overlook until it is too late.

Despite better efforts in safety and prevention, injuries are a costly phenomenon that are still too common in workplaces across Ontario.

Here are 5 Tips you can follow right now and going forward to make your workplace or job site safer.

Prevention is the Key to Safety

The aftermath of an employee injury is, of course, not the ideal time to think about accident prevention.

Yes, it’s true, when an incident occurs and injury is suffered, you’ll want to do an analysis to come up with better ways of prevention and safety measures for the future.

But why not start now, before an accident happens, and identify areas of concern for potential injury and safety issues?

By following these five tips, you will be able to cut down on some of the more common workplace accidents. Let’s dive into these common accidents and how to avoid them.

1. Keep the Floor Clean of “Trip-and-Slip” Hazards

This is one of the easiest areas to make improvements in. It is also one of the most commonly overlooked and, therefore, can cause an accident.

Things fall on the floor all the time.

In clothing stores, it could be a hanger that dropped off a rack.

In an office, a piece of paper could slide off a desk onto the carpet.

Any of those could cause an employee to trip or slip.

The cost could be tremendous to the company since a hard fall can cause extensive damage.

Keep your eyes open for anything lying on the floor and pick things up as soon as you see them.

2. Make Sure Everyone Knows How to Use All the Tools in the Workplace

If you work in food service, for example, everyone must know how to use the deep fryers or the deli meat slicers properly.

In an industrial setting, everyone should know how to use all the power tools.

If people don’t follow the instructions, it is a disaster and a lawsuit waiting to happen at the same time.

That’s why rules need to be posted, and staff should be well trained and briefed in protocol.

3. Identify All Chemicals in the Workplace to All Employees

Always have updated MSDS sheets located in a binder in your office.

As we all know, some chemicals are far more hazardous than others. Some require gloves and masks before they can be used.

Even if its something as benign as a cleaning product, you never know what type of allergies a person may have.

This allows everyone to identify what is in a product and adapt (or react) quickly.

4. Use Proper Protective Gear

Some people really feel they don’t need to wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) that the company provides for them.

Some find it uncomfortable or hot or have some other grievance with it.

But wearing this gear is not optional!

When an employee decides to forgo their protective equipment, they open themselves and the company to risk.

5. Identify All The Hazards In The Workplace For Your Employees

Make sure workers know all the areas in your warehouse, office building, construction site, etc. where there is the potential for harm.

Unless you educate your employees about any hot spots, they won’t be able to protect themselves, once again opening you up to liability.

An Ounce of Safety Prevention Is Worth Pounds (Dollars!) in Savings

There are many other examples of things you can do to help protect your Ontario workplace.

But these are five of the most basic and common sense rules there are for workplace safety.

Hopefully, these help your workplace and employees avoid any injuries in the future!

To learn more or schedule a safety class or safety consultation for your workplace or organization, contact us today.