Whether your job involves physical labor or is more sedentary, it is important to take steps to stay safe at work. There are a number of simple precautions you can take to prevent injury and time away from the job. Here are a few.
How Do I Stay Safe on the Job?
1. Lift things in a safe manner
If you are lifting a heavy object, it is easy to injure your back if you don’t do it correctly. When lifting, keep your back as upright as you can and use your legs to pull the object off the ground.
2. Wear protective devices
If you are performing manual labor, it is important to protect your body, especially your eyes and ears. Wear earplugs if there are high noise levels and safety glasses or goggles if there is a threat to your eyes. Other protective equipment that should be worn routinely includes hardhats, work gloves, and hard-toed shoes.
3. Make sure your workstation or work area is safe.
This will help to prevent repetitive motion injuries. Set up your work area, equipment and devices to conform to your body, rather than the other way around. Don’t stretch or move your body unnaturally because the equipment is not set up correctly.
If you are doing manual labor, you need to warm up and stretch before you begin to help prevent muscle pulls or strains. Make sure to sit or stand straight to prevent muscle strains or tightness. Take frequent breaks.
4. Keep in good health
It is easier to injure yourself if you are not in the best of health to begin with. For example, if you are out of shape and become easily fatigued or lack the muscle strength to move objects, it is much easier to hurt yourself. Exercise and eat a good diet.
5. Get plenty of sleep
This is one of the most important things you can do to stay safe at work. If you are tired, you do not think as quickly or clearly, you have difficulty focusing your attention, which can easily lead to an accident.
6. Take breaks frequently
If you are doing strenuous work, either physically or mentally, you need to take breaks to give yourself a chance to rest and recover. Breaks as short as five minutes can help you concentrate better and relieve stress. During a break, stretch or go for a walk.
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