Sometimes we need to focus on the safety basics

Written by Mary Hallock, IMEC Technical Specialist and OSHA Authorized Trainer

Posture, Positioning and People Movement

When we focus our time and efforts on making safety corrections we often focus on machine guarding, lockout/tagout and some of the other programs that require written programs, and regular documented training. However, a good deal of injuries and costs are caused by injuries on walking surfaces or due to ergonomic issues in our work. 

Workers compensation costs for these injuries are huge. Check out this recent article from EHS Today on the ever-increasing costs of non-fatal workplace injuries. More importantly we have workers who are losing work time and having to get treatment for these injuries.

So, don't ignore the issues that are waiting right in front of you - the safety basics. Keep aisles and walkways clear and use proper lifting techniques. Make sure to formulate policies and procedures that protect workers on walking-working surfaces and train employees on how to identify hazards and keep their work areas safe.

Engage resources like IMEC to take a closer look at your safety and wellness programs to ensure they're best suited for all employees and situations.