Even in Summer Watch for Workplace Accidents and Falls
Even in Summer Watch for Workplace Accidents and Falls
As the summer approaches in some working environments where personal Protective Equipment and work wear are essential it can get quite uncomfortable for workers especially if we happen to have a spell of decent weather and the temperatures begin to rise. A lot of work wear is made of fairly heavy materials and can be warm to wear, the temptation for many people will be to remove some items such as high visibility jackets and hard hats in hope to cool off but this is a dangerous move.
If you work in an environment that requires you to wear this kind of equipment for good reason, if you need to work with heavy machinery or in areas where falling objects are present you need to wear these items of clothing and equipment in order to protect yourself, failing to do so could lead to injury or even death.
Some PPE can come in less cumbersome varieties such as high visibility vests instead of jackets or less bulky safety caps and these may be possible for your business in the warmer months.
Another factor many people associate with winter that can be forgotten during the summer is watching for slips and falls, during the winter our awareness of these incidents is raised as the ice and snow in winter are an obvious hazard, but in the summer it is not uncommon for use to have the occasional downpour which could leave our workplaces open to water and puddles forming on the floor. If you have any polished or shiny floors then this water can become an invisible hazard causing slips and trips which could endanger your workforce as well as visitors.
For situations like this they should be flagged up as soon as possible and marked, normally this will be done with clear wet floor signs and most businesses will have these or have cleaning staff that can provide them. Obviously mopping up the water is important and if a mop isn't available then paper towels can be a good substitute. If you find a lot of water gets walked into your place of business you may want to get rugs for your entrance that can help absorb the water from people's footwear when they enter.
Remember that hazards and accidents can occur at any point during the year and don't discount hazards because they happen during winter when checking your workplace for hazards this summer. Ensure protective workwear is worn and that all safety signs are obeyed.