Basic Safety Measures at Work and Home
By Caitlin Bootsma
It's National Safety Month in the construction world—which means it's a great time for all of us (working or not working, and in any profession) to review safety in our physical environments. Whether you work in construction, in an office, in another location, or at home (even as a care provider of children—one of the hardest jobs out there!), here are a few ways we all can improve safety. These are healthy safety protocols for the home regardless of whether you work there, or for whichever type of work is conducted:
- Check your equipment. Are the tools you need functional? Are they positioned in a safe place where they won't fall and break or cause injury? This includes laptops or other technology, and appliances, too!
- Tidy those cords! Consider bundling or routing your power cords and chargers in a way that will stay out of your way, so they don't cause any injuries or issues. This is especially important when kids are around, and even more so if you don't have a dedicated office space when working from home.
- Take breaks. This sounds appealing of course, but it can be easy to forget when things are busy! Taking time to refocus or even rest will help you be more productive and less likely to make any potentially harmful mistakes.
- Clean your office space regularly. Whether it's a construction zone or a home office that gets overly crowded, set aside a time each week to clean and keep germs and dust at bay.
- Follow protocol. The more experienced we get at a job, the more tempting it is to take shortcuts. Most of the time though, following protocol means a job is done thoroughly and safely.
- Report unsafe conditions. Whether you've noticed mold somewhere in the office, loose boards, or another issue with your workplace, report it sooner rather than later so you can prevent injury to yourself and others
- Check fire alarms. Have your fire alarms been checked recently? Make sure they have fresh batteries and are ready to go.
For additional tips on workplace safety in particular, check out the U.S. Department of Labor.
Reference
1 https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/safety-health
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