Safety

Ensuring a safe environment is fundamental for everyone's well-being.

Photo: Ross Findon

Safety is something that we tend to overlook most days. Whether it's outside of work, during work or just doing daily normal activities. Protecting oneself and others is key, making safety crucial. Being that it's currently around the winter holidays we should take in all the fundamentals that come with this especially around this time of year. There is so much information on safety that I can provide you with today, but we are going to go with the key basics. This article is going to include information on sickness, food safety, vehicle/motorized equipment safety and workplace incidents/accidents. Lets get started.

The current viruses that are constantly spreading are common colds, Covid, flu, RSV, strep throat and etc. The common cold is a unique human disease and because of the large numbers of respiratory disease it is one of the most complex of human diseases. The common cold is considered as part of the "iceberg concept" of diseases which ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe illness and death. common colds could be a link to what causes all different types of viruses and or respiratory issues. On a average, adults get 4 to 6 colds per year, while children 6 to 8 of them. Colds account for 40% time lost which can result in all time lost in jobs and 30% in absenteeism in school. There are more than 200 viruses that change continuously that are most likely associated with the common cold, so one thing we have to keep in mind is that we all need to play it safe by washing our hands, cleaning and disinfecting objects that are frequently touched, avoiding touching our faces, covering coughs and sneezes, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, practicing good hygiene, avoiding contact with people that are sick, and getting plenty of sleep.

Next, we are going to talk about Food Safety. Have you ever heard of food borne illness/disease? If you have not, then here is a bit of insight on the subject. Foodborne illness is a preventable health challenge that causes an estimated 48 million illnesses and approximately 3000 deaths in the United States. There are four main food safety hazards we should consider to prevent this from happening: biological, Chemical, physical, and allergenic practices. Understanding the risk associated with this particular subject can dramatically reduce the risk of potential foodborne disease. Everyone is at risk for foodborne illnesses, Therefore some people are at greater risk for experiencing a more serious illness or death should they get foodborne illness. Here is some safety tips to consider. Please always wash hands before and after food preparations, Surfaces and equipment should always be washed under hot soapy water before and after use, all areas involved in food preparations should be kept clear of non food particles including trash/debris pest and or any other contamination. Last, but most importantly, do not forget to wear all required PPE when handling food.

Lastly, we are going to touch base on workplace incidents/accidents and Vehicle/Motorized equipment safety. From 2021-2022 there have been several incidents recorded including nonfatal injuries and fatal work injuries. There were approximately 2.8 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2022, these numbers increased by 7.5% from the year 2021. And a total of 5,486 fatal work related injuries during the year of 2022. The #1 cause of workplace injuries are overextension and muscle strain which can lead to many complications in the near future. There are other work injuries as well that are a part of the list. These include: slips/falls, repetitive use injuries, cuts, and collisions. It is important to keep in mind that these topics play an important part in our lives weather its at work or outside of work.

1. Slips and Falls - use appropriate signage to indicate the floor is wet.

Use handrails when available and use at least 3 points of contact. Wear appropriate non slip shoes or soles

2. Strains- Train employees on proper lifting techniques, Post educational lifting techniques around company to remind employees of proper lifting techniques and if possible use back braces and or lifting aids

3. Cuts-Prevention of cuts could begin by using the proper tools for the right things. Having a tool in good condition can also help with prevention of cuts. If you have any questions on how to use the tool do not hesitate to ask someone

4. Collisions and crashes- Proper background checks on a candidates driving history, drug testing and training on a companies assigned equipment could be beneficial to preventing injuries collisions and or crashes. Also, encouraging your employees to take occasional breaks when tired can prevent dangerous incidents.

Overall, safety should not be taken for granted. By being proactive, aware and mindful of safety measures, we can contribute to a safer and healthier environment for ourselves and those around us.

Resources used: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10324571/