Success Depends on you
Safety in the workplace is something all employees should take seriously—your well-being is at stake. An on-the- job accident could very easily disable you, leaving security and future plans up in the air. A safety program isn’t only designed to keep you safe—taking responsibility on the job in keep your co-workers away from harm is important, too.
Together, you and your co-workers can support our company’s safety program by giving supervisors or safety leaders ideas on how things can be made safer. Any safety idea, no matter how small it may seem to you, could prevent a serious accident.
If you are a seasoned employee, you can use your years of valuable experience to spot potential safety hazards. Or, if you are a new employee, you may be able to spot something right away that an old pro may have overlooked. Never be afraid to speak up if you notice a safety hazard on the job.
In short, safety takes teamwork. Whatever your job is or whatever your duties include, keep your eyes open for hazards and report them. Help keep our safety program on solid ground!
Begin your Day Safely – Preparing your Work Area for the Day
When you arrive at your work area, take a moment to prepare yourself to work safely.
Does your task require some type of personal protective equipment (PPE)? If you are on the shop floor, standard personal protective equipment is safety glasses with side shields and safety shoes with steel toes. Do you need to wear gloves? Face shields? Respirators? If any of these types of PPE are necessary, inspect them before putting them on to make sure they will provide the right protection throughout the job.
Look at the machine(s) you will be operating and look for some specific safety features. Are all machines safeguarded and are they working properly? Physical safeguards should be attached to the machine. Electric eyes should be tested to make sure they stop machine functions. Two-hand trip devices at the point of operation should be tested to make sure they work properly. Supplies should be in close proximity to the point of operation so you don’t have to do a lot of twisting or bending.
Think safe—work safe. It is a way to remember that you need to keep your head in the game. If you are thinking about safety, then you will work safely all day and will go home safe and sound.
