Workplace Safety Tips Australia at Trufab Engineering

Health and safety are important in every workplace, but especially in industrial and construction settings. Considering the higher risks faced by workers in these industries it’s important to be very aware of best practices.

These 10 tips will get you on the right track to staying safe at work.
1. Stay Sober

This shouldn’t need to be said but it does. Around 3% of workplace fatalities occur due to alcohol and drugs. When a worker’s ability to exercise judgement, coordination, motor control, concentration, or alertness is compromised this leads to high risk of workplace injuries or fatalities.

2. Report Unsafe Conditions to Your Supervisor

Inform your supervisor about any workplace safety hazards or risks. They are legally obliged to ensure that their employees have a safe working environment, but they can’t fix problems if they aren’t aware of them.

3. Keep Emergency Exits Easily Accessible

In the case of an emergency, you’ll need quick, easy access to the exits. It’s also recommended to keep clear access to equipment shutoffs in case you need to quickly stop them from functioning.

4. Use Tools and Machines Properly

Always take proper precautions when using tools, and never take shortcuts. Avoid quick fixes like using scaffolding as a ladder or a ‘good-enough’ tool for the job. Make sure you’ve had the proper training before using any equipment. Some machinery, such as forklifts, require a license to operate so make sure you’re compliant with current workplace laws.

5. Take Regular Breaks

So many work-related injuries and illnesses occur because a worker is tired, burned out and not alert to their surroundings. Taking regular breaks helps you stay fresh on the job.

6. Keep Correct Posture to Protect Your Back

Always maintain correct posture at work. If you’re picking things up, use correct form so your back doesn’t get hurt and avoid stooping and twisting.

7. Be Aware of Your Surroundings

This step requires knowing the particular hazards of your job or workplace. Once you’ve learned these risks, you are able to keep clear of potentially hazardous areas, and potentially hazardous situations.

8. Reduce Workplace Stress

Stress can lead to depression and concentration problems. Common causes of workplace stress include long hours, heavy workload, job insecurity, and conflicts with co-workers or managers. Take your concerns about workplace stress to your supervisor to see how they might help you address them.

9. Use Mechanical Aids Whenever Possible

Instead of attempting to carry or lift something that’s really heavy like structural steel, take the extra minute to use a trolley, crane or forklift. Too many injury risks are exacerbated by trying to lift something that weighs too much.

10. Wear the Correct Safety Equipment

If you’re not wearing the correct safety equipment for a task, you may get injured. Depending on the job, equipment like earplugs, earmuffs, hard hats, safety goggles, gloves or a full-face mask greatly reduces the risk of workplace injury.

And if there are hazardous jobs needs to be done on heavy machinery, you should think of using specified & certified workstands. Trufab Engineering offers a great range of fixed and mobile work stands – just contact us!