California employees do not get up in the morning expecting to find themselves caught up in a workplace accident later in the day. In fact, most of you likely feel fairly safe at work. Even construction workers, who have one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet, can often get so used to the risk it does not feel quite so risky anymore.
That could be part of the problem, though. Sometimes you might find yourself lulled into a place of comfort simply because you have always been comfortable. If you have not seen workplace accidents up close and never been involved in one, you might feel like they happen in other places to other people.
While it is not a bad thing to feel comfortable on the job, the National Safety Council does not want you and other employees to get so relaxed you allow your workplaces to become unsafe.
What are some of the hazards that contribute to workplace accidents?
Falls are the number one danger for you, if you are a construction worker. They have also proven a significant hazard in other workplaces. Safety + Health magazine, a publication of the National Safety Council, explains: “Falls to a lower level accounted for 14 percent of all fatalities in 2014, and OSHA standards related to scaffolding and ladders are regularly among the most frequently cited violations.”
Besides working at heights, Safety+ Health blames poor housekeeping for creating other unnecessary dangers on the job. In addition, you should be aware of electrical problems, chemicals and confined spaces because they also contribute to workplace accidents.
What can you do to avoid them?
Safety + Health says getting safety training is imperative as well as maintaining adequate resources for yourself and your colleagues on the job. Wearing personal protective equipment will go a long way toward protecting you from workplace accidents, as will creating a culture of safety in your workplace.
Note this information intends only to educate and not to offer legal advice.
