Common types of unsafe working conditions
Regardless of your profession or industry, you must understand what it takes to create a safe working environment. While this sounds simple enough, both employees and employers make mistakes every now and again.
Unfortunately, unsafe working conditions can lead to an accident that causes serious injury or even death.
With this in mind, it’s always a good idea to understand the most common types of unsafe working conditions. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Lack of training
- Operating equipment without training or authorization
- Using defective equipment, such as power tools or ladders
- Failure to warn others about a safety hazard
- Operation of equipment in an inappropriate manner
- Workplace congestion
- Poor housekeeping
- Fire hazards
- Inadequate safety warning systems
As you can imagine, your industry has a lot to do with whether or not you face these unsafe working conditions at some point in the future.
For example, if you sit at a computer all day, you probably don’t have to worry about workplace congestion. However, if you work in a warehouse or on a construction site, this can increase the chance of an accident.
These are just a few of the many things to keep an eye on as you move through your workday.
If you suffer any type of injury, don’t hesitate to inform your supervisor and to receive immediate medical attention. Once you understand your injuries and the type of treatment you require, turn back to the accident itself. As you learn more, you may come to find that the next logical step is to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
Source: Cooper Equipment Rentals, “Unsafe Acts vs. Unsafe Conditions,” accessed Jan. 15, 2018