Health Safety

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The Importance of a Healthy Work Environment

There are many reasons why it is desirable to maintain a healthy work environment for employees. One reason that cannot be stressed enough is for your own safety. Any sort of slips, falls or trips in the work place could prevent you from working for months depending on the injury. More importantly, a work environment that pays careless attention to hazards could threaten your life.

Therefore, it is important to understand the safeguards that help protect you from any work-related accidents.

Causes of accidents:

Presence of substances such as water, grease etc. on the ground

Hazards that may lead one to slip can be found on both wet and dry surfaces

Electric cables, curled up carpets, uneven surfaces or items left on the floor

These are a few examples of the hazards which many cause an accident, these are all ordinary and common things and it is important not to become oblivious of them.

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Protecting Yourself and Others

Dealing with spills:

Don't avoid it; deal with it immediately

Use an absorbent material to soak up the spill

Clear the area around the spill

Avoid cleaning the area with something already wet i.e. a mop

Once the area is cleared place a wet floor sign over the wet area to warn customers of the potential risk involved in walking over the area

Remove a warning sign when it no longer is applicable

High-risk areas:

Be aware of areas of transition, for example, an entrance, where people move from wet ground to dry

Have precautions to remove moisture from footwear

Invest in high quality mats along routes where most customers walk

Areas of level changes e.g. stairs/steps, slopes/ramps etc.

Make sure the surface is slip resistant

Provide proper lighting so people can see where they are going

Keep the top and the bottom of the stairs clean and free from obstacles

Avoid carrying heavy items on stairs

Cables and electrical equipment

Identify cables that are trailing

Identify faulty electrical outlets

Make sure all electrical equipment is plugged in properly

Poorly maintained flooring

Identify poorly maintained or damaged floors; commit to repairs and prevent future damage

Recognise mats and rugs that could hazardous and ensure they are controlled

Chemicals

Always be aware of how chemicals are utilised by reading the label for instructions

Adhere strictly to the instructions

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Protecting Yourself and Others

Keeping the work environment hygienic:

Always keep this in mind: Clean as you go

Keep staff areas and changing rooms clean and tidy

Have a designated storage room for cleaning products and agents

Use cleaning agents and equipment as instructed

Don't leave all the cleaning for the end of the shift

Keep floors and access points clear

Avoid doing messy work near pedestrian route ways

Make sure to have slip-resistant footwear for your own safety

Assess the floor to determine whether cleaning is needed

If you can, dry clean the floor with a mircofibre brush

When cleaning with mop use hot water with detergent, do not use cool or dirty water

Maintain clean floors during times of less business

When possible block off an area being cleaned using a barrier

Systematic procedures:

Routinely check that your footwear meets the requirement of your working environment

Routinely remind yourself of the necessary principles to ensure your work environment is safe both for yourself and your work colleagues

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Protecting Yourself and Others

Working at heights:

If you ever have to store away a delivery, tidy shelves or clean out any area that is out of comfortable reach you should commit to the following:

Obtain a ladder or foot stool

Make sure it is placed firm and secure on the surface below

Never position in the way of a potential hazard e.g. doorway

Always hold any safety handrails and clear items one by one

Store the ladder or foot stool safely away

Lifting and Moving:

This section is to help instruct you how to manually handle delivery items and other heavy loads properly in order to prevent any sort of injury, whether that be to muscle or the back.

Get into position facing the item.

Arms should be in against your body and feet spaced shoulder width apart.

Bend down with your knees to draw closer to the item.

Lift using your leg muscles.

Hold item close to your body at waist level.

Avoid twisting or quick movements with the item.

Always remember to keep your back straight and bend your legs to lift.

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Protecting Yourself and Others

Evacuation and alarms:

Familiarise yourself with the sound of the alarm, where all the exits are located and where the assembly point is

Once you hear the alarm:

Leave the establishment via the nearest exit; ignore your personal belongings

If needs be assist any customers that might need help in order to help the evacuation process flow

Go to the assembly point

Wait for the instruction of a manager before entering the building again