Sprains, strains, and broken bones are common injuries from working outdoors. Each year, almost 2 million people suffer broken bones as a result of accidental falls. When you need to work outside, it’s best if you wear proper protective clothing and take the required precautions. Here are four tips for preventing personal injury while working outside, but first, what should you do if you get injured on the job?
What to do when you’re injured
What to do when you get injured at work is a question every worker most likely has to deal with. Anyone who has been through this knows how stressful it can be, but if you handle the situation properly, you’ll come out as smooth as possible. The very first thing to do when you are injured is be sure you’re safe. If you slip and fall or if you have other serious injuries, you should seek safety first. After that, although, it is important to seek medical care as quickly as possible. Even if the injury does not look serious, your doctor can advise you on the type of treatment you might need.
One of the most significant things to do after an injury is to contact your lawyer. If your lawyer does not specialise in cases like this, you can get a personal injury lawyer. For example, if you live in Manhattan, New York, you can search for a slip and fall lawyer in Manhattan and within minutes you’ll find someone who is ready to help you get your compensation. That said, let us take a look at some tips to help you stop personal injury at work.
Wear protective equipment
One of the most significant ways to stop personal injury while working outside is to wear protective gear. Protective equipment consists of clothing, footwear, and other items worn by employees to protect against injury or sickness resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical environmental hazard or biological hazard.
This includes a helmet when working on stairs in areas with quite a lot of debris or near power lines, eye protection when cutting or using any machinery on roofs, heavy-duty gloves to avoid injury when repairing equipment, ear protection to reduce sound levels and protect you from losing your hearing, and steel-toed boots that can protect you from hazards such as nails, wires or other objects that may be hidden by grass or dirt on the client’s property.
Include a security and health plan for all employees
Organizations are mandated by most safety agencies to provide a safe work environment for workers. However, complying with these requirements doesn’t guarantee that an employee won’t be injured. For example, according to the Ministry of Manpower, more and more workers are filing claims for injuries suffered as a result of working outside. To reduce the risk of injury or accident, employers must incorporate a security and health plan.
By implementing a security and health plan, employers equip employees with the knowledge and skills to work safely. Elements of the plan include: allocating time and space to discuss risk management and prevention techniques; job-specific training; general health assessment; resources or equipment that will help complete the task safely and so on.
Monitor security measures
Everyone knows that working outside carries risks. Even the simplest tasks, such as mowing the lawn or raking leaves, can result in a fall or other injury. Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of personal injury related to outdoor activities by using four key concepts: planning, staying focused and alert, keeping yourself and others safe, and knowing when to stop.
It is important not only to plan your activities in advance for the best results but also to consider safety while working. When you know what needs to be done and how to do it, following a plan is less complicated than ignoring it. It will also help you identify potential problems or risks ahead of time.
Even if you have a good idea of what needs to be done, distractions can occur. While you cannot all the time control your environment, being aware of it will help reduce your risk of injury. Whether someone stops on the drive or a large branch falls from a tree, considering previous distractions is important to staying safe.
Eliminate slippery surfaces
One of the biggest risks in outdoor work is when an employee slips on a wet surface. Whether they’re roofers, landscapers, road workers, or even construction workers, there are ways to stop these types of accidents from happening so employees can go home safely after each shift.
Ensure all surfaces are properly maintained to stop hazardous conditions or spills. Not only does this help eliminate slippery surfaces, it saves employees from working around oil, gas, or other chemicals that could expose them to hazardous chemicals.
Signs should be posted around the area to warn employees of potential hazards and can even be helpful where there are areas of heavy traffic to make sure other workers know if the surface is wet or slippery.
Safety should all the time be a precedence when working outside. However, even when all precautions are taken and proper safety measures are followed, accidents can still occur. Use these tips as a reminder to stay as safe as possible during any outdoor work.
