Keeping safe in the office or factory has never been of more importance. The simple truth is that while the workforce could be in danger of of injury, companies are susceptible to being reported to industrial tribunals, specifically when considering the rising number of personal injury solicitors. According to reports from the Rspoa (the royal society for the prevention of accidents) close to 1.6 million company injuries happen in England every 12 months, nonetheless in so many cases these injuries may well have been avoided quite easily.

There is no doubt that a less risky working environment is good for everybody. By taking up a few basic procedures it's straightforward for both staff and businesses to improve safety in the workplace.

Understand your local health and safety regulations
For a few specific types of industries, such as those involved in the production of volatile chemicals, keeping aware of complex safety legislation is of utmost importance. Nevertheless safety legislation of some form is binding on most businesses. The best step for any business is to check with the Health and Safety Executive. They are answerable for improving awareness of the range of health and safety legislation that applies to workplaces in Great Britain.

Slips and falls
These are commonly occurring in any place of work derive pleasure typical office to heavy industry. Look out for damaged flooring surfaces, steps, dangerous holes, trailing electric cables; the list is never-ending. Try to ensure that you do away with risks wherever it is possible. Have in mind the importance of warning signs, a dripping floor may look shiny but it is extremely dangerous. In addition why not consider suitable lighting to keep the area well illuminated, as inadequate lighting can cause a hazard being overlooked.

Don't forget ergonomics
You will always consider your work environment from an ergonomic viewpoint. If we take an typical office setting for instance - make sure that office desks are at the appropriate height, computer screens are not too close and chairs provide satisfactory lower back support.

Be careful moving equipment
It is extremely important to estimate the extent of the task, load and situation before moving any object or equipment great or small, light or weighty. A massive number of injuries take place each year as a result of physical handling. Your individual capabilities and limitations will dictate comfort zones for lifting objects. Don't forget to adopt the correct posture, don't strain too hard and request help to lift a heavy or bulky object.

Stress reduction
Stress is among the most common occurring occupational risks, it represents almost a fifth of all reported occupational health issues. Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. Look after the 'whole person', not just the body, perhaps acquire some relaxation techniques. If you feel you have too much on your plate, you are absolutely within your rights to ask your superior's assistance. Don't forget, it won't hurt you to be a few hours late.

Conduct risk assessments
Risk Assessments are a marvelous method of preventing accidents before they happen. One top technique is to undertake cross-departmental risk assessments, where employees from different departments in an organization audit one another. A fresh pair of eyes may often see things another way, furthermore it gets people from different departments working in concert.

Get organized
Spending a little time organizing your workload can be really useful, yet it is easily forgotten, particularly during hectic periods of time when it is more important than ever! On a daily basis try and plan what you want to finish. Try to keep it reachable though - have the targets too high and you will merely add to your problems.

Vary tasks
This is especially vital for someone performing repetitive tasks over sustained periods of time, such as working on assembly lines or data entry, as it avoids Repetitive strain injuries. See if there is an alternative job which might be done instead, remember, variety is the spice of life.


By following these simple bits of advice, you can keep both staff and businesses safe, in good health and efficient.

Roger Wakefield is a staff writer at: Reagent Lab Chemicals, a manufacturer of laboratory chemicals and reagents.