When it comes to work environments in the Springfield area, some construction workers are unaware of the dangers they face. Many of them assume their employers are vested in their safety and have taken measures to ensure they do not end up having accidents that result in injury and death.
Not all employers maintain safe work environments for their workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016, the number of workers in the private sector who ended up with workplace illnesses and injuries was 2.9 million. If employers had taken better preventative measures to protect their contractors and employees, many of those injuries would not have occurred.
Provide training
Training for workers should be ongoing. Employers should never assume and rely on their workers to stay current on safe work practices on their own. Training should instruct employees on the proper use of work equipment and how to identify, report and avoid workplace hazards.
Provide safety gear
Provide safety equipment and gear for workers to use. Many employers reduce their expenses by requiring workers to provide their own safety gear. Employers should also keep safety equipment onsite for their workers.
Review and update policies
Work rules and federal regulations often change. Employers should regularly review their policies and rules and update them as often as necessary to reflect changes in local and federal employment laws. They should also update company specific mandates to reflect acceptable and unacceptable employee practices and procedures.
Workplace accidents happen a lot. Though they occur more often than everyone believes, most of them are preventable. When workers and employers work together to create and maintain safe work environments, they can reduce the number and frequency of accidents that occur.
