Unsafe Conditions Safety Talk
Unsafe conditions will always exist in the world around us. That being said, it is possible to eliminate the majority of unsafe conditions in our workplaces in order to prevent injuries on the job. It is necessary to not only recognize that these kinds of conditions exist around you, but also to take action to eliminate or mitigate them.
Two Common Types of Unsafe Conditions
There is an endless list of possible unsafe conditions in any workplace. Two types of unsafe conditions that can be found in almost any workplace are slip, trip, and fall hazards and pinch point hazards.
- Slips, trips, and falls are responsible for many injuries on the job year after year. Many of these incidents are a direct result of an unsafe condition. Objects on the ground are a common example. Other unsafe conditions that lead to slips, trips, and falls injuries include slippery floors, unmarked changes in elevations in walking surfaces, cluttered work areas, unprotected edges, etc.
- Pinch points are also commonly found in workplaces. Pinch points are defined as any point where it is possible for a body part to be caught between moving and stationary portions of equipment. Pinch points can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A couple examples of unsafe conditions relating to pinch points are points of operation on machinery, unguarded moving equipment, and rotating parts.
Addressing Unsafe Conditions
Depending what the unsafe condition is will determine what action is needed to correct it. A basic overview of addressing any hazard in the workplace:
- Stop and take the time to evaluate your work area and work task.
- Recognize unsafe conditions or what can possibly turn into an unsafe condition.
- Take action to immediately correct the condition if possible.
- Stop work and involve the other personnel if the unsafe condition is out of your control tocorrect.
- Continue to evaluate your work area throughout the work day for possible new hazards and unsafe conditions.
Summary
Unsafe conditions do exist all around us and it is true that not every single possible hazard in life can be eliminated. However, we all can take ownership and responsibility for our work areas and the work that we do to prevent and eliminate many unsafe conditions. Every unsafe condition that is corrected is one less chance of someone being injured on the job. Discussion point: What are some other examples of unsafe conditions that can be found at our worksite?
COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
In addition to our Free Monthly Toolbox Talk Newsletter, we offer a wide range of services for Texas Based Safety Management System Implementation. Our safety management services provide companies with an internal structure to stay OSHA compliant and reduce the risk of employees who might be exposed to occupational health and safety risks on the job. Our services include , Texas Based First Aid Kit Sales & Refill Service, Texas Based HSE Consulting, Texas Based AED Sales and Rentals, Texas Based Fire Extinguisher Sales and Inspection, and Texas Safety Database Management.
Industry Insights
Know the Signs of Employee Burnout
May 22, 2021
As your in-service safety provider, we wanted to send out this monthly safety message to raise awareness and enhance employee quality of life in your company. This monthly message deals with “The Importance of Safety Database Grading Management.” Employees Burned Out? Know The Warning Signs Workers are more stressed than ever. There are some telltale signs of stress that Supervisors want to keep an eye out for. Employees under excess stress: Avoid work. Output drops and they do not re
Does My AED Need Service?
April 15, 2021
Does my AED need service? Simple answer, YES. You are required to provide routine checks on your AED(s) that you have onsite. If you are reading this because your AED has started making a beeping, chirping, or any other noise it means something needs to be replaced or updated on your unit in order to function properly. Here is the legislation for Texas on AED ownership and maintenance Common Items to check on your AED 1. Pads. On almost all AED models the pads are the first piece of equ
Are Your Employees Covered In the Event of a Workplace Injury? First Aid Supplies Every Business Needs To Have On Hand.
February 5, 2021
As your in-service safety provider, we wanted to send out this monthly safety message to raise awareness and enhance employee quality of life in your company. This monthly message deals with “The Importance of Safety Database Grading Management.” Are Your Employees Covered In the Event of a Workplace Injury? First Aid Supplies Every Business Needs To Have On Hand Every industry has some level of risk for an employee incident during its operation. They can range from minor injuries like
How to Select a First Aid Restocking Vendor
January 26, 2021
As your in-service safety provider, we wanted to send out this monthly safety message to raise awareness and enhance employee quality of life in your company. This monthly message deals with “The Importance of Safety Database Grading Management.” How to select a First Aid Restocking Vendor When it comes to making sure you are complying with OSHA regulations to provide basic first aid supplies for your office you may decide it is better to hire a 3rd party service company to restock your fi