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The SmartCells Top 10 Workplace Safety Tips

Whether it is a slip in the workplace, a cut while cooking dinner at home, or a sprain while playing your favorite sport, at one point or another in your life you are bound to have an accident and/or injury. That’s just a fact of life.

Although accidents happen, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the necessary precautions.

Which is why the National Safety Council (NSC) came up with the idea of National Safety Month. The goal of this annual month-long campaign held in June is to “reduce the leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities.” This year, the NSC will be focusing efforts on these main topics:

  1. Hazard Recognition
  2. Slips, Trips, and Falls
  3. Fatigue
  4. Impairment

Here at SATECH, Inc. we believe that life shouldn’t hurt, and the topics of safety awareness, injury prevention, and fatigue reduction are near and dear to us. So, we thought we would take this chance to share our top 10 workplace safety tips.

1. Check Your Posture

Whether you work at a desk or in a manual labor environment make sure you use the correct posture to protect yourself from back injuries. If you work at a desk, you will want to keep your shoulders in line with your hips to avoid back problems. For manual labor, always lift with your legs and try to avoid stooping or twisting.

2. Don’t Take Shortcuts

We know that some workplace safety processes can be tedious and seem unnecessary but they are there for a reason. Taking shortcuts on workplace procedures more often than not leads to injuries. Even if it doesn’t, the small amount of time you ‘save’ isn’t worth the risk.

3. Try to Keep an 8-Hour Workday

Studies have found that the risk for a musculoskeletal injury greatly increases during a long shift due to the effects of muscle fatigue, strains, and sprains. If at all possible, try to work an 8-hour shift. If you must work longer, it is important to take regular breaks, especially if you are doing repeatedly manual work.

4. Take Work Breaks

When workers become too fatigued it can be difficult for them to adequately observe dangers in the workplace which increases their risk of injury.  By law, in an 8-hour shift, workers should be allotted two 10-15 minute breaks and a lunch break.

5. WWE: Walkways, Workstations, and Exits

An important step in reducing workplace injuries is to keep the above listed areas clean and clear of clutter. Not only can messy workstations increase workplace stress and reduce productivity, if workers don’t have adequate space to properly perform work tasks their risk of injury increases. Furthermore, in the case of a workplace disaster, exits need to remain clear and easily accessible. Finally, to reduce the risk of slips and falls, any spills should be cordoned off and cleaned up immediately.

6. Stay Focused and Be Aware

If your job requires a lot of movement or use of machinery, it is important to be aware of existing hazards and be conscious of other workers in your space. Staying focused will help you stay safe and might even prevent a coworker from getting hurt on the job.

7. Report Unsafe Conditions

Many workplace accidents and injuries can be avoided if the proper precautions are taken. If you feel unsafe at work, it is up to you to report potential workplace hazards to your supervisor. By law they are obligated to make sure you and your coworkers have a safe working environment.

8. Eat and Drink Smart

Did you know that roughly 3% of workplace injuries are due to intoxication on the job? In addition to staying sober, making sure you eat a healthy diet will allow you to naturally keep your energy up and fight off fatigue which leads to injuries. Foods rich in potassium, like bananas, will keep your muscles from cramping.

9. Pay Attention to Workplace Ergonomics

One of the major components to reducing workplace overuse injuries is to outfit workstations with ergonomically designed furniture and equipment. Personal workstations should be set up to minimize unnatural movement and allow for workers to maintain a neutral posture.

10. Use SmartCells Anti-fatigue Products

SmartCells anti-fatigue products are ergonomically designed and engineered to prevent and reduce pain, including back pain, associated with standing for extended periods of time.

The unique SmartCells technology provides a stable, supportive surface that cushions as weight is applied, then rebounds, like a spring, when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue.

SmartCells Anti-fatigue technology is available in pre-sized mats for single workstations or as a custom flooring solution designed to meet the needs of your specific environment.

SmartCells: Solutions to Life’s Painful Problems.

Let us help you find the right solution

Not sure where to start? Our customer service and sales representatives – who are just as knowledgeable about the product as the scientists who created it – would be happy to help you understand more.