How to Maintain Safety in the Workplace: A Practical Guide

It’s no secret that workplace accidents can have long-lasting consequences for both the employee and the employer.

Not only does the employee face the possibility of a lower quality of life due to long-term physical, emotional, and financial impacts, but the employer risks high medical costs, potential liabilities, and significant lost labour time.

According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), Canada had 348,747 lost time claims in 2022 due to workplace injuries and illnesses. While the exact number of days and hours of labour lost is unclear, any lost time in the industrial sector can be detrimental, making it critical to maintain workplace safety.

If you are looking for information on how to maintain safety for your crew, we encourage you to keep reading to learn about the top safety tips for industrial workplaces. By following this guide, you can help reduce the risk of accidents in your workplace.

What is Workplace Safety?

Workplace safety refers to the policies, procedures, and practices implemented to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of employees while they are on the job.

It is the collective responsibility of all within an organization, including employers, management, supervisors, employees at all levels, contractors, and visitors, to uphold safety procedures that prevent workplace injuries.

Top 10 Workplace Safety Tips

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to be injured while working, especially in industries such as oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, forestry, and construction.

In 2022, there were 993 workplace fatalities recorded in Canada, according to AWCBC. To help create a safe working environment that allows your employees to head home at the end of each shift, we have compiled a list of the top 10 workplace safety tips.

1. Encourage Proactive Communication

Regular safety meetings are an effective way to establish strong communication within a workplace. By consistently sharing important information, updates, and safety protocols, employers can ensure that all team members are well-informed and prepared for their workday.

Providing a space that encourages open discussions about safety concerns and suggestions also empowers employees to report unsafe conditions and potential risks, leading to timely interventions and continuous improvement of safety procedures. Through proactive communication, workers can build trust and a safer environment.

2. Provide Continuous Training and Education

Workplace safety should always be the top priority for any company, and continuous learning is a large part of that. Proper training and education are standard during the onboarding process, but investing in thorough and ongoing safety education ensures that workers are always aware of the latest safety practices and can identify any risks, reducing the likelihood of workplace incidents.

At Trojan Safety, we provide comprehensive safety programs for:

• Confined Space Entry & Rescue
• Detection and Control of Flammable Substances
• Ground Disturbance
• H2S Alive
• Occupational First Aid
• Oilfield Driver Awareness
• Transportation Endorsement
• Worker Fall Protection

Our instructors are professionals who have a combination of deep knowledge and field experience in their area of expertise, making them effective leaders in industrial safety.

3. Complete Risk and Hazard Assessments

A key component of maintaining workplace safety is regularly completing risk and hazard assessments. Continuously monitoring hazards and risks is an effective way to identify new hazards and address their risks, ensuring workplace safety.

These assessments involve identifying workplace hazards, evaluating the risks associated with them, and implementing measures to mitigate or eliminate those risks.

4. Review the Safety Plan

Having a comprehensive safety plan that all employees are familiar with is essential for a safe workplace, and regularly reviewing protocols is crucial for maintaining workplace safety.

By regularly reviewing safety plans, new safety procedures can be implemented for any concerns or changes that arise over time. Engaging employees in the development and ongoing evaluation of the safety plan can also improve its effectiveness and create a positive safety culture.

Part of your safety plan may include investing in industrial safety services, and as industrial safety specialists, we are committed to your team’s safety. At Trojan Safety, we provide medical and paramedic services, firefighting services, H2S safety services, as well as air quality monitoring, ensuring a safe workplace for our clients.

5. Utilize Personal Protective Equipment

Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a key component of workplace safety. PPE serves as the last line of defence against potential physical, chemical, or biological hazards, protecting workers from injuries and illnesses.

Because the health and safety of every person in any work environment is paramount to operations, it’s essential to encourage employees to utilize PPE and conduct regular inspections to ensure its integrity.

6. Display Safety Signage

Displaying appropriate signs in the corresponding areas is a simple way to identify hazards and remind employees to use safe practices, including wearing safety glasses, hard hats, and other PPE. The most effective safety signage is easily understandable and clearly visible in high-risk areas.

These signs help prevent accidents by alerting employees and visitors to any dangers, as well as guide individuals to emergency exits, first aid stations, or fire extinguishers should they be needed. Regularly updating these signs helps reinforce a proactive safety culture by enhancing awareness with noticeable visuals.

We’ve created a few free safety signs that may be useful for your staff, and we encourage you to print them off and hang them up in your workplace:

7. Conduct Safety Drills

Practice makes perfect, and that’s why it’s worthwhile to conduct regular safety drills. By simulating potential real-life scenarios, such as a fire, employees gain the knowledge and experience required to respond effectively in emergency situations.

These practice runs test the effectiveness of the emergency plans, providing the opportunity to identify weaknesses and make improvements. Continuous evaluation and refinement of safety procedures based on drill outcomes can increase employee confidence and minimize risks during unforeseen events.

8. Perform Safety Audits

Safety audits are vital to maintaining workplace safety. These evaluations determine the health and safety of a work setting by assessing an organization and its employees’ adherence to safety protocols and regulations.

Conducting regular safety audits allows companies to proactively detect and address risks before they lead to any incidents. They also provide valuable insight into current safety measures and highlight the areas that need improvement.

9. Maintain Equipment

Maintaining equipment prolongs its lifespan and reduces costly repairs, but it also helps prevent injuries. Equipment malfunctions can be a culprit of workplace incidents, which is why it is crucial to ensure that all equipment is functioning well. Regular maintenance checks, including inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and parts replacement, help identify and resolve potential issues before they become hazards.

It’s also important to train employees on the correct use and care of machinery. This prevents misuse that could lead to incidents and encourages prompt reporting of any irregularities.

10. Promote a Safety Culture

When safety is ingrained in the workplace culture, it becomes an integral part of daily operations. For example, when work gets busy, a well-established safety culture helps prevent employees from skipping critical safety steps in a rush to complete tasks, promoting the overall health and safety of every team member.

The key elements of a positive safety culture in the workplace are leadership commitment, clear policies and procedures, employee engagement, and accountability.

Sustaining Safety in the Workplace

Maintaining safety in the workplace is an ongoing commitment that requires effort from every person within an organization.

At Trojan Safety, we bring more than 20 years of experience in delivering comprehensive safety training programs that empower employees with the skills they need to respond effectively in emergencies.

Additionally, we offer occupational health and safety services that are tailored to meet the unique demands of Western Canada’s oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, forestry, and construction industries. Partner with us to elevate your safety standards, protect your workforce, and ensure your business thrives with a positive safety culture.

Contact us to learn how we can help increase the safety of your industrial operations.