Not all work can be conducted in the warmth and safety of an office. Some people have to do their jobs outside, and for them, there are a host of exterior hazards to be wary of.
These three are some of the worst offenders, and therefore, it’s essential that employees are protected against them at the workplace.
Extreme Weather
When you have to work outside, the weather can either be your friend or your enemy. There are plenty of occasions when the heat, wind, and sun all maintain a nice balance, allowing for optimal working conditions. Unfortunately, there can be just as many situations when one or more of these things tips the scale and makes the job difficult and potentially hazardous.
You have to be careful if things get too hot, cold, sunny, wet, or windy, as these conditions can all lead to health issues or accidents. Thankfully, there are suggestions here for what to do if the weather isn’t on your side. Sometimes, the best course of action is to call things off for the day, but if not, these tips should hopefully make things easier.
Unsafe Ladders
If you’re someone who regularly has to access the roof of a building, it pays not to be afraid of heights. Unfortunately, not being acrophobic isn’t enough to keep you safe up there. No matter how confident you might be that far off the ground, there’s always a risk that you’ll slip, and then you’re in big trouble.
To protect against this, it’s essential that all buildings have the right roof access ladders. These should be made with sturdy materials, follow the necessary safety regulations, and be fit for purpose, much like the ladders at Safe@Heights.
It’s also important that workers be trained in – and made to comply with – the rules on how to safely use ladders. This, combined with secure roof access, should significantly reduce the risk of falling.
Dangerous Terrain
Even when your feet are firmly on the ground, you’re not safe from danger. The terrain that you’re working on can be filled with hazards without you even realising it. Perhaps there are potholes in the ground that you can’t see when you’re carrying equipment. Or, maybe there’s a lot of mud that becomes incredibly slippery whenever there’s a bit of rain.
It might seem like the worst thing that can happen here is falling over, but that may do more damage than you realise. Twisting your ankle or hitting your head could put you out of work for days, if not weeks. Thankfully, this website has plenty of information on preventing tripping and the different ways to counteract falling over depending on the slip potential.
Accidents happen sometimes, even when you protect against them. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do everything you can to keep employees safe and improve exterior workplace conditions. Even if all this accomplishes is stopping people from falling over as much, you never know how much of a difference that could actually make.