For Safety Managers, accident prevention is one of the leading indicators of an effective safety initiative. After all, the goal of any workplace safety program is to eliminate accidents so that employees can safely perform their jobs. Unfortunately, many companies fail to achieve this goal because they haven’t identified the unique safety hazards that plague their facilities. With 80% of occupational injuries being triggered by improper preventative measures, identifying safety hazards in the workplace is important to avoid workplace accidents.

Read ahead to learn why an accurate identification of safety hazards is the foundation of accident prevention.

 

Building Awareness for Your Team

Accident prevention is tough when you aren’t aware that a hazard exists. That’s why it is important to perform a thorough assessment of the workplace to spot potential hazards. When you proactively identify threats, you build safety awareness for both you and your team. Safety awareness involves being constantly alert and able to recognize hazards. As a result, the understanding of the risks in your workplace streamlines your accident prevention efforts. Additionally, knowing the risks enables better preparation if an incident occurs.

 

Establishing Protocols and Procedures

Protocols and procedures are key in effective accident prevention. Such protocols serve as a guideline for ensuring your team performs their individual tasks without sustaining injuries. Without knowledge of the safety hazards your team faces, it’s nearly impossible to establish an effective safety plan and mitigate risks. When you identify your company’s safety hazards, you can create a more accurate outline to help your team navigate and avoid obstacles.

 

Controlling the Outcome

The most important reason for identifying workplace safety hazards is to eliminate them before an accident occurs. While some potential threats can be determined and removed rather quickly, others are more involved. Regardless, all hazards must be addressed and resolved to keep your team safe.

The following are a few steps that can be used to identify safety hazards:

• Conduct worksite inspections
• Review current injury and accident records
• Assess how employees perform their tasks

 

Safety hazard identification is the first step in eliminating risks and preventing accidents and injuries. As you work to protect your team, consider the positive impacts of having an awareness of safety hazards.  With this awareness, you’ll be better equipped to enforce a strong safety plan and prevent employees from being injured.

 

Read Identifying Workplace Safety Hazards for Accident Prevention for more insights on how to determine your company’s potential safety threats.