Page 26 - OHS, September 2021

PPE: CONSTRUCTION
Back to the Basics: Safety Reminders that Go Beyond COVID-19
Workplace safety precautions set in place prior to the pandemic should not be
forgotten about.
WBY DR. REED ERICKSON
ith the world’s gaze focused on protecting people against COVID-19 over the past two years, it may have been easy to lose sight of other foundational precautions and protocols that help keep workers
safe. However, going back to the basics of workplace safety can ensure that employees adhere to mandatory safety standards and remain healthy on the job. Here are five fundamental safety areas that employers can focus on in addition to continuing to follow COVID-19 safety measures.
Get a Grip on Protecting Hands
Hands are among the most valuable and versatile of workers’ tools: they can fluctuate between threading delicate electrical wires to sawing through a thick steel pipe to shifting the lever on a construction vehicle. Yet, despite how often hands are used, hand safety and injury prevention can be overlooked by both employers and employees.
22 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2021
www.ohsonline.com
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 121,000 employees sustained hand injuries that required them to take time off from work in 2019.1 Unsurprisingly, a major reason for employees sustaining hand injuries was not wearing proper PPE—70 percent of all workers who reported injuries did not use any form of hand protection, such as gloves, that could have prevented harm.2
In light of this, employers should encourage their workers to wear gloves that can properly protect their hands when working with materials, equipment or in an environment that could cause injuries. It is also a good idea to research and recommend styles and brands that meet safety standards to help employees make informed decisions.
Be Mindful of Head Safety Requirements
Over the past decade, the rate of work-related head injuries has increased greatly, from 61,200 annual cases in 2010 to 79,620 in
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