One of the most important factors of running a business effectively is keeping employees healthy and safe. Safety Lessons Learned is a series designed to provide examples of workplace accidents that result in injury or even death to help employers recognize hazards and put the proper preventative measures in place (names have been changed to ensure confidentiality).
Joe drives a forklift and operates other heavy equipment at ABC Warehouse in Austin, Texas. While completing a project, he discovered that he needed to adjust the width of the forks, but no one had ever
Tim works on a landscaping crew in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The crew was working on a hot summer day when temperatures peaked over 100 degrees. Tim did not drink enough water or take the appropriate amount of breaks during the day and suffered fatal heat-related injuries.
Remind crewmembers to prevent heat-related illnesses by following these simple tips.
Extreme heat, especially in climates like Florida, is both uncomfortable and dangerous. Other ways to stay safe while working in the heat include wearing light colored clothing and a hat, wearing sunscreen and reporting symptoms of heat-related illnesses immediately. For more safety tips on working in the heat, click here.
Brian has owned his own roofing company for 25 years. Because of his experience in the industry, he rarely uses a harness, although he requires his team to use protective equipment. While working on a roofing job in New York City, Brian reached for a tool, slipped, and fell to his death.
Always wear fall protection when working on roofs or any other heights where the distance to the ground is more than six feet. Remember, just because you have done this before without getting hurt does not mean you never will. Falls remain the biggest cause of worker deaths in the construction industry. Situations like this not only have a physical impact on the injured employee, there are also financial and emotional implications for all those involved.