If you recently got hired to work a blue-collar job, there are some things that you should know if you want to stay safe at work. Industrial environments are known to have additional hazards that you’ll likely not find in office jobs, so it’s especially important to be diligent when it comes to looking after your well-being. These four tips can help you avoid a workplace accident in your blue-collar environment.
Use All Safety Equipment
If hardhats, safety goggles, and other types of safety equipment are available at your work, you should use them. Many job sites require that you wear a hardhat and not doing so can result in your termination. Your work environment may also have earplugs or headphones that can protect your hearing if you work in a noisy environment. Some employers even give employees the option of using back supports when lifting heavy objects. Your employer should provide instructions on how to use the safety equipment properly so that you can keep yourself better protected.
Avoid Taking Shortcuts
You might be tempted at some point to take shortcuts to finish your work quicker, but doing so may prove to be dangerous as you can see from the video below. If you try to complete a certain task while skipping important steps, you run the risk of causing an accident that could result in bodily harm. It’s important that you take the time to follow each process correctly, even if it means falling behind in your schedule. If your employer tries to pressure you into working faster and causes you to suffer an injury, you may have legal grounds to file a lawsuit. If you can’t work and need money there are now companies that offers settlement advances until a settlement has been reached. But be cautious, some companies offer lawsuit loans, or pre-settlement loans which you might have to repay if you lose your case. You should seek a non-recourse lawsuit settlement advance. That way, you owe nothing if you lose your case.
https://youtu.be/CfaozYDFxdY?t=15
Take All Allotted Breaks
Your employer is supposed to give you a specific number of breaks during your shift if you work a certain number of hours. Not taking all your breaks may cause you to become more tired and unable to focus on work tasks as effectively. Since you’ll likely be doing a lot of manual labor, being exhausted could also make you physically weaker and less capable of conducting work tasks safely. USA Today points to many studies that show the correlation between exhaustion and workplace accidents. This also applies to your down time. Be sure to get plenty of sleep when you aren’t working so you won’t cause accidents at work.
Make Sure All Machine Guards are Functioning
Most of today’s machines feature safety guards to prevent them from coming on accidentally when they’re not supposed to be in use. You’ll want to see to it that all the machinery that you use has safety guards that are still working. Checking the safety guards on old equipment is especially important. Sometimes workers themselves disable the safety devices because they make the machine inconvenient or slower to use (especially if they are being paid on a “per-piece” basis). If you suspect that there are problems with the safety guards, you should insist that your employer has the machinery inspected.
Becoming a blue-collar worker doesn’t mean having to compromise your safety. If you follow the right tips and use your head, you can keep yourself protected at all times while on the job.
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