When it comes to ensuring workplace health and safety, several factors come into play. This, of course, comes as no surprise since most workplace incidents and accidents are rarely the result of a single event. To put it simply, when accidents happen at work, it is usually a result of multiple contributing factors.
Therefore, in order for employers and employees to come together and create a strong workplace health and safety program, it is crucial that they fully understand what these factors are and what role they need to play in mitigating them.
It is as equally important to ensure you have reviews conducted by a trustworthy company like Howlett Health And Safety Services. Read on to see some of the common factors that can affect your health and safety at work.
Table of Contents
Environment
The environment, in this case, simply refers to all parts of the workplace, especially where you and other employees spend a substantial fraction of your time. Your working environment has the potential to impact your mental health and well-being, both positively and negatively. Some of the workplace environmental factors that can affect your health and safety include;
Temperature and Humidity
Ideally, your workplace should have adequate heating (indoor) and cooling systems for comfort during the cold and hot weather, respectively.
Occupational injuries and illnesses such as cold stress (hypothermia, frostbite, chilblains, and trench foot) and heat stress (heat stroke, heat exhaustion, rashes, and heat cramps) are likely to occur when employees are exposed to working environments with extreme cold or heat.
Ventilation
Lack of adequate air movement and air exchange is another environmental factor that can affect your health and safety at work. This is why most countries have enforcements or bans on people smoking in enclosed spaces at work.
Ergonomics
The physical arrangement of your working area is another factor that can affect your health and safety. Activities such as reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy objects, bending, lifting heavy items, and even your sitting posture can affect your nervous and muscular system (causing musculoskeletal disorders) when done incorrectly.
Ideally, employers should provide employees with the right equipment and training needed to carry out these tasks correctly and safely.
People
The actions of the people you work with (whether they display it or not) also has a significant impact on your health and safety at work.
Understanding their rights, wearing proper PPE, taking proper care of company equipment, voicing out safety concerns, looking out for each other, and leading by example are some of the ways people can contribute to keeping the workplace safer and healthier.
Equipment and Materials
These include the various raw materials, harsh chemical products, and potentially hazardous substances that you handle, process, or use at work. The type of tools and machines you work with can also influence your health and safety at work. Some equipment may emit harmful chemicals, noise, radiation, and vibration when you operate them.
Stress
Although stress is a term that is often over-used, it can be linked to some workplace incidents and accidents. Stress should be tackled in the same way as any other factor affecting workplace health and safety.
Some of the contributing causes of workplace stress include; work overload, lack of control over how the work gets done, poor support from managers, poor handling of organisational change, poor work-life balance, lack of social support (poor relationship with colleagues), and conflicting (ambiguous) roles.
Conclusion
Having a safe and healthy workplace is your right as an employee. It is also important that you identify and take proactive steps to reduce any of the above factors that can influence your workplace health and safety. Doing this will not only ensure a safe working environment for you but an increase in productivity.
