This article is contributed by Jason Dirkham
Keeping yourself out of harm’s way and in the best condition possible is a key feature of being successful in your career. There are many different risks associated with the workplace, and failing to look after yourself will have an affect on the way that you are able to complete the tasks you are set. If you need a little push in the right direction, below are some of the best tips to stay safe and well at work that can help you to have peace of mind and be able to operate your full capability every day.
Lay The Foundations
The responsibility is on you to lay the right foundations that can help to ensure your own individual health and well being is as strong as possible, so you can give your all each day at work and have the right energy and focus to thrive. Eating the right diet is key, as fueling your body with all of the wrong foods will not only discourage productivity, but also increase the likelihood of you encountering a possibly preventable illness or disease. Consume your recommended 5 a day, and include oily fish within your diet to help your brain to operate well. Exercise is another very important activity that you should not overlook, as though it may seem as though it doesn’t have much to do with your average working day, it can help you to manage stress and release some pressure too. Do not engage in any unlawful or irresponsible behavior when you are due to be attending a shift, as this could put both you and your colleagues at risk. As a result, drinking alcohol during the weeknights should be limited as much as possible and you must take the right steps to be smart when you do choose to indulge.
Follow Rules
There are all sorts of rules that you will need to make sure you are following in the workplace in order to be as safe as possible. Many of them are obvious to follow, such as making sure that you are taking your break time as you are meant to, and not doing anything to cause damage to anyone else. Some are more subtle but still hugely important, and you’ll need to make sure that you are still following the rules: wearing ID badges, signing into the building and so on all make a difference too, after all. As long as you follow all the necessary rules, you will find that you and others around you are going to be a lot safer.
Regulations In The Workplace
Every single workplace should have some kind of health and safety regulations guide that details how you must work in order to stay safe and well at all times. Your manager must invest in the correct equipment to protect you during whatever task you are completing, whether this be hard hats and high visibility jackets on a construction site or ergonomic chairs and heating inside an office. Fire safety equipment is vital for any kind of business, whether this be extinguishers, blankets or sprinklers, and there must be a recognizable and locatable route for you as an employee to swiftly and easily exit the building should you find yourself in a dangerous situation. There are many different acts and laws that your boss has the responsibility of following, but you must blow the whistle on any unsafe practices on the ground for the security of everybody involved. Don’t be afraid to call out your colleagues when they are putting themselves or you at risk, as the dangers could be serious and any jokes are not worth your wellbeing.
If Something Goes Wrong
Sometimes you are unable to predict the situations you encounter in the workplace, and the worst can end up happening without any warning or chance for you to escape. When you are injured or negatively affected by an experience during your employment, you must take the appropriate steps to seek some kind of acknowledgment form the business, whether this be in court or privately, with the possible end goal of compensation. With professionals like Ogletree Deakins always on hand to provide you with the best advice and guidance to see you through the whole process, you must make an effort to hold someone accountable for the mistakes that lead to your injury or trauma. If you encounter an issue out of your own wrongdoing, then speak with your employers to establish some kind of sick pay or leave that you can take in order to recover, but still return again to continue working when you are feeling better. If the premises has been damaged by a storm, and people have been injured as a result, then contacting a storm damage lawyer would be your best course of action.
Staying safe and well and work boils down to a few key factors. You must lay the right foundations for both your mind and body to thrive and work to their maximum potential by eating a healthy diet and taking the time to work out and relieve stress. Identify any health and safety regulations that have been established within your workplace, and make an effort to follow these guidelines closely. Let your managers know when others are acting irresponsibly, as they will not only be endangering themselves but everyone around them too, and have a professional at hand who will know what to do if something were to go wrong.
This article is contributed by Jason Dirkham.
