Safety Essentials for The Workplace

Each year, many accidents and injuries occur in the workplace. Having the right equipment on hand can make all the difference – sometimes between life and death. Below we take a look at some of the most important safety essentials employers should keep at their work premises.

First Aid Kit

First aid kits are a must-have in the workplace. Designed to treat a wide range of scrapes, cuts, burns, strains, and bruises, they help deal with the immediate effects of an accident. A typical all-purpose first aid kit might include such items as burn gel, alcohol swabs, surgical tape and scissors, bandages, plasters, eye pads, antiseptic gel, and tweezers. For companies looking to take their safety essentials to the next level, workplace first aid kits can be purchased according to industry need, for example  construction, farming, hospitality and so on.

Wound Kits

Correctly treating and dressing wounds after injury can be the determining factor in whether or not it becomes infected. Therefore, putting together a wound treatment kit for your workplace is highly advisable. Typical items that should make up the kit include dressings, bandages, swabs, gauze, splints, support bands, and arm slings. You’ll also want to have some antiseptics, burn ointments, and hot and cold packs to hand. Walking aids and neck supports are also useful additions for those whose mobility may have been affected by an incident.

Fire Extinguishers & Blankets

If a fire should break out, having the appropriate equipment available can make all the difference. Quick action can prevent a small fire from turning into a big blaze. There are different types of fire extinguishers available, including those that utilise dry powder, water, wet chemical, and foam. Just be sure to check that the fire extinguisher you buy is suitable for any flammable materials in the vicinity.

Fire blankets are very useful as well and can help to put out a small fire or prevent it from spreading. They can also be wrapped around a person to extinguish clothing that is ablaze.

Safety & Warning Signs

The best-case scenario is to prevent incidents from happening in the first place. Safety and warning signs are key to this. Typical safety signs include no smoking and no entry notices, signs indicating that safety clothing and footwear must be worn, and clear signals of where fire extinguishers and first aid kits are located. Warning signs highlight dangers that may be present, for example, toxic, hazardous, flammable or corrosive substances and dangerous goods. Together safety and warning signs convey a clear message that alerts people to unexpected dangers, which significantly reduces the risk

Chemical Spill Kits

If your workplace involves the use of chemicals then having a kit on standby to take care of any hazardous spills is absolutely essential. Typical chemical spill kits will include protective equipment to put on while dealing with the spill, for instance, protective gloves and a face mask. There should also be a selection of chemical sorbents capable of absorbing the liquid along with a suitable receptacle for disposing of the materials afterwards. This will help you contain and minimise the effects of any spill efficiently.

Whilst precautions should always be taken to avoid accidents wherever possible, they are, unfortunately, an inevitable part of working life. Having the appropriate safety essentials to hand can, however, help to prevent an accident from turning into a tragedy.