June is National Safety Month, and the National Safety Council (NSC) invites everyone to observe this time and keep each other safe in our workplaces and elsewhere. At Transcend Facility Management Company, we value safety procedures and regularly review and improve our industry safety standards.
For commercial janitorial companies, workplace safety training is important, and that’s why we provide thorough training for all of our employees. Our team is trained to recognize safety hazards and correct them. An in-depth understanding of safety helps us minimize accidents and operate at our best.
The NSC outlines focus points for each week of National Safety Month, and we’ll be chatting more about those below.
Week 1: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
MSDs usually happen when a worker uses muscles, tendons, and ligaments to complete tasks in awkward positions or at a frequency that creates pain and injury over time. They include injuries like pinched nerves, herniated discs, meniscus tears, sprains, hernias, carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome, Raynaud’s syndrome, and others.
According to the NSC, MSDs, also known as ergonomic injuries, are the leading cause of workplace injuries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that of the 900,380 cases involving days away from work in the U.S. private sector in 2018, 30% were due to MSD injury cases.
At Transcend, we are aware of the risk of MSDs and take a proactive approach to prevent ergonomic injuries when possible. We exercise control measures to reduce the risk of injuries and illness for our employees and those we serve through our custodial cleaning services in Chester County, PA, so that we can all maintain productivity.
Week 2: Workplace Impairment
Impairment can be dangerous at work, whether from substance use and abuse, mental distress, stress, or fatigue. An NSC employer survey showed that 90% of employers are concerned about alcohol, opioids, mental health disorders, and chronic stress in their employees. More than half of the respondents stated that impairment decreases their employees’ safety, and 43% said that impairment had increased worker compensation costs.
Listening to employees and sharing helpful resources is crucial to reducing impairment. Managers and supervisors are vital in noticing impairment and need to be thoroughly trained to recognize the signs and intervene as needed.
Week 3: Injury Prevention
More than four million workplace injuries needed medical attention in the U.S. in 2020 – a number that speaks to how essential injury prevention is for workplace safety. Employers need injury prevention programs in place that are right for their organization to adequately protect employee and client safety, and by extension, their company’s bottom line.
Analyze injury data at your organization, including worker compensation losses. Doing so will help you decide on the right injury prevention program for your workplace.
Based on the data collected, would a program focused on new hires be the most beneficial? Or are injuries more frequent among seasoned workers, necessitating targeted training there? Effective injury prevention will help your company achieve its goals and keep everyone healthy and safe.
Week 4: Slips, Trips, and Falls
According to the NSC, falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death. Depending on the industry, falls can be the leading cause of death at work.
While certain occupations – such as construction workers – are at a much higher risk of sustaining injuries or dying from falls, these accidents can occur in any workplace. Employees need to plan ahead, assess the risk level, and use the correct equipment for their tasks.
Routine inspection of your workplace and regular maintenance will help prevent slipping and tripping for both visitors and employees. Transcend understands the risks and practices safety strategies to help our clients avoid slips, trips, and falls in their workplace.
Observing National Safety Month and implementing successful safety and health programs in your workplace can help prevent injury, illness, and death while improving sustainability and revenue.
The custodial cleaning services provided by Transcend are designed to guard against health risks and keep your facility open and operational. Join our team or contact us if you’re looking for commercial janitorial companies in Chester County, PA. Safety is our top priority!