Keep an eye out for equipment and materials that could cause someone to fall: unsecured air hoses, long extension cords, parts laid out on the floor, spills that aren’t cleaned up, and so on. If any of these hazards are present, it may be only a matter of time before someone trips or slips and falls. Keep in mind that many falls lead to severe injuries to workers’ backs, hips, and knees, causing people to miss work for extended periods of time.

Fires have numerous causes: exposed wiring, poor chemical storage, loose papers in a file cabinet—the list goes on. Organizations can reduce their fire risks by labeling and documenting all known flammable or combustible materials. Second, any excess materials that could catch on fire should be stored away from electrical equipment or disposed of if possible.

Aisle clearance minimizes the risk of falling objects and forklift accidents. If you’re like most EHS professionals, you’ve probably seen one or a dozen videos in which a forklift operator drives down an aisle and collides with a rack, causing the whole structure to tumble down. (If you’re not familiar, there are hundreds of these videos on YouTube). Such videos show the importance of keeping aisles clear. Ensure pedestrian walkways are at least 28 inches wide, unencumbered. All forklift paths should be clear by at least 10 feet.

This one is simple, and yet many organizations fail to address it properly, risking thousands of dollars along with workers’ lives. Always make sure there’s nothing blocking any exit out of a facility. Don’t stack boxes or store objects directly in front of doors or exit paths.

As with exit paths, you can’t afford to have anything blocking fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, electrical panels, and other emergency equipment. Any second wasted could cause a catastrophe, life-altering injury, or death. If there’s an electrical issue, you need to be able to shut off electrical panels as quickly as possible. If there’s a fire, you need to be able to access an extinguisher without moving anything out of the way. If someone is exposed to a hazardous chemical, they need to be able to access the eyewash or shower station rapidly—within 10 seconds. Keep in mind that anybody who needs an eyewash probably can’t see. If there’s a pallet of materials in their way or electrical cords draped across the floor in front of the eyewash station, there’s a good chance that person will collide into something or trip.

If your workers aren’t aware of potential hazards, they don’t know how to keep themselves and others protected. Hazard labeling, communication, and management can save lives. The following need to be present anywhere workers could be exposed to hazardous substances:

1. material safety data sheets (MSDS or SDS for short) for every chemical on the jobsite

2. a written hazard communication plan

3. comprehensive hazard communication training for all workers who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals

Want to learn more about hazard communication? We’ve got you covered!