4 Tips to Prevent A Personal Injury While Working Outside

Sprains, strains and fractures are common injuries that result from working outdoors. Every year, nearly 2 million people suffer a fracture due to accidental falls. When you need to work outside, it is a good idea that you wear the right protective wear and take necessary precautions. Here are four tips to prevent personal injury when working outside, but first, what should you do when you get injured at work?

What to do when you get injured

What to do when you get injured at work is a question that every worker may have to face. Anybody who has been through this knows how stressful it can be, but if you handle the situation correctly you will come out of it as smoothly as possible. The first thing to do when you get injured is to make sure you are safe. If you slip and fall or if there is any other serious injury, you need to get to safety before anything else. After that, however, it’s important to seek medical treatment as quickly as possible. Even if the injury doesn’t seem severe, the doctor can give you advice on what type of care you may need.

One of the important things to also do after an injury is to contact your lawyer. If your lawyer does not specialize in cases like this, you can get a personal injury lawyer. Say for instance, you live in Manhattan, New York, you can search for a slip and fall lawyer in Manhattan and in a couple of minutes you will find someone capable to help you get your compensation. That said, let’s look at some tips to help you prevent personal injury at work.

Wear protection equipment

One of the most significant ways to prevent personal injuries while working outside is to wear protective gear. Protective equipment consists of clothing, footwear, and other articles employees wear to protect against injury or illness resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical environmental hazards or biological hazards.

This includes a helmet when working on a ladder in an area with lots of debris or near power lines, eye protection when chipping or using any machinery on the roof, heavy duty gloves to avoid cuts while repairing equipment, ear guards to reduce noise levels and keep you from losing your hearing , and steel-toe boots that can protect you from hazards like nails, wires or other objects that may be hidden by grass or soil on a client’s property.

Incorporate a safety and wellness plan for all employees

Organizations are mandated by most safety agencies to provide a safe work environment for employees. However, complying with these requirements does not guarantee that an employee will not get injured. For example, according to the Ministry of Labour, workers are increasingly filing claims for injuries sustained due to work outside. To reduce the risk of injury or accident, employers should incorporate a safety and wellness plan.

By implementing a safety and wellness plan, employers provide employees with the knowledge and skills to work safely. Elements of such a plan include: allocated time and space to discuss risk management and prevention techniques; job-specific training; general health assessments; resources or equipment that will help complete tasks safely and so on.

Monitor safety measures

Everyone knows that working outside carries risks. Even the most simple of tasks, such as mowing the lawn or raking leaves, can result in a fall or other injury. Fortunately, it is possible to reduce your risk of suffering an outdoor-related personal injury by using four key concepts: planning, staying focused and aware, keeping yourself and others safe and knowing when to quit.

It is important not only to plan your activities beforehand for best results but to also consider safety while at work. When you know what needs to be done and how it should be done, following the plan is easier than winging it. This will also help you identify any potential problems or risks beforehand.

Even if you have a good idea of what needs to be done, distractions can occur. While you cannot always control your surroundings, being aware of them will help reduce the risk of injury. Whether someone pulls up in the drive or a large branch falls from the tree, taking the distraction into account beforehand is important for staying safe.

Eliminate slippery surfaces

One of the biggest risks in jobs that are performed outside is when an employee will slip on a wet surface. Whether they are roofers, landscapers, highway workers or even construction workers, there are ways to prevent these types of accidents from occurring so employees can go home safe after every shift.

Make sure all surfaces are well maintained to prevent hazardous conditions or spills. Not only does this help eliminate slippery surfaces but it also keeps employees from having to work around any oil, gas or other chemicals that could leave them exposed to hazardous chemicals.

Signs should be posted around the area to warn employees of potential hazards and can even help where there are heavy traffic areas to make sure other workers know if the surface is wet or slippery.

Safety should always be a priority when working outside. However, even if all precautions are taken and the proper safety steps are followed, accidents can still occur. Use these tips as a reminder to stay as safe as possible during any job performed outdoors.