Safety in the workplace is at the forefront of industry and government officials thinking. Together they have come up with suggestions on how managers can provide a safer work environment for their employees and cut down on the number of injuries and fatalities occurring across the nation.

The following are some eye-opening workplace safety statistics:

1. Nearly one million workers are injured on the job every year. 

2. On average, there are three workplace related deaths in Canada every day. 

3. The manufacturing industry saw the second highest death total across Canadian industries. 

4. Workplace fatalities and injuries in Canada cost the economy roughly $19 billion per year. 

What You Can Do

Given the social and economic costs of poor workplace safety, managers and employees need to do everything in their power to ensure they are running safe industrial operations. Follow these tips to make sure that you’re being as safe as possible on the job: 

1. Use a tool only for its intended purpose. 

2. Inspect your tools on a regular basis for wear and tear. 

3. Use the right tools for the right job in hazardous situations, such as non-sparking and nonmagnetic tools. 

4. If you don’t have the right tool for the job, don’t improvise. Ask for the correct tool. 

5. Tag all defective tools and remove them from the work environment. 

6. Always wear the required protection when using hand tools. 

Although these tips may seem like common sense, many business executives say employees often ignore safety best practices. This increases the chance of injury for the worker and other personnel. By following these tips, you can ensure that you and your peers are limiting the potential safety hazards at your facility.

The infographic below summarizes the 6 tips to ensure workplace safety.