Staying safe at work is not always as easy as it seems. For many small businesses, for example, it can seem that by implementing the required safety guidelines you can protect yourself and your employees. It is important, however, to realize that there are a number of hidden dangers that can determine the health of everyone in a work space. Although you might, for instance, have the necessary floor protection in place to make sure that changes in elevation are marked and that slick areas are not as dangerous, it is important to realize that the carpet that we walk on can pose a health risk, especially to people with allergies and asthma.
Did you know, for instance, that even carpet that looks clean can hold up to one pound of dirt in a single square yard? In addition, contaminants and air pollutants, such as dust, dander, and chemicals pulled into the HVAC system can be recirculated five to seven times a day. Over time, this recirculation can even cause buildup in the duct work, harming residents’ and workers’ health.
It is Not Enough to Follow Floor Protection and Slip and Fall Standards
There is a real danger in thinking that you have covered the slip and fall standards in a space at work. It is also important in the office, as well as at home, to make sure that you are also providing clean and safe air in the buildings where we work and the homes where we live.
In fact, construction floor protection and construction dust control are equally important issues that safety managers must pay attention to. More than 50% of construction workers were diagnosed with moderate pulmonary restriction, and 4.70% of these were classified as obstructive, according to a 2017 study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Protecting workers and customers from dangers that are both seen and unseen is an important role of any safety manager at any business, not matter how big or how small.
Occupational lung diseases are the number one cause of occupation-associated illness in the U.S. based on the frequency, severity, and preventability of the illnesses. Are you doing all that you can to make your work a safe, clean environment?
