Common off-the-job Safety Hazards
Why it Should be an Extension of Your on-the-job Safety Culture
Training employees to be safe at home as well as at work has not been a standard part of most Australian workplace safety programs. However, incorporating off-the-job safety into your company’s safety program can help the business and your employees.
Majority of Serious Injuries Occur off-the-job
Despite the common perception that the home is safer than the workplace, workers are far more likely to suffer an injury at home, on the road or during leisure activities than they are on the job. A US report shows that 10 out of 11 unintentional fatalities and 70 percent of disabling injuries occur off the job.
Although employers are not legally responsible for their workers while they are not working, investing in an off-the-job safety program can reduce absenteeism due to a worker being injured at home.
Even an injury to a family member may require an employee to take time off as a care giver. The absence of a skilled employee may require the company to spend time and resources to hire a new employee. Whether or not the injured person is replaced, it is likely that productivity will suffer.
Managers in best practice organisations work to create a culture of safety which encourages the transfer of safe work practices to the home.
Safe at Home and Work
Off-the-job safety programs can also support workplace improvement efforts.
Promoting safety outside the workplace can strengthen the company’s safety culture by encouraging thinking about safety as a way of life, rather than a mindset that is switched off when leaving the workplace.
Don’t switch off safety when you leave work!
Do-It-Yourself Related Injuries
Many of the serious injuries occurring at home are a result of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) jobs in the home. In Victoria, DIY activities account for 12% of adult emergency department visits.
Common DIY injuries occur during grinding, lawn mowing and ladder use. The most common types of injuries are finger and hand lacerations or foreign bodies in the eye.
It is clear that many of the injuries could have been prevented by using personal protective equipment, appropriate tools, and used reasonable safety precautions.
Studies show many injuries would be prevented if the safety practices commonly applied in the workplace were used at home.
Tips to Help Prevent off-the-job Injuries
Driver Safety
Motor vehicle incidents are a leading cause of preventable injury and death.
Employees who are required to drive in the course of work are usually trained in safe driving techniques. These programs could also be offered to employees who are not required to drive for work, as many traffic accidents occur driving to and from work, or in leisure time.
Extending off-the-job safety initiatives such as driver safety programs to employees’ families possibly at a discount rate, extends the caring philosophy that is often portrayed in the workplace and demonstrates a greater sense of care.
Preventing Injury From DIY Jobs
As DIY work results in many preventable off-the-job injuries, sharing resources from the workplace can assist to prevent these.
Consider allowing personnel to borrow personal protective equipment and possibly tools to use at home. This may allow workers access to better quality equipment. If the equipment to be borrowed is not regularly used by the employee in their work, appropriate training would be required.
Home Fire Safety
Whilst workplaces are generally well equipped to detect and warn of fire, homes require particular attention as people may be sleeping in the event of a fire. Workers should be reminded to regularly test smoke alarms, to replace batteries twice yearly if not hard-wired, and to have a family fire escape plan.
Ways to Communicate off-the-job Safety Messages
If there is a company newsletter, include regular articles with home and recreation safety tips.
Display posters in the workplace with off-the job safety messages eg on noticeboards or on the back of toilet doors.
Safety talks and or team meetings to periodically include home and leisure safety.
If you would like to discuss how to expand your safety program to include off-the-job risks for your team then email us or call on 03 8544 4300.