Prevention
To help prevent slips, trips and falls, start by setting up a basic health and safety system in your workplace. See Accident Compensation Corporation’s ‘ACC366 How to implement safer workplace practices’ which offers guidance on this topic.

Once a health and safety system is in place you can use the Discomfort Pain and Injury Contributory Factors model to help you look at the issue of slips, trips and falls more holistically.

For example, you could consider the effects of poor housekeeping systems, production pressures, the ageing work force and operational decisions. Contributory factors act in combinations and tend to influence each other.

Early reporting
Encourage workers to report near misses, near hits and incidents sooner rather than later. A near miss report is an opportunity to prevent an actual accident happening in the future.

It allows you to identify the factors that contributed to the near miss and do something to reduce or resolve them. Ensure workers have easy access to health and safety information and know how to submit a report. Let them know that reporting is an important way for them to help keep each other safe at work.

When a report is made, take appropriate action to resolve any problems you find. Ensure any hazards identified are entered into your Hazard Control Register.

Management response
If an injury incident does occur use the following process:
1. Apply first aid as necessary and get medical assistance if required.
2. Ascertain the seriousness of the injury
3. Look for opportunities for injured workers to stay at work. Promote work-based recovery

whenever possible.
4. Keep in contact with the injured workers if they are off work and implement a return-to-

work plan.
5. Investigate and remedy all contributory factors associated with the incident, not just the

obvious ones.

Behaviours associated with bullying are repeated, unreasonable and may be damaging to people’s health. Some examples of bullying behaviours are:

• Spreading malicious rumours or insulting someone
• Picking on someone or setting them up to fail
• Overbearing supervision or overloading someone with work
• Making threats about job security
• Using abusive and humiliating language

Everyone in the workplace has obligations to prevent bullying and everyone can work on solutions to avoid escalating low key problems. However, severe cases, left unchecked, can result in a breach of obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act and the Employment Relations Act.

Work-related stress may occur where work demands exceed a person’s capacity and capability to cope. Stress is often linked with physical and mental fatigue.

It’s important to understand the difference between normal work pressure, which is usually to do with meeting a rewarding challenge; and stress, which is more to do with resisting a threat of some sort. Where there are urgent deadlines, work overload, poor relationships or where other things cause stress, we mostly cope – if there is a return to ‘normal’ within a reasonable time.

When work stress is on-going and contributes to emotional, psychological or physical illness, it becomes a concern and needs to be managed like any other hazard in the workplace.

Unmanaged, work-related stress is known to be linked with high levels of absenteeism, sick leave, staff turnover and human error. So as well as improving productivity, it’s also important to manage for the morale and health of workers.

Work is healthy when it provides:

• a balance of effort and rest
• some variety in and of tasks
• a sense of control and autonomy (for example some personal control over when and how tasks are done)
• good communication and collaboration
• rewards, recognition and support
• confidence in the organisation’s leadership

Fatigue

Over tired workers don’t perform as well, are less productive, and are more likely to have accidents and injuries. Worker fatigue is also linked with stress.

Many life factors can cause fatigue and it’s important that everyone in the workplace can recognise fatigue and develop practices to eliminate it where possible.

In situations where fatigue can lead to harm (such as driving or the operation of dangerous machinery) employers have obligations to take all practicable steps to ensure that fatigue is not likely to cause harm. Employers are not responsible for factors outside of work that impact on an employee’s ability to cope, or that lead to fatigue. But they are required to have systems that identify and deal with such factors when they may affect workplace safety.

Shift-work can be particularly hazardous because of the disruption to normal rest patterns. It’s important for workers to have adequate recovery time outside of work so they are safe and productive at work.

Along with adequate sleep, breaks during work hours are important for assisting a worker’s physical and mental well-being.

You have the right to know.

Your employer must inform you of all significant hazards at work, and involve employees in developing strategies to minimise noise.

Tip 1: Is your workplace too loud?  Employers’ obligations include:

• Informing you of current noise levels.
• Providing hearing protection if levels are above the legal limits.
• Minimising harm to your hearing.

Tip 2: Noise levels

Be aware that everyday noise levels vary from 45 decibels (conversation) to 140 decibels, at which point you will feel pain.

No employee should be exposed to:

• More than 85 decibels over an eight hour period.
• Peak noise levels of more than 140 decibels. Ask your supervisor what the noise levels are: do you have to shout to be heard at a distance of one metre?

Tip 3: Early warning signs

• Is your hearing dull after work?
• Can you hear others in a crowd?
• Do you turn up the volume on your TV, annoying others?

Tip 4: Measurement of noise

Conduct a noise survey. If too noisy reduce noise immediately, and write a noise control plan.

Tip 5: Safe Work Practices

• Eliminate the source of noise: use rubber mountings.
• Isolate the noise: build soundproof enclosures.
• Minimise noise exposure: alternate noisy and quiet jobs.

Tip 6: Work Methods

Sharp impacts can cause peak noise levels, which may cause instant, permanent hearing loss.

Implement quieter work methods:

• Bend metal in a press or vice instead of hammering.
• Use screws instead of nails.

Tip 7: Choose quieter tools or machines

• Electric power tools are usually quieter than pneumatic tools.
• Choose a silent compressor or power pack.

Tip 8: Cushion impacts

• Examples are:
• Use rubber mats to cushion falling or rolling objects.
• Cover workbenches to minimise noise.

Tip 9: Personal Protective Equipment

• If noise exposure is still a problem after limiting levels and exposure times, your employer must provide suitable protection: earplugs or earmuffs.
• Choose protection that fits well and is comfortable.
• Make sure you keep hearing protectors clean. Replace it as soon as it shows wear or damage.
• Wear it AT ALL TIMES when exposed to loud noise.

REMOVING HEARING PROTECTORS, EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME, CAN CANCEL THE PROTECTION.

Tip 10: Hearing Tests

• Hearing loss develops slowly.
• Ask for regular hearing tests to establish whether you have noise-induced hearing loss.

Electrical testing and tagging is compulsory on construction sites, for hire equipment and for items that have been repaired.

The New Zealand HSE Act states that employers are responsible for ensuring a safe place of work and that all plant is maintained and safe to use.  It does not prescribe electrical testing and tagging.

If electrical equipment is in the workplace and testing and tagging is not carried out, a documented risk assessment outlining the level of risk and the proposed controls to be implemented is recommended.

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Here Are Some Useful Tips to Pick the Correct Working Gloves:

(1) A pair of gloves is necessary for the protection of your hands from the products you are working with. While handling some products there are chances of the hands getting injured, to avoid such instances a pair of gloves is needed.

(2) In some workplaces there are possibilities of the product being damaged or contaminated due to the touch or interaction of the bare hands. Another main motive to wear gloves is to protect the product from the user.

There are many types of gloves available today to protect against a wide variety of hazards. Here are some appropriate gloves for the hazards:

Mechanical Hazards: These hazards can be at your home or at workplace, these occur when you handle rough or sharp objects which could abrade, cut or pierce the skin, such as glass, thin metal sheet and masonry blocks. Metal mesh gloves are used to protect hands form accidental cuts and scratches. They are used most commonly by persons working with cutting tools or other sharp instruments.

Chemical Hazards: This hazard can be prevented by wearing gloves made of rubber, neoprene, polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl, etc. The gloves protect hands from corrosives, oils, and solvents. The following table is provided as a guide to the different types of glove materials and the chemicals they can be used against. When selecting chemical resistance gloves, be sure to consult the manufacturers’ recommendations, especially if the gloved hand will be immersed in the chemical. Thermal Hazards – Heat or Cold: Thermal hazards come in many forms. Heat can be radiated or conducted, or it may be actual flames. Cold can be anything from cold water to frozen gases. It is important that we know the type of hazard, and the temperature involved in order to recommend suitable protection. Aluminized gloves and fabric gloves made of cotton or fabric blends are generally used to improve grip when handling slippery objects. They also help insulate hands from mild heat or cold.

Leather Gloves: These gloves are used to guard against injuries from sparks or scraping against rough surfaces. They are also used in combination with an insulated liner when working with electricity.

Aluminized Gloves: Gloves made of aluminized fabric are designed to insulate hands from intense heat. These gloves are most commonly used by persons working molten materials.

2 Do not judge by the size of the load as even small loads might be pretty heavy to lift. Release the object on the way if you feel any kind of muscle pain or irritation.

3 Use proper gears that support you well for every lift. Wear shoes with good traction and solid gripping gloves which will help you to hold the object for a longer period of time.

4 Avoid standing too far from the load as it might not provide you the needed grip to hold the object properly; always stand close to the object. Align yourself properly over the load with your feet and shoulders wide apart, This will give you the exact balance needed to hold the load while lifting it.

5 The best technique to lift heavier loads is to keep your back straight, bend your knees to the floor and grab the load. For heavier loads, try lifting with your full breath, and tighten your abdominal muscle too for added support.

6 Make sure you lift with a slow, steady force. This will help you avoid muscle strains from having to counter an unbalanced load.

7 Make use of the handles applied to the object or box as this might also provide an accurate grip and will further moderate the weight. Do not bend yourself or by any ways twist the body. This will certainly cut off your momentum and cause muscle strain.

8 Always identify the path on which you will be going with the load and clear all obstacles from your intended path. Take smooth and small strides with much heavier loads to avoid muscle strain from overcompensating for shifting loads.

9 Try to avoid taking loads over slippery or uneven surfaces. Hold loads on your shoulders for the best support and balance.

Consider taking your loads over small intervals instead of carrying multiple items at the same time.

Tips on How to Buy Safety Equipment for Home Protection:

Always try and find manufacturer information about the product which you are planning to buy for yourself. Try to purchase safety equipment online for the best in customer service and user reviews. When you go to buy safety equipment for your home, such as fire extinguishers, make sure you are well informed before you purchase; don’t compromise your safety through an ill-informed purchase. Generally, you’ll want to purchase compact, convenient products for in-home use. But you should never forfeit effectiveness for convenience. There are various types of fire extinguishers available in the market, including the bestselling CO2 fire extinguishers, eater extinguishers and powder extinguishers. Another very helpful and highly recommended extinguisher for house fires is a foam fire extinguisher.

Tips on How to Purchase Child Safety Equipment:

The key factors to consider while shopping for child safety equipment are security and stability. The other key factor to be taken care of is to make sure that these baby safety equipment items are approved by the Juvenile Products Manufactures Association. Confirm that your prospective child safety product meets all voluntary standards.

1 As a rule, don’t ever go for any cheap or used items for your child as these products will may cause your child harm.

2 Check every part of the product first to make sure there are no rough spots or patchs.

3 Carefully examine all parts, big or small, to make sure they are tightened securely. Minutely inspect all places and corners where you think your baby’s hands, fingers or toes could get caught or pinched.

Always look for the seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure that these are genuine, certified products.

Myth # 1: Workplace Violence Is Random and Unpredictable

This type of myth is dangerous. It allows employers to deny that there is anything that can be done to address violence, and to step back from the responsibility for violence prevention. It is suggested that employers pay close attention to how an employee speaks to others in the workplace.

Myth # 2: Crazy People Commit the Most Violence

It is a fact that, since only 5% of severely disturbed individuals are actually violent, and the vast majority of those individuals are either incarcerated or hospitalized, most violence is not committed by “crazy” people.

Myth # 3: Workplace violence is a guy thing and women shouldn’t worry about it.

Women share the field almost equally when it comes to being the attacker and the victim. Women are involved in workplace violence to an excessive 65% and that to in all non-fatal workplaces.

Myth # 4: Security guards and metal detectors will prevent workplace violence.

The security measures can do little to stop a determined perpetrator of a crime. In fact security guards and detection devices can do little more than cause an attacker to think more creatively.

Myth # 5: He just “snapped.” We can’t prevent it because there are no warning signs.

In 80% of all incidents of workplace violence, the warning signs that went unheeded. Awareness heads the list and is the easiest and most successful means for surviving a workplace violence attack. Early awareness and action can save property, lives, and money.

Myth # 6: We have insurance to cover the cost of damages: Most workers wrongly believe that they are covered completely by whatever insurance coverage is in place to protect the company. But you may find that your insurance policy may have clauses that exclude damages from certain types of actions.

Myth # 7: We have a workplace violence prevention policy so we’re safe.

Most companies still do not have workplace violence plans, policies, or training programs. These companies are missing these legal critical elements, and leaving the employees to the same or greater liability issues.

Myth # 8: It will never happen here.

The truth is that workplace violence can happen in any business, at anytime, and anywhere. And, it does.

Myth # 9: The only cost we’ll have to worry about is attorney fees.

Not only can your attorney’s, or the police for that matter, “not” take away the damage, injuries, death, and destruction that can occur, but their fees will be the least of your problems.

Myth # 10: Verbal Threats Are “Just Talk”

Verbal threats of violence are a real warning sign, and one that cannot be ignored.