Every year, on April 28th, the world celebrates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work was created as an awareness-raising campaign intended to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and injuries globally. Designed to advocate for the importance of occupational safety, the global campaign is dedicated to promoting safe and healthy workplaces for all employees, regardless of their industry or occupation.
In its tenth year, World Day for Safety and Health at Work has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003. Each year the campaign focuses on a different topic, with the 2023 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focusing on the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment.
Workers spend significant time at work, and their well-being directly affects their productivity, job satisfaction, and overall quality of life.
Unsafe working conditions can lead to accidents, injuries, and fatalities, which can be devastating for workers and their families.
The focus of World Day for Safety and Health at Work on workers’ rights to a safe and healthy working environment amplifies the need for businesses to prioritise workplace safety and health culture and ergonomics.
Businesses must take the correct steps to ensure the workplace, processes, and tasks are safe and feasible for employees. This should include regular risk assessments, training, employee discussions, and providing employees with the right tools to complete tasks safely.
Creating a safe and healthy work environment requires a joint effort between employers and employees. Employers must take steps to identify and mitigate workplace hazards, provide appropriate equipment, training and protective equipment, and establish clear policies and procedures for workplace safety.
On the other hand, employees must also take responsibility for their safety, occupational health, and the safety of their colleagues by following safety protocols, reporting hazards, and participating in safety training.
Fostering a safety culture takes time and the effort of the whole organisation. It’s crucial to promote a safety culture at all levels of the organisation, including recognising employees for safe behavior and encouraging open communication about safety issues.
Alongside regular risk assessments and training, providing employees with the right tools for the job is crucial to creating a safe working environment and ensuring occupational safety. The correct tools and equipment should be provided to employees to empower them to carry out tasks safely and without the risk of injury.
Material handling equipment is often used to support employees in warehouse tasks and manufacturing processes. This includes lifting equipment such as forklift trucks, cranes, stackers and pallet trucks. However, when it comes to moving heavy-wheeled loads, employers often overlook the importance of using the right piece of equipment for the task. Moving wheeled loads is often done manually or by stretching the abilities of existing equipment such as forklifts. This can result in an unsafe working environment, physically exerting tasks or the misuse of equipment.
Electric tugs enable staff to safely move heavy-wheeled loads with complete control. Purpose-designed for the movement of wheeled loads, electric tugs keep loads safely on the ground and require zero physical effort to operate. Connecting securely to the load allows operators to confidently push, pull, and steer loads of up to 66,000 lbs. and above.
On this World Day for Health and Safety at Work, let us reflect on the importance of creating a safe and healthy work environment for all workers. By working together, we can create a world where every worker can go to work and return home safely and in good health. For more resources in aid of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, please visit the International Labour Organization (ILO).