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There are a number of safety problems common to most workplaces and job sites that can be solved with a little common sense. Planning and thinking ahead can help eliminate most of these hazards. Take a close look at your workplace with these suggestions in mind.

Eliminate junk piles. Organize a clean up program to remove trash, broken parts, and scrap from work areas, walkways, storerooms, and neglected corners. Look for materials that have been stacked improperly. An unstable stack is a real danger to anyone who may be near if the material suddenly falls. Check such things as wood pallets, dock freight, storeroom boxes, construction materials and even office files to see that materials are stacked properly.

Examine all the operations of your workplace to determine if personal protective clothing is needed, then make it readily available. Ear protection, eye protection, hard hats, gloves, safety shoes or other protective clothing and equipment must be worn according to the hazard exposure.

Make sure all electric power tools are grounded. Protect yourself from electric shock by using tools with three-prong plugs, a ground-fault system or double insulation. Never cut off the ground plug on a three-prong plug. Check electrical cords and wires for any damage. Guard power tools and moving machine parts. Tools and equipment should never be operated with the guards or shields removed.

Inspect portable ladders to make sure they are secure and don’t shake or wiggle. Nonslip feet are a must. If a ladder seems weak, get rid of it – don’t let others use a defective ladder. Mark it defective and throw it away.

Fire extinguishers are a must and should be mounted properly, readily accessible, and in working order. Check fire regulations to make sure they are properly placed and the right type for your work area. When was the last time your fire extinguishers were tested? Extinguisher inspections should be made regularly then tagged to show when and who performed the tests.

Exits should be clearly marked with easy to read signs place above the doors. Signs with arrows should also be used to guide people to the exit if the layout of the workplace is confusing to those unfamiliar with your facility. Illuminated signs should be kept in working order at all times. Don’t block exits or signs with vehicles or material. Another good idea is to mark doors that are not exits with "This is Not An Exit," "Restroom," "Storeroom" or "Closet." Put rails on all stairways. The stairs themselves should be in good shape with nonskid treads. Repair those that are damaged or chipped.

Safety meetings are one of the most important parts of a good safety program, so hold them regularly. Impress upon every worker that it’s important that they take every precaution to keep the workplace safe. Both employee and employer attitudes toward safety provide a key to a successful safety program. Posters, handouts, and training programs can all be part of your safety communication.

Good housekeeping is one of the surest ways to identify a safe workplace. You can tell how workers' feel about safety just by looking at their housekeeping practices. Good housekeeping isn't the result of cleaning up once a week or even once a day. It's the result of keeping cleaned-up all the time. It's an essential factor in a good safety program, promoting safety, health, production, and morale.

Whose responsibility is housekeeping? It's everyone's. Clean work areas and aisles help eliminate tripping hazards. Respecting "wet floor" signs and immediately cleaning up spills prevents slipping injuries. Keeping storage areas uncluttered reduces the chances of disease and fire as well as slips, trips, and falls. Accumulated debris can cause fires, and clutter slows movement of personnel and equipment during fires.

Other housekeeping practices include keeping tools and equipment clean and in good shape or keeping hoses and cables or wires bundled when not in use. Broken glass should be picked up immediately with a broom and dustpan, never with bare hands. Be aware of open cabinet drawers, electric wires, sharp corners or protruding nails. Either correct the unsafe condition if you are able and it is safe to do so, or notify the person responsible for overall maintenance that something should be done.

How a workplace looks makes an impression on employees and visitors alike. A visitor's first impression of a business is important because that image affects the amount of business it does. Good housekeeping goes hand-in-hand with good public relations. It projects order, care, and pride.

Besides preventing accidents and injuries, good housekeeping saves space, time, and materials. When a workplace is clean, orderly, and free of obstruction; work can get done safely and properly. Workers feel better, think better, do better work, and increase the quantity and quality of their work.

If a safety program is going to be effective, someone has to accept responsibility. Someone has to get involved. This is true whether it’s the president of the company, the first line supervisor, the safety director, or the worker on the job. If a safety program is going to be effective, someone has to take ownership and be accountable.

In order to gets a safety program going, people must get involved. To get people involved, management must give direction for developing the safety program. Once the safety program is established and a safety director selected, it’s important for management to support and participate in the program activities.

After the safety program has been explained and distributed by management or the safety director, then the first line supervisors must become involved. The first line supervisor must follow the policies and guidelines and implement the safety program.

Employee attitude is usually a reflection of attitudes projected by management, the safety director, and the immediate supervisor. Employee acceptance of the safety program requires that he or she take a positive attitude and responsible position. The employee can make or break the safety program based on how responsibilities are accepted.

Each person is a link in the safety program. The total program is no stronger or more effective than the weakest link. In order for the safety program to function effectively, all parties from management on down to the worker on the job, must accept their share of responsibility and participation. Throughout this chain, the strongest links are: two-way communication and the willingness to act responsibly. It is the responsibility of the employer to see that their workers are trained in all aspects of safety pertaining to their job and their workplace.

Safety is everyone’s job.