There are hazards in every workplace, whether you work from home or in an office, but the risks are much greater when working with heavy goods. If you work in an industry which uses heavy machinery or handles bulky, heavy items, then we’re going to take a look at some of the health and safety concerns you need to consider.

Heavy machinery dangers

It’s no surprise that working with heavy machinery can cause serious injury, in some cases it can even be fatal. Heavy machinery includes forklifts, bulldozers, paver, scraper and many more, if these are driven and used incorrectly they can cause serious damage - to areas, buildings and people.

When dealing with heavy machinery, you’ll need to invest in appropriate training; driving a bulldozer is very different to a scraper. And ensure no one operates the machinery unless they are fully trained to do so.

Workplace injury

According to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey 2019/20, 693,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury at work and they can happen in a range of industries.

Slips, trips and falls are the most common workplace injury, with handling, lifting and carrying the second most common injury. These can be prevented by investing in some workplace essentials:

• Floor signs: Wet floor signs, while they may seem small, they are necessary. If some have a spillage, but no time to clean it up, they can put a sign out to warn others of the hazard. Leaving it unattended can be dangerous. Of course, this relies on the person to put the sign out, but with training, this can become a regular habit.
• Lifting/carrying aids: Reducing the need to lift things and carry them can reduce the risk of a manual handling injury greatly. Investing in dollies with heavy-duty dolly wheels could assist a move or opting for a sack truck could help speed up the moving process too. Having a range of lifting aids on hand to help with different items can be a huge help.

Protective gear

Having the correct uniform can help make a job safe and easier. Investing in high-quality protective gear is essential, especially if the environments have any toxins or hazards which could harm any of your employees.

It is a requirement by all employers as the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 states: “Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to their employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work except where and to the extent that such risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are equally or more effective.”

These are just a few health and safety concerns people should be aware of, but it is everyone's responsibility to ensure health and safety protocols are followed and respected.