Let me set the scene… your short on staff and need someone to cover a job in another area. You choose an employee that has been with the company for several years and seems to know the procedures of the company really well. They have shown great responsibility in the past as far as safety and work ethic so you feel they will be a good fit to cover for the day. This employee has worked on several different machines in the facility in the past, but the area they will be covering has a machine they have not previously worked with. As an employer what would you do? Is it safe to assume that a worker is going to use common sense when it comes to safety?

Though I have changed some information in this scenario, to paint a more vivid picture, this is not a totally fictional scene. In fact this sort of thing occurs frequently in the workplace. In June 2009 a company was sued by one of its employees for a similar incident. The employee had been at the company for just over a year and was covering a machine they did not previously work with. Despite a safety sign posted on the machine and equipment guards in place, the employee proceeded to stick their hand into the machine to try and release a jam that had occurred. I’m sure you can guess what happened next – and I’m sure it wasn’t pretty – the employee sustained significant injuries from the running machine. The employee claims that they were not provided with safety procedures for the machine and that no one told them about the dangerous blades that were inside.

Workplace safety is always a hot topic and one that should never be overlooked. It is important to do all that you can to prevent injuries and not always rely on the common sense of others. Posting prominent Danger, Warning and Informational Signs in your facility and on equipment is always a great way to help prevent unwanted injuries. But never underestimate the importance of verbal safety direction and written procedures.

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