ABC of Safety in the Biological Sciences
INJURY
Injuries in the workplace result from one
of the following17:
- A true accident - staff need to be
constantly aware of the dangers in their working environment.
Accidents should be documented and periodically reviewed with
steps taken to reduce the risk of incidents being repeated.
- Lack of knowledge of a procedure - a
complete knowledge of procedures and familiarity with the nature
of any substances used reduces the risk of injury. Unsupervised
or inexperienced personnel should not be exposed to potentially
dangerous procedures.
- Lack of concern due to overfamiliarity
- this will occur where repetitive tasks are performed. Rotation
of duties, where possible, and an awareness of the danger of
inattention will partially overcome this problem.
- Occupational injuries related to
posture and repetition - seek the advice of a consultant in the
field of ergonomics.
- Occupational injuries related to
unsafe working conditions - allow staff to use hazard reports to
identify a dangerous practise or condition. If the procedure
cannot be changed directly then ensure that the responsible
parties are made aware of dangerous working conditions and
document fully any discussions that occur over safety matters.
In some countries employers must exercise a 'duty of care' and
provide a safe working environment. Failure to do so can result
in legal action.
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