Employers' Obligation: Safety Practices for Employees

DURING HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITION

Driving your vehicle in a bad weather, such as storms, heavy rain, or fog, is a matter of preparation, practice, and caution. It's important to take extra precautions during hazardous condition especially for employees who drive as part of their work. 

Employers should consider how weather might prevent employees from getting to work and how those employees can stay safe while performing their task. Employers should consult this with their staff, supervisors and safety representative and other employees that are exposed to danger to identify plans and safe ways for employees when this event will occur. Although employers can’t control the condition of the road, but they can promote safe driving behavior by ensuring their workers, recognize the hazardous weather driving, proper training for driving in winter weather conditions, and issuing licensed vehicles. 

Here are some Safety Practices and Tips for Employees during Hazardous Weather:

• Plan your journey. Listen to weather forecasts, travel bulletins or Search the internet for the latest weather forecasts and road conditions.
• Inform someone such as your employer or manager where you are going and your estimated arrival time so that an alarm can be raised if you fail to arrive. 
• Always bring an emergency kit in your vehicle containing items such as:

                  - Reflective jacket or vest for high visibility.
                  - Flashlight with extra batteries
                  - Emergency warning triangle
                  - A mobile phone (Use only when you're not driving)

• Always be sure you have enough gas and your vehicle is mechanically ready and in good condition.
• Use common sense and obey the standard rules of the road (The first rule of driving in hazardous condition)
• Be cautious when driving through flooded areas. It can cause your vehicle to malfunction and possibly shut down.

DANGER OF RADIATION (Ultra-Violet Rays)

Radiation is referring to any sort of energy that can travel through space either as a wave or a particle.

UVA is the most abundant source of solar radiation at the earth's surface and penetrates beyond the top layer of human skin. There is an apparent evidence that sun rays causes skin cancer. Skin cancer can be treated and cured without serious consequences. However, in some cases the condition can be life-threatening if not diagnosed in time. Employees who spend a lot of time under the sun run the risk of suffering from more than just heat exhaustion or heat stress, they may also at risk of Skin Cancer. 

Employee's Safety tips to protect themselves from (UV) Damage.     

• Avoid unnecessary exposure to the sunlight, especially to the intense midday.
• Wear sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) to protect your skin from burns. Liberally apply protective sunscreen on exposed skin 20-30 minutes before going under the sun, then reapply it at least every two hours during the periods they spend under the sun. Follow the directions of the manufacturer's instructions on the sunscreen bottle.
• Wear hats and sunglasses and protective clothing than can protect the eyes, scalp, skin and  from ultraviolet radiation. Cover your body as much as practicable.

So what can safety do for you? If a worker is injured while doing his job, it costs the company in lost work hours, increased insurance rates, compensation premiums and possible litigation. However, companies that put safety first turn out higher quality products and good service because it is the Employers' Obligation to the safety of his workers.  In these ways and others workplace safety is about much more than a written paper. It’s about creating the kind of productive, happy and inspiring workplace to all workers and employees - and that’s why it’s important.