NederlandsEvery day thousands of flex colleagues are working through us. Their safety is of course extremely important. We do everything we can to prevent industrial accidents, together with our clients. But sometimes an accident is just around the corner, and some professions do involve risks. In the coming period we will pay a lot of attention to working safely with machines.
Why do we pay so much attention to safety?
The numbers don't lie. Unfortunately, we see an increase in the number of occupational accidents. The Occupational Accidents Monitor is published every year. In it we can read about the developments; how many reports of accidents at work have been made? What are the most common accidents, and in which sectors do you work safest or unsafe?
Most victims of serious accidents at work are in the construction industry, followed by the waste & recycling sector. Industry and Logistics are also sectors where the number of accidents is relatively high. Many of our flex colleagues are active in the last three sectors: reason to pay a lot of attention to information.
Who are most often involved in accidents?
The Workplace Accidents Monitor also shows who is most at risk of an industrial accident in the workplace. Employees at small companies are more at risk than employees at large companies. Young people are more at risk than older workers, and men and non-Dutch workers are also more often involved in accidents.
The good news: accidents are less common at companies that pay a lot of attention to prevention. So you can certainly do something to prevent accidents. Good information, making protective equipment available, appointing a person responsible within your organization, these are all things that make a positive contribution to safety in the workplace.
Working safely with machines
In the Workplace Accidents Monitor you can also read that working with machines entails a lot of risk. For example, people can trapped in a machine. Fortunately, there are good regulations and protective equipment in most companies. It is of course important that you stick to it. The most important person responsible for safety in every company is every employee himself!
What should you keep in mind when working with machines?
- Every machine must have an emergency stop. Make sure you know where it is, so that you can act in a dangerous situation.
- Wear appropriate clothing, avoid wide sleeves or scarves that can get caught in the machine.
- Use personal protective equipment: work gloves and work shoes with steel toes.
- Don't wear your long hair down.
- Do not wear necklaces, bracelets and rings.
- The machine must be well maintained and checked regularly.
- There must be safety covers for rotating and moving parts. These must be clean and scratch-free.
As an employee, it is important that you receive clear instructions from your supervisors, so that you know what measures you must take to be able to do your work safely. Do you have questions? In that case, be sure to ask your supervisor, or via the employment agency if you work through an employment agency. If you are working via Actief Werkt! , you can always contact your branch if you have any questions or are concerned about safety in your work environment.
Read more about working safely here
source: Monitor Occupational Accidents Inspectorate SWZ, Arbo Online, the Work Safety Guide