Safety should be a top priority in any workplace. In the aftermath of numerous workplace accidents and fatalities in recent history, it’s crucial that employees and employers alike take notice of these five telltale signs of an unsafe workplace.
Inadequate Training and Procedures
Every employee should be provided with proper training and education on how to approach their assigned tasks safely, especially in high-risk environments. Some work environments require that employees earn certifications before operating machinery or performing certain types of tasks. An employer that throws an untrained worker onto a forklift or requires workers to clean up hazardous materials without proper protective gear is an employer that doesn’t care about employees or potential liability.
Poor Housekeeping and Organization
A messy and disorganized workplace is a breeding ground for accidents, injuries, and poor morale. Key warning signs include cluttered walkways, blocked exits, improperly stored materials and tools, and lack of adherence to proper waste disposal practices. These hazards can lead to slips, trips, falls, and crushing injuries that could be easily avoidable.
Subpar Warehouse Setup
In warehousing environments, loading dock safety can be the difference between life and death. Know the elements of a safe loading dock, including adequate lighting and visibility in the loading dock area. A lack of safety barriers or guards, inadequate dock plates or ramps, missing trailer restraint systems, and unmarked loading dock edges are all telltale signs of an unsafe workplace for warehouse workers, contract truck loaders and unloaders, and truck drivers.
Toxic Bosses or Coworkers
While physical hazards are a primary concern, psychological safety and mental health on the job is just as critical. Tense and toxic relationships with managers or colleagues inevitably lead to heightened stress levels, poor communication, and low morale and motivation. Together, these factors contribute to a higher likelihood of accidents, mistakes, compromised safety, and high turnover.
If you currently work in a toxic workplace, you’ll know it. Employees may organize themselves in cliques according to roles, seniority, or even in extreme cases, by race or gender. Bosses who play favorites create resentments that contribute to toxic workplaces. And workers who get away with taking credit for others’ work or coasting on their colleagues’ work affect both productivity and morale.
Lax Attitudes Toward Chemical or Biological Hazards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that employees receive specific training in dealing with hazardous materials, as well as the presence of documentation of safety data so workers can understand the warning symbols on various dangerous substances.
Serious signs of a lax attitude toward safety include missing safety data sheets (SDS), insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees, and improper storage of hazardous materials, including cleaning chemicals.
Recognizing these unsafe workplace conditions could save lives, prevent serious accidents or injuries, and help preserve employees’ mental health. Ultimately, your health and safety are your most valuable assets—don’t risk them by ignoring the hazards in your workplace.
