Enviro-mechanical Hazards
According to the CDC, enviro-mechanical hazards are aspects of the workplace that can cause or increase risk for accidents, injuries, strains, or discomfort. Examples include damaged or uneven flooring that increases risk of trips and falls, poor workstation design that results in repetitive motions, and insufficient or inadequate equipment that contributes to improper lifting techniques. Hazards can be introduced over time as workstations and processes change, or equipment becomes worn. Regular inspection for hazards helps identify issues they can be addressed, proactively, before an incident occurs.
Tips & Actionable Strategies
Consider these tips and explore the collection of curated resources, strategies and practices to learn ways to redesign the work environment and work tasks to reduce enviromechanical hazards.
- Conduct regular inspections of all operations, equipment, work areas — fix hazards on the spot when possible
- Include staff representation on the inspection team
- Use checklists that highlight hazards to look for when conducting inspections.
- Obtain staff input before implementing changes to equipment, workstations or workflow that impact them.
- Make sure staff are properly trained on how to use the equipment in their work area.
- Scan the work area for potential hazards before starting work.
Sources: OSHA, National Safety Council