Occupational safety: Safe work practices, every day

A well-thought-out risk management plan tailored to the needs of your company can help ensure that your workers can perform their assigned duties safely, at all times. By focusing on hazard prevention, the risk of occupational accidents will be minimised.

Facts

Prevention helps reduce the number and severity of workplace accidents

It is a sad fact, but employees in the Belgian private sector are still victims of an occupational accident every day. Here are some figures from Fedris, the Federal Agency for Occupational Risks:

  • Since 2016, there has been an increase in the number of accident reports. There were 168,964 reports in 2019: an increase of 0.3% compared to 2018. There was already an increase of 2.2% in 2018 compared to the previous year.
  • The number of occupational accidents is rising sharply. In 2019, there was still an increase of 13.2% for occupational accidents with permanent incapacity or fatalities and 11.3% for occupational accidents without consequences compared to 2018.
  • Most accidents happen in the age group of 20 to 29-year-olds. However, the consequences are often less severe compared to other age groups.
  • Slips and trips resulting in falls are the most common cause of occupational accidents with foreseen permanent disability (or even death). Losing control of a machine, a means of transport, or a vehicle is also a common reason, regardless of the consequences, for an occupational accident.

Examine the circumstances and get more insight

In the event that an occupational accident occurs, the employer is legally required to have the circumstances of the accident thoroughly and methodically examined by a prevention advisor. This will help the employer gain insight into the causes and impact of the incident and will allow for a number of measures to be implemented to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.


Mensura will advise you

  • Small changes can substantially reduce the risk of workplace accidents.
    Quick and easy changes such as greater attention to neatness in the workplace can make a big difference.
     
  • A proper risk assessment programme helps you detect potentially hazardous situations in a timely manner. By analysing near-misses and first-aid incidents, you can reveal root causes and implement changes to prevent recurrence. 
     
  • Good communication with your employees is essential if you wish to implement effective prevention measures.
    Safe work practices largely rely on the right attitude of employees towards safety and incident prevention. By discussing safety with all parties involved, you will gain better insights more easily.
     
  • A policy of prevention often goes hand in hand with a process of change.
    Keeping your employees well informed about potential workplace hazards is of the utmost importance if you want them to embrace and observe the measures implemented, even when those measures may slow down work or require more discipline.

Result

  • Fewer occupational accidents and fewer employees who are absent due to temporary or permanent incapacity to work.

  • A systematic and effective prevention policy in conformity with legal regulations

  • In addition to the analysis of occupational accidents, Mensura can help you develop a global and annual prevention plan and perform general or job-specific risk assessments as well as hazard assessments in view of electrical installations, fire prevention and explosive atmospheres. Mensura also provides assistance, professional guidance and coaching for internal prevention advisors.

  • Operational continuity.

  • Advice and recommendations when new or heavily modified machinery is introduced to the market or on the workfloor.


Mensura will train your employees

Work safety starts with good knowledge of the workplace and the equipment used, by the prevention adviser, the purchaser, and the employee alike.

Occupational safety training courses:


Mensura will inspire you

Read our blog posts about occupational safety.

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