International shipping and logistics is connected with highly loaded places such as warehouses, ports, terminals, railway stations, as well as road and container depots, and also on vessels and ferries with high risk zones. It would seem self-evident to take care of safety, but many still forget about it.
The Health and Safety Executive gives clear guidelines on the employer obligations that must be adhered to make the workplace a safe space for employees to carry out their roles; however, some work environments are, by their very nature, dangerous.
If you work in a high-risk environment the business that you work for should have undertaken thorough risk assessments for the tasks that you need to complete for your role; after all, they do not want you to make a claim with The Compensation Experts in the event of a workplace accident. There are, however, some things that you can do to protect yourself further.
1. Revisit the established health and safety procedures and policies
If you have worked for an organisation for a long time, you may have slipped into bad habits without appreciating the danger that you are putting yourself in. Revisiting the established health and safety procedures will help remind you of how you should be working. Complacency can be a killer, so be alert to the possibility that you may not be following instructions. If you find information that is not relevant, contemporary or does not match your role, speak up and inform your managers.
2. Check your personal protective equipment
It is your responsibility to ensure that your personal protective equipment (PPE) is in good working order. Wear and tear is bound to happen over time, so check that your PPE is in good working order. Equipment can be damaged by not being stored properly, not being maintained, so make sure that you have the standard of PPE that will protect you.
3. Be ready for work
Being ready for work does not just mean be on time; it means being physically and mentally prepared. If you are working in a dangerous environment, you need to be mentally alert – it's not just about your wellbeing, but that of your colleagues too. If you are feeling stressed and burnt out, you must advise your line manager. The risks are too high for errors to be made.
With respect to being physically prepared for work, this means ensuring that you have had good sleep, eaten nutritious food and avoided alcohol in the preceding 24 hours of your shift. You need to be in optimum condition to perform your role safely and efficiently.
4. Attend training courses
You may have carried out your role for several years, but that does not mean you shouldn’t attend any training courses that you are booked on to. By attending training courses, you will be kept up to date with the industry’s best practices and innovations and learn new techniques and methods for your role. Training sessions are also a great way to inform your organisation about any queries or observations that you have that may help to improve the work environment.
Working in a dangerous environment means that you are more at risk from a workplace injury or accident; however, by being proactive and taking responsibility for your own wellbeing, you should be able to diminish the risk of harm to you and your colleagues.
