STAYING WELL ON THE JOB
Many companies today have highly
organized safety programs and preventive industrial health programs. They employ
both physicians and safety experts to direct these programs. Many also employ
industrial hygienists to study the hazards of all jobs and develop criteria for
safe operation. Safety equipment is specified for new machines and often added
to existing ones.
Workers are provided with safety goggles, safety shoes, and
other protective devices. Still, even in these industries as well as in others
which have not yet fully caught up with new trends in improvement of conditions
of employment, preventable accidents and illnesses occur.
Different jobs, of course, have their individual health
problems, and we will take these up after a look at some important basic rules
that apply to virtually all work.
BASIC GUIDELINES
Come to work rested.
Fatigue has been shown repeatedly to be a major factor in
accidents on the job. Plan your late-hour entertainment- dances, card parties,
etc.-as much as possible for the nights before your days off from work. It's a
good idea to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages after dinner any night, and
especially on nights before work days. It doesn't take an outright hangover,
just a feeling of moderate or slight upset and sluggishness, to invite trouble
on the job.
If you have a drinking problem, Beyond reasonable hours, regular
periods of rest and relaxation are important. A day or two off each week, with
a change of pace, is essential for avoiding mental and emotional as well as
physical rundown. So is an annual vacation. Coming to the job fresh and
invigorated-mentally, emotionally and physically-helps not only to greatly
reduce the likelihood of accident and illness but also makes it possible for
you to do a better job and create a better impression. It's important to note
here that you should not ruin your days off by doing things to overtire
yourself or otherwise affect your health.
Don't have any fears about being considered
"prissy" if you make a point, as you certainly should, of finding out
and following all safety rules that apply to your particular job. If you start
on a new job, don't hesitate to do the obviously sensible thing: discuss
precautions with your employer, foreman or other supervisor, and older workers.
Ask questions, especially about any particular hazards. If a fellow worker is a
danger to you or to others, take up the problem with those in authority. There
is no room in any job, and especially a job involving any risks, for the
practical joker. Every year, people are rushed to hospitals, dying or seriously
injured, because "jokers" play- fully but cripplingly pushed a
compressed air jet against them, worked a "hot foot" gag, or carried
out some other "innocent" practical joke.
Workers who insist on
practical jokes or who don't know how to handle dangerous equipment properly
are frequent causes of industrial accidents and deaths. Find out the location
of the first-aid station or other nursing or medical facility. Many big plants
now have full-time nursing and even medical staffs.
