Did you know that there were almost 1 million non-fatal workplace injuries in 2020? While all jobs can be dangerous, there are some careers that are inherently more dangerous than others. For example, if you’re doing railroad work, the chances of you getting injured while on the job are much higher than if you work at an office. That’s why knowing a few basic railroad safety tips is so important, as again, it can help keep you safe and secure.
In this article, we’ll tell you 4 railroad safety tips that you need to know to protect yourself. We’ll also tell you a few common mistakes to avoid, too, so you can prevent any accidents from occurring on the job site.
Table of Contents
4 Ways to Stay Safe on the Job
- Follow All Job Site Safety Rules
One of the best ways to stay safe on any kind of job site is to follow all job site safety rules. When you’re dealing with something as dangerous as railroad work, this is especially true, as one mistake can be fatal.
Our advice? Know what safety rules are in place and follow them at all times. That way you can protect yourself as well as those around you and prevent any accidents from occurring.
- Wear All Protective Equipment
Again, doing any kind of railroad work is extremely dangerous. To keep yourself safe, you need to make sure that you’re wearing all required protective equipment while working.
Depending on what you’re doing, you may be required to wear more safety equipment than you currently wear on job sites. So, be sure to know what is required per job site, so you can make sure that you’re not only safe but that you aren’t breaking any rules, too.
- Have Excellent Communication Skills
When it comes to staying safe on a railroad job site, communication is the key. Chatting with those around you is the best way to ensure that everyone in your area is protected from harm.
Working without talking, especially when doing dangerous tasks, is never a good idea. So, be prepared to be shouting at people all day, and of course, make sure to listen to those around you, too.
- Avoid Wearing Earbuds or Headphones
It goes without saying, but it can be quite hard to hear on any job site if you have earbuds in your ears or headphones on your head. While wearing these would be breaking your job site safety rules, it worth mentioning directly that doing this is never a good idea.
Again, if you can’t hear what is around you, you increase the chances of you or someone in your are getting injured. And the last thing you want to do is to be the cause of any sort of accident, as it’s likely to lead to termination, even if nobody is seriously injured.
Injured while working on a railroad? Be sure to contact local railroad lawyers so you can get a professional who is familiar with accidents like yours.
Must Read: Injured? Here’s How To Tell If You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer
Some Other Points You Need to Take Care
Implement a Mentorship Program
The railway may be a unique environment where it is often tough to deal with all the various scenarios employees are going to be faced with. Once our new hires have completed their initial educational program, they’re paired with senior railroaders for something which will be often overlooked: coaching and mentorship. We are lucky to possess experienced foremen and supervisors with over 30 years’ experience working within the railway industry. They need a huge amount of experience within the field and are ready to transfer that knowledge to the newer employees on the work.
Complete Regular Compliance Audits
A compliance audit may be a great opportunity to find out and educate your employees on better safety practices. We take a team bent one among our job sites across Canada and perform a full compliance audit to assess that each one standard are being met. Implementing regular audits are proactive, thanks to identifying good habits also as any failures or at-risk employees. By educating your team on failures you’ve got found in other job sites, we’ve been ready to steadily reduce injuries and incidences.
Need More Help With Railroad Safety?
Remember, railroad safety is all about following all job site rules and maintaining communication with those around you. If you do those two things and wear the right gear, you should be able to avoid an accident completely.
Looking for some more on-the-job safety tips and tricks? Check back with our blog often.
