A
PLACE FOR
EVERYTHING
by Dr. Isabel Perry,
“The Safety Doctor”
408 words
Have you ever spent twenty minutes searching for a missing
screwdriver that you’re sure you left “right there?” That
screwdriver could be the file you made for a major project, the chemicals you
used to clean something, or your car keys. Whether you are at home or work, organizing things and putting them back
after use not only saves time and effort when you need to find them again, but is
also a way to stay safe from injury. An
orderly work area contributes a great deal to your safety.
If you are one of those people who look at a mess and say,
“I know where everything is,” you may one day become part of a national
statistic. Let’s look at some of the
statistics:
¨
Disabling injuries at home and work combined
reach over six million a year
¨
25,000 are killed in home accidents annually
¨
14,000 are killed on the job annually (3,000 of
these deaths are caused by falls)
Falls often result from tripping over equipment or tools
left in aisles or work areas, wet spots on the floor, or trash and other
articles left on stairs. Everyone should help keep the work area clean and
free of clutter or debris. If you throw
a wad of paper at the trash can and miss, get some exercise: walk over, bend
down and pick it up!
Don’t pick up broken glass or nails with your bare
hands. Put on gloves, or use a broom and
dust pan. When you see a mess, don’t
walk by and think, “Someone should get that.” You wouldn’t want anyone else to get hurt, would you?
You don’t like cleaning up someone else’s mess, and they
probably feel the same way about you! Clean up after yourself. If your work area has been neglected for a
long time, it may take a little bit of effort to clean up and get organized,
but it will be well worth the effort. The next time you need your tools for a job, they will be right where
you expect them to be. It takes much
less time to clean up, and to get started on projects, when things are where
they’re supposed to be.
REMEMBER
A PLACE FOR
EVERYTHING - AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
Dr. Isabel Perry is
an internationally-known safety expert, motivational speaker, author, and
safety educator. Based in
Orlando
,
Florida
, she can be reached at 407-291-1209 or via e-mail at
[email protected]