Workplace Basics

Basic safety tips

• Stay away from contact with bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, and urine. If you are required to clean up bodily fluids, take universal precautions. If you have not been instructed on universal precautions, ask for training.
  
  
• If your job requires you to lift things, lift with your legs (get instruction from your supervisor if needed). If something is too heavy, ask for help.
  
  
• Be careful when lifting or stacking items above your head. If you must use a ladder, make sure it's stable and equipped with nonslip treads. Never use a chair as a substitute for a ladder.
  
  
• Know what to do during an emergency. Pay attention during emergency drills so you know the routes to take when leaving an assigned area to go to a safe place.
  
  
• Observe all cautionary signs in the workplace.
  
  
• If you believe that a job task is unsafe or that something in the environment is unsafe—or if you have any questions about safety—talk to your supervisor immediately.