Published on: 23 April 2019
Last Updated on: 12 September 2024
It doesn’t take much thought to appreciate the fact that working on a construction site can be a dangerous occupation with so many potential dangers all around you, but despite improvements in safety standards over the years, there are still plenty of incidents reported each year.
Some accidents cause minor injuries but others cause life-changing injuries.
When something serious like this happens it might be that you end up visiting a site like https://866attylaw.com for information on what do if you need to make a claim. However, in order to try and avoid that scenario in the first place, here’s a look at some of the leading risks to be aware of if you are working on a construction site.
The cutting tool in your hand could cost you a limb – preparation is essential:
Mechanized cutting tools are a primary source of construction site injuries and it is grinders and cutters that tend to create the most amputation injuries.
As plenty of construction workers will no doubt agree, an angle grinder is one of the most versatile tools in your box but it can be one of the most dangerous if you don’t follow strict safety protocols every time you pick it up.
A typical angle grinder will operate at a speed of about 12,000 rpm, compared to a drill that runs at about a tenth of that speed, which should be ample warning that this is a tool that needs to be treated with respect.
Preparing your workspace for the job is essential and following some basic safety precautions will also minimize risk.
Unplug the grinder when changing discs, and ensure you have a firm grip on the grinder at all times.
The grinder guard is there for a reason, so use it, and the blade should always be spinning away from you.
The band saw safety:
Another piece of construction equipment that is a leading cause of amputation injuries is the band saw.
A good starting point is to ensure that you are fully trained to use woodworking machinery properly and safely and wearing safety glasses is a priority when you working with a tool like this.
If you are wearing gloves to protect your hands from splinters you should be mindful that wearing them while working near a rotating blade could cause your gloves to catch, with disastrous consequences for your fingers.
Don’t ignore the danger of lifting equipment:
While there are obvious dangers associated with using tools like cutters and grinders you might be surprised to discover that another significant source of amputation injuries is when you are using the lifting gear.
Cranes and excavators can create pinch-points where your limbs get trapped or an object falls on you.
Crushing, fractures, and dislocations are the major injuries on construction sites, with amputations not far behind, so it is clear that you have to be very mindful of the dangers each time you put on your safety hat and start your day’s work.
Many construction workers have tales to tell of lucky escapes and injuries to colleagues and if you follow safety rules and always think before you pick up your tools, hopefully, you can avoid becoming one of these statistics, especially when you consider how life-changing a loss of a limb can be.
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Cleaner workplace means high performance, increased employee productivity, and safe, healthy stuff. However, the always going production services increased workloads, and busy schedule causes the standards to dip.
Of course, it's obvious that safety and health hazards occur on workspaces that have heavy machines and equipment where workers are engaged in strenuous manual labor. However, a place where most of the tasks are completed by just sitting on the chair posses less danger.
According to the national safety council, in every 7-seconds, a worker is injured with most occupations like transportation, construction and more being the most common places for injuries.
Here are a few things you need to look to reduce the risk of workplace injuries:
To Minimize Falls:
Things like trips, slips, and falls are the most common type of workplace injuries. To reduce them:
Stay Clean And Clutter-Free: Things like files, boxes and other items in the walkways create a tripping hazard. So, make sure you store all the items in a proper location to prevent piles of clutter. Keep oils and other lubricants at separate shelves to avoid slips and falls. Besides, apart from posing electrical hazards, keeping cords and cables in the walkways poses more risk at workplaces.
Step On The Chair: Using chairs and stools to pick up things comes in fall hazards. Therefore, employees who want to search for something at some height should use a stepladder. Just make sure that the ladders you give to employees should be placed on a level and stable ground.
Make Sure Things Are Visible: There might be situations when workers can collide when taking a turn to blind corners. However, to prevent this, make sure to install mirrors (convex mirrors) at the intersection to minimize a collision. This way workers will be able to see who’s coming and collisions will be less likely to occur.
Work In Skid-Resistant Floors: Placing carpets and having skid-resistant floors help reduce falls. Further, marbles and tiles can become slippery, especially in wet weather. However, having professionals like Commercial cleaning services Las Vegas will keep them clean and will reduce the chance of falls.
Minimizing The Accidents Occurred From Moving Machinery:
Machines that are not guarded are at high risk of safety. And, if anybody part get caught in or struck by the exposed part, without the protective guard, the result can be disastrous. Crushed hands, severed fingers, blindness, and injured arm are some of the common machine-related injuries. Moreover, these injuries occur in places where heavy equipment and machinery are used. However, protective equipment and attention to minor details help to avoid these injuries.
Reduce Vehicle Injuries:
Workers who drive for business purposes, often get injured in auto accidents, which can vary from the minor ones to the fatal ones. However, the employees safe-driving training and driver policies can help to reduce accidents.
Reducing Falling Object Injuries:
Objects that fall from shelves or by another person can result in serious injuries, with head injuries being the most common one. Employee’s negligence and employer’s hard work to keep the work environment free from any injuries. Of course, you should train employees for the usage of gears and machines.
Overexertion Injuries:
Things like pushing, lifting, pulling, carrying and throwing heavy objects at work can also cause serious overexertion injuries. Those who experience overexertion injuries can result in medical bills, physical therapy, missed work time. In fact, overexertion injuries are the second leading cause of on-job injuries and accidents. These are some most common associated injuries:
Back Injuries: These injuries vary from mild strains to severe spinal cord injuries.
Neck Injuries: Neck is the most sensitive body part, and any injury to this section can result in deleterious effects.
Muscle Strains: while muscle injuries are not serious ones, they can prevent a worker from doing serious work. Pushing, lifting objects, carrying heavy things can result in muscle strain.
So, those were some common work-related injuries. Keep them in mind and keep your employees safe and sound!
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Whether you have a small- or medium-sized business such as a restaurant, a convenience shop, a retail shop, or a bank, your business could well be a target for intruders and those who are criminally inclined. Security should be a top priority, and for good reason, especially if your business is in an area that has had its share of security issues. The need for security guard is huge when you want to ensure the safety of your business.
The good news, however, is that you can make use of a security guard to enhance security for your premises, and security guards are not just there to provide protection, either – they can also assist your employees and customers. So how else can a security guard benefit your business? Here are the top reasons why your business needs a security guard.
Reasons Why Your Business Needs Security Guard
These are some of the factors that you have to take care of while you want to make choices to achieve your objectives for making the use of a security guard.
1. Enhanced security and protection
One apparent reason why you need a security guard for your business is enhanced security and protection. If you have a security guard present at your business, they can enhance your peace of mind as well as the peace of mind of your employees along with your customers. Employees who work in an area with a high risk of security breaches can be more productive because they need no longer worry about theft or break-ins and their personal safety. Your customers will also be assured by the knowledge that you have taken substantial steps to ensure their security while they are on your premises. This is especially true if you have highly-valuable merchandise or if your business is in an area with a high incidence of crime.
2. An invaluable deterrent
Just the simple fact that you have a security guard at your premises is often enough to deter criminals from breaking in or steal something from your premises. A thief or burglar will think twice before they target your business if they can see a professional security guard at your premises. Aside from this, professional security guards are specially-trained to identify and detect suspicious behaviour or activities. They can assess a specific situation and take the necessary steps to ensure that no security breaches occur. A security guard is also a better deterrent than a camera or a standard system for security, as they are highly visual.
3. Improve your service to customers
With a static security guard such as one from specialists in security in Oxford like Securipol Ltd, you can improve your service to your customers. The security guard can assist your customers and man a desk or reception area, and they can also serve as a sentry in order to control access to a specific sector of your premises. A security guard can act as an escort for employees and customers who are trying to locate their cars in the parking lot, and they can help your customers reach their destination within your premises.
4. A thorough way of dealing with criminal incidents and other situations
Security guards often receive different levels of professional training in regards to responding to an incident or a crime. Some guards can note down specific details of a situation and then get in touch with the police. Others can detain intruders and suspects. Most will also know how to handle difficult situations (such as fights and disturbances). With a security guard, you can be sure that any problematic situation will be dealt with in the proper manner.
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Protecting Your Business From Retail Theft
With the rise of digitization, there has been a rise in cybercrime.
In fact, when a cyberattack happens, it harms a company directly and indirectly. Also, it affects its reputation in its potential customers’ eyes. In fact, you cannot count but estimate the loss that happens. Hence, it is important to ensure e-commerce website security.
In this article, you will learn about the top fourteen ways to ensure e-commerce website security. However, before that, it is also important to understand the importance of ensuring security in e-commerce websites. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.
Importance Of E-Commerce Website Security
In 2024, most businesses are working in the online framework. Their revenues heavily depend on their websites.
If they do not emphasize their website’s security, their customer base and reputation will become vulnerable.
As an eCommerce website owner, you need to comply with certain payment guidelines. These include PCI/DSS (Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard) to ensure smooth payment transactions.
Moreover, you need to install security protocols to secure your data integrity. They will not only protect your customer data from hackers but also keep the search engines satisfied.
Thus, security is essential for your eCommerce website.
Top 14 Ways To Ensure E-Commerce Website Security
The following are some of the major cybersecurity features you must ensure on your website:
1. Implement 2-factor Authentication
Does not matter how frustrating it may sound. As long as you are keeping your customer’s data secure, every security method is fine.
Employing 2-factor authentication may make your customers a bit agitated. They first enter the login credentials and then enter the OTP received on their number to decrease security breaches and hacks drastically.
So, employ the process and safeguard your customer accounts.
2. Get HTTPs And SSL Certification
To obtain HTTPS authentication businesses need an SSL certificate to be installed on a website. Before installation, you need to buy an SSL certificate. This is because it encrypts the data communication between the server and the client.
Then, it passes the data over a secure network through cryptographic functions (symmetric & asymmetric). This keeps cybercriminals from intercepting the communication.
Out of all the SSL certificates, the EV SSL certificates require a user to undergo a unique validation process to verify his credibility through his name, ID, address, and more.
Thus, get an EV SSL to secure your Ecommerce website and obtain the highest validation level.
3. Comply With PCI-DSS Guidelines For A Secure Payment Gateway System
PCI-DSS or Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard is a body that governs a website’s right to maintain an online payment transaction system.
If you are a website that sees over six million transactions every year, you must be level 1 compliant. However, if your transactions range from 20,000 per year, you are safe as a level 4 client of PCI-DSS.
The compliance helps you to secure your payment gateway system. Also, it allows you to use a third-party app to accept payments and make refunds on your behalf.
4. Use A VPN As A Night Watchman
When you use public networks such as Wi-Fis to access the site, it is better to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to watch your back and restrict other connections to manipulate the ongoing connection between the server and the client.
Without a VPN, hackers can easily manipulate the payment transaction and hack credit and debit card details.
VPN will secure your customers’ payment transactions even on Wi-Fi and keep their sensitive data as safe as houses.
5. Restrict Malicious Bots Using reCAPTCHA
The reCAPTCHA method is extremely effective in keeping hackers at bay. Basically, ReCAPTCHA generates random questions that a bot cannot answer.
There are plenty of malicious bots lurking around the internet in hopes of finding an ideal prey for cybercriminals.
When they get access to your account, malicious bots can steal information, leak it, or even bring your site down.
ReCAPTCHA adds an extensive layer of security that is impenetrable for a code or a bot.
It restricts bad guys’ entrance by protecting login pages, signup pages, contact form pages, form submission pages, payment gateway pages, etc.
6. Start Using A Reliable Content Management System (CMS)
Choosing the right CMS is important for businesses to determine whether an eCommerce website will stay safe.
Mediocre CMSs are a big risk to have. They might help you save a few bucks, but you will always be vulnerable to theft.
But, CMSs like WordPress and Joomla have renounced entities having customer bases in millions.
Moreover, they are regular in updating security patches and always stay a step ahead of the bad guys.
The only thing you need to do is keep them updated.
7. Do Not Use Unsolicited Extensions And Plugins
Plugins and extensions are necessary to enhance your website’s reach. They allow you access to multiple tools and features on the internet.
However, not all plugins are safe to install. These days, due to rising cybercrimes, you must be aware of what you’re installing or adding.
Cybercriminals can engrave malicious codes in the plugins, and when a user installs it, they get access to his site.
Before installing any plugin, make sure that its source is known. Check for its reviews and ratings across the internet.
Also, check its performance reports and badges for further inquiry and self-satisfaction.
8. Perform Audits For Site Security
Site security auditing does not interest a lot of merchants, but it is essential for their survival.
Site security auditing includes checking whether the anti-virus is working appropriately and whether security protocols are repelling attacks or not.
As a merchant, you must initiate site auditing from time to time. It will help you prevent attacks and fix bugs and technical glitches.
If detected early, some security issues can be repelled; otherwise, they may harm the website if they stay for longer periods.
So, keep auditing your website at regular intervals of time.
9. Install A Firewall In Your Web Application
If you own a web application, the firewall can benefit you immensely.
Web Application Firewall or WAF protects the website or web app by analyzing the traffic between the application and the internet.
A firewall protects the user data of the application from XSS (cross-site scripting), SQL injection, cross-site request forgery, etc.
A firewall is the need of the hour to suffice the mounting cyberattacks and help sustain the business.
10. Perform Data-Backup Regularly
In today’s tech world, data is more important than cash in your wallet. Here, you can earn cash again. However, once you lose data, you cannot retrieve them in the same proportion.
For businesses, data is their lifeline. They thrive on data and channel their operations accordingly.
Since it is immensely important, protecting it is quite a task for businesses as cybercriminals are always on the lookout for data.
The best way to protect your data is by creating a copy of it and saving it on the cloud.
Cloud allows you to access your data anywhere at any time, making it extremely reliable.
11. Regular Software Updates
Regular software updates are crucial for e-commerce website security since they come with patches that deal with vulnerabilities. Additionally, since developers always research and improve cybersecurity, new updates let you access the latest features.
In fact, they protect your website from new threats like ransomware. Also, it offers protection against data breach attempts. Moreover, software updates also let your website meet the compliance requirements of the e-commerce industry.
Furthermore, it also helps in improving the overall performance of your e-commerce website.
12. Strong Password Policies
Firstly, if there is a strong password policy, cyber criminals will not gain unauthorized access to the website.
As a result, you can also prevent financial losses that may happen to your business. Moreover, you can also save your business from reputational damage.
Generally, cybercriminals and hackers use weak passwords to penetrate networks. Thereby, they stop your business’s critical processes. Hence, with a strong password policy, you can ensure e-commerce website security.
13. Use A Secure Hosting Environment
A secure hosting environment protects your e-commerce website from various security threats. These include hacking, data breaches, malware, etc.
Apart from that, it also helps to maintain your site’s integrity. Also, it helps you to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers. Additionally, it also offers protection against DDoS attacks
Moreover, site downtime negatively affects your search engine ranking. Here, a secure hosting environment can help you a lot.
14. Focus On User Education And Training
If you invest in user education and training, you can help them respond to cybersecurity threats. Basically, your users will learn to identify and respond to threats such as phishing, social engineering, and malicious attachments.
Thereby, you can reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks that can compromise your e-commerce website security. As a result, you will gain more trust from your users and customers.
Final Thoughts
eCommerce is booming every day. New ways of marketing, selling, and attracting are in place to make life convenient for customers.
On the hind side, hackers also build new ways to capture as much data as possible. Basically, they employ bots and bugs to do the dirty work. Bots can enter your website and steal customer data, whereas bugs can get attached to plugins and gain access once you install them.
Keeping track of what you are installing, where you are visiting, and who you are allowing access to is of paramount importance. However, everything can get simple if you follow these fourteen steps. This way, you can frame a robust website security system.
Do you have more recommendations on how to ensure e-commerce website security? Please share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below.
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