How do you keep yourself safe on the job?

Whether you work in the sweltering heat outside for hours or are hunched in your office until the middle of the night typing, safety concerns are an unavoidable aspect of a healthy career. Some wash their hands after moving around the building to avoid catching the flu, while others regularly pause while typing to keep their wrists from giving out. Custom reflective jackets, reflective t shirts and safety vests all work in conjunction to keep construction workers as safe as possible from the moment they clock on to the last few minutes on their shift.

Is your workplace safe for employees? Check out the list below and make sure so you’re all prepared for the demands of the new year.

Back in 2015 over 4,000 workers were killed on the job. For a bigger picture? That’s as many as 12 or 13 deaths every single day. Job safety has only continued to become a hot button issue as workers become more privy to everyday risk factors and the impact they could have on their life from a brief moment of neglect. Hearing loss, ankle sprains, wrist sprains, influenza and concussions are some of the most common work-related accidents.

Hearing loss is a very common occurrence in the construction field. Thankfully, it can be easily prevented with a little preparation. Depending on the fit a pair of earplugs can reduce noise by 15 to even 30 decibels. Permanent hearing loss can be caused by sounds louder than 85 decibels, those of which construction workers are regularly exposed to through equipment and proximity to cars. The National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health determined the maximum exposure time to any sound at 85 decibels no more than eight hours.

The only issue more common than hearing loss are ankle sprains and broken toes. While the average person may walk around 10,000 steps per day, a construction worker or day laborer can walk three times that much. It’s estimated just $70 is spent per employee on foot protection each year — this number should likely be higher to ensure workers are covered every day of the year, with steel-toed models popular for their added strength. Good shoes that frequently slip or are too tight can also do the same amount of damage as a cheap shoe brand.

Bodily harm can also be circumvented by providing drivers ample time to stop or swerve. Operating in the darkness or bad weather requires reflective t shirts or any sort of breathable reflective rain gear to ensure the safety of workers. Able to be spotted at many yards away, these vests, hoodies and jackets are also designed to keep employees warm and safe from common illnesses. There has been a noted link between age and the probability of injury — back in 2014 younger workers missed an average of four days after a work-related injury or illness.

The Institute For Work And Health In Canada discovered that a new employee working through their first month has a probability of gaining a lost-time injury three times higher than a more experienced employee. This is very similar to a 2013 survey that saw one-third of all nonfatal work injuries being suffered by workers with less than a year of service under their belt. Although all accidents can’t be prevented, the vast majority can be circumvented easily with proper equipment like reflective t shirts, good shoes and high visibility clothing.

All workers should be given proper equipment, with old and worn-out items thrown out before they can do more harm than good. Reflective t shirts and cotton safety shirts are a necessity for harsh weather to make sure both employee and driver are able to communicate at a distance. Sturdy work shoes are a staple no day laborer can go without and should be paired with gloves, ear plugs and a helmet to ensure steady protection wherever their job takes them. Should any more extreme conditions present themselves, updated equipment should be readily available beforehand alongside simple tips on handling and upkeep.

A safe work environment isn’t a luxury — it’s a basic need.