More than 5,500 Publix associates get hurt on the job each year. And while a majority of the incidents are minor, no one wants to be away from work because of an injury. In addition to presenting challenges at work, injuries can have a significant impact on your personal life. Fortunately, you have the power to keep yourself safe by following established safety policies and procedures.

“We count on managers to demonstrate the importance of safety through their actions and by addressing unsafe behaviors. However, we rely on our associates to take ownership of their work environment by working safely and reporting unsafe conditions,” said Manager of Retail Safety and OSHA Compliance Rob Peter. “If you know something isn’t safe, stop — don’t do it! Things like picking up debris or wiping up spills, lifting properly and wearing a cutting glove may seem easy to do but can be challenging until associates make them habits.”

Half of all injuries in our stores occur in three categories: cuts, strains, and slips, trips and falls. So associates must think about safety in everything they do, from walking the floors to unloading trucks. Remember, there’s no task so urgent you cannot take the time to do it safely.

If you’re not sure which safety policies and procedures apply to your job, talk with your manager. When you have safety top of mind, it can save you, your co-workers and your company from the injuries associated with an unsafe work environment.

Have a safety story? We’d love to hear it! If you have a story or idea you’d like to share, send an email to Safety.SuccessStories@publix.com. Your story could be featured in an upcoming communication.