Philosopher Socrates once said: “To him whose feet hurt, everything hurts.”

If you’re like me, you occasionally take for granted how valuable our feet are and the immense factor they play in our well-being. When your job duties require you to stand for long periods of time, or work in areas that have potentially hazardous conditions such as slippery floors, you are at great risk for injury. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports slips, trips, and falls as the leading cause of OSHA recordable injuries with over 152,000 lost work days a year. 1 in 6 of all lost time accidents are a result of a slip, trip, or fall. According to OSHA slips, trips and falls cause 15% of all accidental deaths and are second only to motor vehicles. However, you can do your part to prevent injuries by following safe work practices and equipping yourself appropriately.

Not only is first-aid a necessity at any workplace, OSHA explains it is a requirement that employees be given a safe and healthy environment that is reasonably free of occupational hazards.

OSHA states that an estimated 5 million workers are required to wear respirators in 1.3 million workplaces throughout the United States. Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, diseases, or death. Compliance with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard could avert hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses annually.