5 signs your job site might not be safe (and what to do about it)
Let’s be real: sometimes the workplace gives off weird vibes… and not the good kind. If you’re new to the job or still learning the ropes, it can be hard to tell when something’s unsafe – or just the usual chaos of a busy work site.
Here are the 5 red flags to watch out for – and what you can do if you spot them.
1. No one shows you how to do things
If you’re handed a tool or told to jump on a job without proper training – red flag. You have the right to be trained, and it’s your employer’s responsibility to make sure you know how to work safely.
What to do: Ask question. A good supervisor won’t make you feel bad for wanting to get it right.
2. PPE is treated like a joke
No gloves, no steel caps, no hard hat… no good. If other’s skip PPE no one says anything, that’s a culture problem.
What to do: Wear your gear anyway. You’ll thank yourself later.
3. Equipment looks dodgy or unmaintained
Rusty ladders? Frayed wires? Tools that spark when they shouldn’t? If it looks unsafe, it probably is.
What to do: Flag it. Don’t use it until someone qualifies checks it out.
4. People take shortcuts (and brag about it)
Speeding through tasks might win points with some, but it can also end in injury. If people are rushing and skipping steps, it sets the tone that getting it done > staying safe.
What to do: Don’t copy. Speak up if you feel pressured to cut corners.
5. If you’re afraid to speak up
This one’s big. If you feel like raising a safety issue will get you in trouble, ignored or make you seem difficult, something’s not right.
What to do: You have a legal right to a safe workplace. If you can’t talk to your supervisor, talk to WHS rep or contact WorkSafe directly.
Bottom line?
Trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Safety isn’t just a policy – it’s your right.
No job is worth your body.
