While there’s more of a focus on how the lives of working mothers change after children, working dads also face a very significant shift in priorities, and thus happiness in their careers. For dads working in risky industries like construction, especially, risks that might not once have seemed like cause for concern can take on a whole new meaning. After all, if something were to happen, the repercussions for their kids could be terrible.
Of course, this isn’t to say that dads supporting their families should walk away from even risky roles that they’ve been happy in for years. It does, however, highlight the fact that family should prove an incentive for at least easing the burden of the very real risks faced at work each day. In some regards, this is a goal that’s easier said than done, but it is possible by taking these following pressing points of action.
# 1 – Get knowledgeable about safety
When we’re young and single, we often assume that safety is someone else’s concern. This is a typical ‘it won’t happen to me attitude’, but the reality is that it can happen to you, and the risk of that being the case significantly increases if you don’t take individual responsibility for learning about, and understanding, what risks look like and how to negate them. In areas like construction, this especially means taking time to book a CSCS test online so that you’re 100% clued in about safety considerations. In other fields, understanding proper practice, or even taking it upon yourself to enrol in safety-specific courses, could be the difference between accident and avoidance.
# 2 – Always stick to your guns
When you were a younger man, you might have been more willing to listen to your boss than lock horns with those in power. Now that you have an added incentive to stay safe, however, you must stick to your guns if you see something that doesn’t sit right with you. If your manager asks you to use faulty equipment or operate without proper safety gear, for instance, it’s vital to fight for your rights with the law backing your point. Far from losing your job, this increases the chances that your manager will have no choice but to make the workplace safer for everyone.
# 3 – Work flexibly where you can
While your living expenses have likely increased alongside fatherhood, things like sleep problems and overwork have been found to factor in as many as 13% of workplace injuries. With that being the case, seeking flexible work where possible is the best way to keep yourself refreshed, aware, and safer as a result. Not to mention that you’ll be able to spend more time with your family this way!
Risks at work are always unwelcome, but they become especially so when you have a family to stay safe for. Do what you can to ensure that’s the case by making these considerations an everyday part of your approach to work moving forward.
Collaborative post
