We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you ... you're just helping re-supply our family's travel fund.
Every business owner has a responsibility to protect their employees and customers. If you run a company, it’s essential to be proactive in preventing accidents and injuries. Here are some tips to help you create a safe workplace.
Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/warning-board-wet-floor-caution-652115/
Ensure that you are up to date with rules and regulations
Health and safety regulations are there to protect employees and clients. As a business owner, you are legally obliged to comply with health and safety protocol to reduce the risk of accidents and promote safe working. Ensure that you are up to date with rules and procedures and review and update policies regularly. There are often additional steps you can take to go beyond essential requirements to minimize risks. Examples may include providing additional training for staff and using non-slip material in offices and stores.
Keep up with maintenance and routine checks and services
Keeping up with maintenance is important for all employers. Whether your team is based at an office, a warehouse, a store or a call center, for example, it’s crucial to prioritize routine maintenance to prevent issues. Basic checks and services flag up issues early and lower the risk of injuries and accidents, such as slips and trips, electrical injuries and smoke inhalation. Maintenance covers everything from flooring and electrics to fire alarms and outdoor paving and patios. Organize a sprinkler system inspection, check smoke detectors, schedule regular heating system checks and test electrical appliances frequently. Encourage your employees to report problems and address every issue promptly.
Test tools and equipment and provide training
Many businesses utilize tools, equipment or machinery. If your employees use equipment or machinery that carries a risk of injury, test tools and equipment regularly, provide the relevant safety clothing and footwear and ensure that every individual has the required training. If you fail to provide effective protective equipment, or your employees feel that they have been forced to utilize faulty equipment or operate machinery without training, you could be held liable for injuries.
Encourage safe practices
Most accidents are preventable. As well as ensuring workplaces meet the necessary health and safety standards, you can also protect your workforce by encouraging employees to implement safe practices. This may include adopting good posture when sitting at a desk to prevent back pain and keeping workspaces and communal areas clean and tidy, for example.
Carry out frequent risk assessments
Risk assessments are designed to identify potential hazards and safer ways of working. Use frequent risk assessments to highlight risks and dangers and flag issues, which need urgent attention. It’s also beneficial to communicate with your team and encourage them to raise issues if they have concerns about health and safety at work.
Picture from https://www.pexels.com/photo/professional-massage-therapist-treating-a-female-patient-s-injured-neck-4506165/
Every employer wants their customers and employees to be safe. Business premises often harbor risks, and even the safest-looking environments can be dangerous. To minimize the risk of accidents and injuries, it’s important for business owners to keep up to date with health and safety regulations and maintenance and routine checks. Encourage safe ways of working, provide employee training and test equipment and machinery frequently. Carry out regular risk assessments and address safety issues as quickly as possible.
Leave a Reply