How to Ensure Workplace Safety for Your Business

Safety in the workplace is a top priority for any business. Business owners should assess the safety risks and hazards to prevent injuries or accidents and take necessary precautions.

By MIA CLARKE

Businesses have a responsibility to protect their employees from accidents or work-related illnesses. For instance, one of the most common safety measures is ensuring that chemical materials are stored safely and away from any potential hazards.

5 Steps to Safeguarding Your Workplace

There are many ways to keep your workplace safe. It is important to take care of the little things so that you can prepare for the worst. Below are 5 tips for safeguarding your workplace.

1. Make sure that fire exits are easily accessible and well lit. Additionally, conduct regularly scheduled fire drills, so that employees are familiar with the procedures set in place and their individual responsibilities. 

2. Install safety equipment like fire sprinklers, emergency lights, and smoke detectors near exits and staircases. In case of a power outage, exits need to be clearly marked. 

3. Make sure that you have a plan in place for evacuation in case of an emergency. Along those lines, ensure that each employee has responsibilities and they’re clear on what those responsibilities are. Every time a drill is conducted, employees should feel comfortable in their roles and prepared for an emergency. 

4. Keep all machinery locked away or under constant supervision. Many workplaces have machinery or tools that are dangerous if used incorrectly. Ensure that all employees are accurately educated on how dangerous equipment is used and how to handle an emergency should it occur.  

5. Keep the workplace clean and tidy. Whether your workplace is full of cubicles or it’s a construction site, the workplace should be clean and organised. Employees should be responsible for their messes and clean up after themselves. Additionally, if cleaning staff are employed, they should be adequately briefed on any specific cleaning procedures for the workplace. 

‘Many employees in any workplace will be so-called ‘digital natives’’, says David Rowland, the head of marketing EcoOnline. ‘Therefore, your workplace strategies should reflect this’. As such, health and safety software could be the ideal choice for administering your health and safety needs, as it will resonate more with a large number of your employees. 

6. Share safety guidelines with employees, post workplace rules, and enforce them. Safety guidelines and workplace rules should be in a public place where employees can reference them as needed. Additionally, workers should always feel comfortable going to staff members about concerns. 

 7. Provide training on hazard identification and elimination. Frequent training will ensure that employees stay up to date on the identification and elimination of hazards. Each training course is a simple but effective way to keep employees aware of dangers. 

8. Keep a close eye on environmental factors that can affect your business such as temperature or humidity. You don’t have to work in a museum to be concerned about high humidity or temperatures. High humidity can lead to dangers such as black mold which is hazardous to one’s health and can often be difficult to remove. 

9. Stay up-to-date with current safety standards. Frequent training courses ensure that employees are up to date with current safety standards and that those standards are being followed. While they may not be the most exciting courses, they do help employees stay safe in the workplace. 

Companies must also ensure that employees can use proper equipment, such as gloves, masks and safety goggles for their line of work. Ensuring workplace safety is not just about complying with the law, it’s about caring for your employees’ well-being. Following these guidelines can help your business keep employees safe.