Ten Things to Make Your Workplace a Safer Environment

As everyone knows, safety is the highest priority. That applies at all times, and especially in the workplace, where an accident can not only injure people, but also result in slowdowns, penalties, and reduced morale.

The best techniques for ensuring the safety of yourself and your employees will depend on the exact type of work that you do. However, there are techniques that tend to be common across all types of workplaces, and that apply no matter what type of work you do. Here are ten tips that you can apply to your office, starting today:

1. Create an Emergency Plan Book

Every office should have an emergency plan book. In this book, you should outline all of the most likely safety hazards in your line of work, and the ways that employees should respond, in case any of them ever arise.

2. Have Extra Safety Equipment

If your work involves safety equipment, you should not only have enough of it on hand, you should have more than enough. This comes in handy in case you suddenly hire new employees, or if any of your equipment breaks down.

3. Establish a Safety Committee

Create a safety committee, and make sure that the membership meets at least a couple times a month. These people can raise safety issues and take charge of addressing them before anyone is hurt.

4. Get Regular Inspections by the Fire Marshal

Your office should regularly be inspected by the fire marshal for potential fire hazards of all sorts. If any hazards are discovered, they should be immediately addressed, and another inspection performed.

5. Get Regular Air Quality Tests

Your local authorities likely provide free or low cost air testing that can identify any possible contaminants in your office air. If any are discovered, talk to the authorities about how to improve the air quality, and brief your employees on any potential health issues.

6. Establish Designated Smoking Areas

It’s important that your company has a smoke-free working environment. The best way to preserve a smoke free environment is to give smokers a designated area that they can access easily during all working hours.

7. Allow Anonymous Reporting

If employees notice safety issues in your workplace, they may be concerned about reporting them. In the past, there have been issues with whistle-blowers being disciplined for complaining to their employers. Create an anonymous reporting system so issues can be reported without any concerns of backlash.

8. Make Sure Employees Know Their Rights

Bring in a knowledgeable employment lawyer, such as one from russellworthsolicitors.co.uk, to discuss employees’ rights in the workplace.

9. Create a Budget for Safety Improvements

Establish an annual budget for making safety improvements. Even a modest budget can pay for dramatic improvements in safety, and it will force you to think about constantly improving safety.

10. Allow Your Employees Ample Time to Rest

One of the biggest safety issues in any workplace is fatigue. Fatigue can result in a wide range of injuries, but it’s also easy to prevent or alleviate. Make sure that your employees are well rested and not overworked, and they will remain healthy and performing at a high level.