Your workforce is the backbone of your business or company. Therefore, it’s vital that you nurture and look after your employees. This includes ensuring that the environment they work in is as safe and hygienic as possible, so they can all go home at the end of the day in the same condition they arrived for work that morning.
Let’s look over some tips to help guarantee the safety of your employees at all times.
#1 – Workers Need To Be Fully Trained To Operate Equipment
If your business relies on the use of machinery, such as in a production environment, or the use of vehicles such as forklifts, then every employee operating a vehicle or piece of machinery needs to be properly trained in its correct use. Much of this training will involve safety procedures and what to do in case of a problem.
Not only should employees be adequately trained, but it’s also a wise idea to do refresher training from time to time to keep everyone focused and diligent. It’s human nature to become lax over time, especially when we feel we are an expert at something already.
#2 – Follow Workplace Health and Safety Protocols
Step one is to be fully aware of what is required regarding the topic of workplace health and safety in your business and industry. If you’re not sure, you can access information online or even call in a workplace health and safety professional to audit your business and let you know what needs to be done to get things up to scratch.
As an added option, you could install software that creates a work health and safety management system. This type of dedicated software makes it much easier to remain in line with the protocols and will also serve as a platform that keeps you up to date on those requirements.
It’s all about protecting your employees, customers, the general public and also about ensuring the longevity of your business.
#3 – Wear Protective Gear If/When Necessary
Some jobs require protective gear when operating machinery or working in certain locations. A prime example is the hard hat helmet construction workers wear while on-site. Another example is reflective clothing those road workers wear to make them more visible to traffic.
If a task or a location requires protective gear of any kind, this clothing and equipment should be readily made available to all employees who need it. Something as simple as a reflective vest could potentially save a life.
#4 – Encourage the Reporting Of Workplace Problems
Workplace health and safety is not and cannot be the responsibility of one person alone. It’s a team effort and is the responsibility of everyone who works in the business. Therefore, it’s vital that communication is encouraged at all times, especially when it involves any procedural or safety concerns.
Employees should feel confident in approaching management or business owners if they spot something that could cause a potential problem or result in an injury. This way, the issue can be rectified before any unfortunate mishaps occur.
With an open communication culture in the workplace, the business will not only become safer, but it will also likely improve overall and become more successful.
#5 – Avoid Fatigue and Lethargy By Allowing Breaks
It’s beneficial for the company and the workers if short breaks are allowed throughout the day, in addition to taking a lunch break. Even five minutes to simply chill out can result in an employee returning to their tasks feeling refreshed and more focused.
Accidents are more often the result of fatigue and a lack of concentration rather than someone not knowing how to do something correctly. Regular short breaks can help to maintain a diligent and alert workforce that isn’t accident prone.
#6 – Additional Tips In Brief
- Keep the workplace free of clutter and rubbish, especially on the floors
- Have non-slip mats and signage in place wherever the floors may be wet
- Store chemicals and combustible materials correctly
- Designate hazard zones with signage
- Provide first aid training and first aid kits
- Fire safety training is also essential
- Provide workplace variety in a repetitive environment
In Conclusion
Effective workplace health and safety is about diligence and awareness on the part of everyone involved.
