(This is a contributed post)
It’s crucial in any business that employers ensure safe working environments, and that employees carry out safe working practices. Danger is present every day, but can easily be avoided by carrying out the following precautionary measures.
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to provide the necessary training when using potentially harmful machinery or vehicles. Every employee that uses any transportation must have the right license, and regular knowledge tests must be done to identify any gaps in learning that lead to unwanted errors. As an employee, it’s your responsibility to take caution when operating such devices, and always seek more information if you do not feel confident – this will diminish the opportunity for mistakes.
It’s not very common, but fires and other disasters can occur in your workplace. You must establish safe exit routes as soon as you acquire a new property and all employees must be aware. Proper alarm systems have to be installed to alert everyone inside of any impending threat, and fire exits should be clearly labelled and never locked. Carry out mock drills at least annually to ensure your employees know what to do in a crisis situation, minimising the risk of damage if it were to actually happen.
Dependent on your workplace, there might be specific instructions for protective clothing and accessories. As an employer, its essential not to scrimp when it comes to buying these materials, as they exist for a reason and you never want to put your staff in a position of danger that could be avoided. Durable glasses, high visibility jackets and hard hats are just a few common examples of essential protective equipment.
Branching out to a new property can bring about all sorts of dangers. Research every aspect of the move before making any decisions, and make sure you evaluate the buildings construction history and identify whether you need commercial asbestos removal. Take time when moving machinery and never forget the importance of planning ahead. The more details established beforehand the smoother the process will be, leaving less room for error.
It does not matter if you are an employer or an employee, you must always keep your wits about you and look for anything that might pose a danger. Have a system in place so workers can report any unsafe conditions, and never let these reports go without a proper investigation. There’s danger around every corner, but identifying a problem before it becomes a catastrophe will ensure optimum safety in your workplace and keep any solution costs to a minimum. Following up on employees reports also makes them feel like their safety is being appropriately considered.
By taking the above mentioned precautions you can make sure all staff are taken care of. Minimising injuries is important for many obvious reasons, but giving everyone precious peace of mind will diminish any fear and keep productivity at an all time high.