Safety in the workplace is very important, and with the rising costs of worker’s compensation insurance there is a huge need to keep employees healthy and happy, and take precautions to reduce workplace accidents. The cost of workplace injuries is much greater than the compensation. No matter what sort of work industry you are in, workers have the potential to be injured. By following these tips you’ll help create a safe working environment and minimise accidents in the workplace.
- Educate employers – you need to train employers about the importance of safety within the workplace, and the need to follow and employ safety measures as often as they can. For jobs that will require lifting and lots of movement, you should conduct special training to help reduce injuries.
- Provide protection equipment – personal protective equipment is essential and should be enforced upon hiring. When and if needed, make sure all employees have goggles, face protection, gloves, hard hats, safety shoes, ear muffs and ear plugs.
- Put someone in charge of safety – when you have discussed current safety policies with workers choose a coordinator and put together a plan. You will need to confirm with this chosen individual that they are clear of their responsibilities and you should express your support towards this person whilst planning a meeting with them on a regular basis to check everything is running smoothly.
- Company handbook – create a company handbook that compiles together the list and steps that you must take in order to prevent accidents happening at work. It should include instructions.
- Keep an orderly work environment – poor housekeeping can cause very serious health and safety hazards. You should make sure the workplace is tidy and that footpaths are free from objects that could cause people to trip and fall. Keep stations tidy and free of spills too.
- Monitor safety measures – once training is completed, be sure to reinforce safety measures at every given opportunity and reward those employees that abide by them and are setting standards.
If you are unsure how best to reward your employees, then check out this article by Entrepreneur on the best ways to reward your employees.
- Mark dangerous areas – if there are hazards within your workplace for whatever reason then make a sign and let people know immediately.
- Identify potential risks – common hazards consist of wet floors, objects obstructing floors or heavy items that could cause strain to someone’s back. These will be largely determined as potential risks, so it may become necessary for you explore every possible scenario for injury and make a list of these.
- Give the correct instructions – accidents can happen when employers skip steps in order to complete a job more quickly and ahead of schedule. You must make sure that your instructions are clear and organised to prevent mishaps from happening.
- Sanitise workstations – to help stop the spread of germs in the workplace, all surfaces and areas must be cleaned properly. Clinell wipes are a highly reputable brand, and can easily be picked up from companies such as Brosch Direct. Not only will this reduce illness, but it will also help with any unwanted spills which can cause accidents.
There are many different precautionary measures that both employers and employees should be taking, and for those that work together following safety precautions will most likely prevent future accidents.
