One of the many responsibilities of an entrepreneur is to ensure safety in the workplace, but it is often easier to say.
Accidents in the workplace have become more common, indicating numbers associated with employee injuries. According to Statistar, there were 142 fatal injuries to workers in the UK in 2020/21, 35 of them due to falling from heights alone. You may think that only industries like gas and oil, construction, or factories are at risk, but such accidents can happen regardless of the industry. That’s why you should focus on keeping your employees safe and minimizing any potential hazards in the workplace.
By creating a risk-free environment for everyone, you not only fulfill your legal obligations, you protect employees so avoid lost workdays and stop claiming any injuries.
This article explores some practical ways to increase safety at work, so keep reading!
Understand your legal responsibilities
Once you know your legal obligations as an employer, things will become clearer. Thus, take your time to analyze and understand the law to develop and maintain a safe workplace. Whatever your industry, you are responsible for the safety and health of your workers when they are at work. So, if you do not want to be responsible for a possible accident, it would be wise to focus on this.
Whether you have a fleet of drivers or office-based staff on your team, it is essential to provide them with proper equipment and safety training. Accidents are unpredictable, and no matter how much you may want to believe they will not happen in your company, the truth is that everything is uncertain. The best way to deal with this is to take appropriate measures to prevent them and to be prepared for misfortune.
If an employee is to blame for an accident, you may be held responsible and this is because you need to make sure you hire the right staff.
Provide appropriate training
An important factor that determines the level of safety in the workplace is through proper training. And if you still rely on common sense, learn that it is not enough to prevent injury in the workplace. We strongly recommend investing in thorough training that provides your employees with healthy safety practices and hands-on learning techniques. Theory and practice make a great combination, so make sure you use both words and actions when training your staff. If you feel that you are not ready to instruct your employees, you can hire a professional trainer on safety. Training is part of your legal obligation, so make sure you train your staff before you even start work.
Install automation to increase efficiency
Automation has significantly simplified business activities, leading to greater performance among employees. This reduces manual input, but also increases productivity, reducing the amount of time spent operating a machine. You can choose health and safety software and notify your Environmental Protection and Health (EHS) team. Just because you run your business automatically doesn’t mean you have to give up helping people; In contrast, people and technology make a great team.
You can integrate this software with other software packages, such as HR (human resources) software, accounting software, payroll software, etc., to streamline operations and make your employees’ work significantly more manageable.
Keep the workplace clean
Although most people wonder what safety has to do with cleanliness, you should be one hundred percent sure that it plays an important role in risk prevention. Whether it’s a manufacturing warehouse or an office bogie, it’s a must have, for any Affiliate, promoting any program. That way, you can avoid accidents like slips, trips and falls, which are more dangerous than you think. Computer cables and cords, for example, can create a tripping hazard, so make sure you keep an eye on their employees’ feet. If one of your employees slips and falls and is injured due to your negligence, they can claim compensation for the loss and your company will pay the settlement.
Provide protective equipment to employees
One of the responsibilities of an employer is to provide adequate equipment to their employees. Some industries, such as construction, may require personal protective equipment (PPE). As such, make sure your employees are equipped with everything from eye and hearing protection, face masks and safety goggles to personal steer toe boots and helmets. PPE is also recommended in office environments; Thus, proper clothing, masks, hand sanitizer, infrared thermometer and gloves may be required.
Equipment maintenance stays up to date
Providing the right equipment to your team is essential, but maintaining it is crucial. Equipment and machines require regular maintenance, especially if used daily. That way, you make sure there is no risk of injury as a result of a missing piece or faulty equipment. You don’t have to inspect these tools alone (though, it would be great if you had the necessary skills); If there is no one to keep the equipment maintenance up to date you can hire a professional engineer. If you run a business that uses frequent vehicles, for example, make sure your company’s vehicles are regularly maintained and serviced. Road accidents are so common these days that in the year ending June 2021, there were 119,850 car accidents in the UK, which is nothing short of alarming. The reasons vary but don’t be surprised to learn that driving a broken car is one of them.
Do not neglect minor incidents
Small accidents like slips and trips should be the first sign that something is wrong. Even if most of these incidents go unnoticed, you should pay special attention to the way they occur so that you know where to improve. Promote a safety culture and advise employees to declare every time such an accident occurs. Even if it is seen to be minor, knowing in advance that your workplace incident propensity allows you to take action and avoid more serious accidents.
