Running a business is no easy task, and keeping track of all the numerous things that need to be done can be taxing. Your employees are one of the most important parts of your business – it couldn’t function without them! That’s why it’s important to ensure their safety and security in the workplace.
If an employee were to receive an injury at work, there might be serious repercussions for you as an employer. They might be in touch with a firm like Lamber Goodnow Injury Lawyers, and you could be sued for negligence and have to cough up thousands in compensation.
This makes it extra important to protect both your employees and yourself from an event like this. Here are a few things to do to ensure their safety.
Follow Regulations
Within certain industries, there are specific safety protocols and regulations which must be adhered to. Check out the requirements within your industry and in your local government and ensure that your business is complying with the regulations set in place.
This will already place you in good stead should any legal complications arise, and it’s far less likely that an injury or safety issue will occur.
Implement Regulations
Further, you as a business owner should implement your own regulations to ensure health and safety in the workplace. This can include the specification of safe work attire, safety procedures to be followed, social distancing markers for Covid-19, etc.
The regular maintenance of the premises and equipment should fall within these regulations as well. Take responsibility as an employer to ensure that the conditions that your workers have to work within are safe and secure at all times.
Use Signage
Place signage around the workplace to assist employees (and clients) with safety precautions and other warnings in specific areas. This can range from a ‘wet floor’ sign to forbidden premises. Signs can indicate areas to be cautious, where to wear safety gear, instructions on pieces of equipment or equipment that is out of order.
Providing clear and easily understandable cautions and warnings can help prevent injuries and other safety and health issues in the workplace.
Implement an Emergency Procedure
Take your safety one step further by implementing safety plans for emergency situations. This can include emergency evacuations, fire drills and plans for robberies violence and other disasters.
Educating your employees on how to react and behave in these emergency situations can help for smooth evacuations and the prevention of injury and other serious complications should any of these emergencies arise. Provide clear floorplans with evacuation routes and schedule practice drills for each of these emergency plans every so often.
Provide Safety Gear
If your staff are working in environments or conditions where their health and safety might be at risk (for example, at a construction site or in an experimental lab), it’s your responsibility to provide them with the appropriate safety gear.
Durable safety gear of a good quality is essential for certain fields of work, and the wearing thereof should also be enforced as a rule in the workplace.
Offer Regular Training
You should be training your staff in various ways on a continual basis. First of all, it’s important to train your staff regularly in their line of work – the use of equipment and the performing of certain tasks. Ensuring that they are well-trained will help in preventing injuries or safety issues caused by a lack of skill or competence.
Furthermore, you should implement health and safety training too. This can include the emergency drill plans discussed, first-aid training and training staff on what to do in other emergency or safety-related situations.
Install Security Cameras
Another aspect to consider is your employee’s security at the workplace. Security cameras and panic buttons are a great way to protect both your employees and your business from robberies and break-ins.
Having your business properly insured is another important aspect to consider when regarding security measures.
Covid-19 Regulations
An important consideration that has arisen in the past few years is the safety of your workers from Covid-19. Business owners are responsible for protecting their staff and customers to whatever extent possible and limiting the spread of the virus.
In this sense, avoiding contact work in accordance with your local regulations is key. Further, if your staff is not required in the office, allowing remote work is a great way to limit contact and the spread of the virus. You should further provide screening for your staff upon entry to the premises, as well as sanitising stations throughout the building.
