According to the WHO and ILO, almost 2 million people die from work-related injuries every year.
Granted, most of these tragedies occur in high-risk occupations like construction. Yet, there are also significant deaths relating to workplace stress and exposure to common toxins and allergens.
Employee safety is a vital responsibility associated with business ownership, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. Here’s your guide to implementing workplace safety as soon as possible.
Educate Your Employees About Workplace Safety
Learning the hard way isn’t an option when it comes to workplace safety. Make sure you’re aware of all the risks associated with your line of work and share this knowledge with your employees.
If you’re unsure about the risks involved, ask for help from a health and safety officer. These experts have the benefit of training and experience when it comes to identifying risks in any work situation.
Recognize Safe Behavior
Keep track of staff members’ compliance with safety measures and reward employees who stick to the rules. Free lunch or an extra hour off can do much to encourage others to join the health and safety trend.
Reward programs also help keep employees engaged and create positive associations with OHS policies.
Keep Conditions Safe
Even with regular training, employees can forget basic safety procedures. Post signs warning of potential hazards and the location of safety equipment like fire extinguishers.
These serve as a reminder for your workers to remain vigilant. They’re also required by law.
Another way to avoid unnecessary injuries is to keep all your equipment in excellent working order, especially if you use industrial machinery in your day-to-day operations.
Malfunctioning machines are a safety hazard, and even something small like poor lighting can lead to unnecessary conditions like eye strain due to low visibility or back strain from leaning forward to read dimly lit documents.
Air conditioners can spread toxins, diseases, and pollutants far and wide. Make sure you check the air quality in your building regularly and get your air conditioner serviced every few months.
Set up a First Aid Station
Even an office environment poses potential hazards for employees. There’s always a risk of scrapes, cuts, and falls.
A first aid station with basic medical supplies and a trained first aid officer in attendance can help ease pain and stem bleeding quickly before matters escalate.
The best stations have a comprehensive first aid kit that can cater to a wide range of office accidents. Remember to keep a register of everything that goes in and out of your first aid kit, so you can keep it replenished.
Make sure your employees and managers know where to go when they need help with an injury.
Take Safety Seriously
Workplace safety is the law in the USA, but it also has other benefits for large and small business owners alike.
Taking steps to ensure you keep your employees safe, shows them you care and will help increase safety in the workplace morale and can decrease employee turnover.
Are you doing all you can to run your business right? Browse our blog for more tips on how to stay in line with modern-day standards.