Keeping your workplace safe is vital. There are many reasons for this, including:
- Prevention of employee injuries and illnesses
- Increased employee morale
- Reduced risk of lawsuits
Remember, no matter what type of workplace you manage or work in – be it an office or construction site – safety must always be the number one priority. Otherwise, you’ll be putting your health and the health of others at risk, which isn’t good for anybody.
With that covered, what are the best workplace safety tips? Keep reading to learn all about them.
Have at least one first aid cabinet
Every workplace on the planet needs at least one first aid cabinet.
You should have all the necessary supplies within each first aid cabinet, from ointments to bandages.
Also, it’s worth noting that first aid supplies can quickly run out, especially in a workplace that is filled with lots of people. Therefore, you must always have bulk first aid supplies to be on the safe side. This way, you won’t enter a nightmare scenario where someone gets injured, and you don’t have the right tools on-hand to treat them.
At the beginning and end of every week, check the first aid cabinets to check that supplies are at a healthy level.
Remove trip hazards
Trip hazards – they’re every manager and employee’s worst nightmare.
Not only can trip hazards lead to serious injury, they can also lead to very costly lawsuits. This is why your eyes must always be on alert so that trip hazards can be spotted and quickly dealt with.
Remove any visible clutter and make sure that the workplace lighting is bright enough to ensure that trip hazards can be seen, whether it’s loose wires on the floor or tools that haven’t been stored away properly.
Hire a housekeeper
Moving on, let’s talk about housekeepers.
Housekeepers are great for keeping workplaces safe, as they can clean and tidy everything away. Not only does this keep you safe, but it also saves you a lot of time and effort.
Plus, housekeepers can be hired on a part-time basis. For example, you could hire a housekeeper to come in once a week to declutter the place. Or, if you’re workplace is usually in good condition, you could hire them to come in once a month.
Wear the correct safety gear
Next, if you’re working on construction sites or something of similar nature, safety gear is essential. From helmets to safety gloves, make sure that you and everyone else are wearing the correct gear. Sure, it can be a hindrance at times, but it keeps people safe. At the end of the day, that’s what matters the most.
Take plenty of breaks
Furthermore, employees must take plenty of breaks.
The reason for this is simple: it prevents burnout, which in turn reduces the risk of injury or mental health lapses.
Of course, breaks shouldn’t be overly long, especially when there’s a lot of work to do, but a healthy amount of them should be sprinkled equally throughout the day. This way, your workplace remains safe, and everyone is happy!
Report unsafe conditions
Employees should be under strict instruction to report unsafe working conditions the second they spot them. Failure to report them could lead to awful consequences – this cannot be stressed enough. Whether it’s a fault elevator or a sharp object on the floor, make sure that it gets reported immediately for the sake of everyone in the workplace.
Test the fire and smoke alarms once a month
At the beginning or end of every month, fire and smoke alarms should be tested. This should be done in the form of a drill where employees follow the sequence they would be expected to in a real-life scenario.
After testing the alarms, this will allow everyone peace of mind.
Conduct annual health and safety training
Lastly, annual health and safety training should be conducted. This should be compulsory for all employees – even those who do not wish to attend.
Also, health and safety handbooks should be handed out to existing (and future) employees so that they know how to react and behave in unsafe situations (e.g., if an employee collapses).
Conclusion
After reading this article consisting of essential workplace safety tips, you should be much more educated on the importance of workplace safety and the practical actions you can take. Remember to share this article with your fellow employees to ensure that they are also up-to-date with effective safety behaviors.