As a business owner, there are certain issues you simply can’t afford to ignore – and safety is one of them. Regardless of their roles, employees have a right to know that their well-being is protected, and part of your job as a boss is making sure it is. There’s a lot to think about when it comes to controlling risk in the workplace, but the following five simple steps should help you to create a safer environment for your personnel.
1) Invest in suitable training
All workplace safety plans have to include worker training and plenty of it, from Confined Space Training to Manual Handling. It’s vital that your staff members are aware of the risks facing them and know how to mitigate these dangers. To boost your workers’ knowledge, you can arrange sessions with safety training specialists such as www.sheilds.org. For the best results, make sure you focus on the most relevant courses for your personnel.
Ensuring that your employees benefit from the best possible safety training may require a little investment, but this should prove to be money well spent. It will help you to fulfil your legal obligations and make controlling risks in your work environment much easier.
2) Keep your buildings and equipment in tiptop condition
Keeping your buildings and equipment in a good state of repair is also key. Any defects and problems should be detected and addressed immediately. Bear in mind that this principle does not only apply to industrial equipment and other items that are associated with high levels of risk. Even seemingly innocuous resources like lighting, computers, printers and so on can pose a danger if they are not maintained properly.
3) Conduct regular risk assessments
Risk assessments are another must. It’s a legal requirement for all employers with five or more members of staff to conduct and record such assessments. The analyses involve identifying any dangers that might cause harm to people and deciding on appropriate controls. Bear in mind that the assessments should be reviewed on a regular basis. For example, you’ll need to reassess your risks if you introduce new equipment or change your working practices.
4) Focus on first aid
It can be impossible to predict if and when medical emergencies will arise and so it’s important that your firm is prepared to cope in the event that they do. Even if you’re in charge of a low-risk environment, like a small office, you’ll need a minimum of a first aid box and an appointed person who is responsible for taking charge of medical arrangements.
To help you establish your firm’s precise requirements, you can conduct a first aid needs assessment that covers the dangers your personnel may face. As part of this, you’ll need to think about the nature of the work your company does, the size of your workforce and your working patterns.
5) Create comfortable conditions
As well as controlling immediate dangers, it’s vital to protect the long term wellbeing of your staff members. To do this, you’ll need to make sure you provide comfortable working conditions. For example, you must get the temperature of your buildings right and you should make sure your employees benefit from effective ventilation. You should also provide your personnel with effective lighting, and try to offer natural light where possible. Well planned workstations complete with comfortable seating are another priority. Ensuring that your employees benefit from suitable conditions like this reduces the risk that they’ll develop long-term injuries or illnesses as a result of their work.
It may not be possible to eradicate workplace risks, but by following steps like these, you can at least minimise any dangers.
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It’s important to note that employees in a safe work environment can focus better on their tasks, simply because they do not have to worry as much about their personal safety.
Because hazards are present in all types of industries, it’s essential for companies to provide health and safety training for their workers and to update this knowledge on a regular basis.