By Lina Martinez
Along with productivity, health and safety is up there with the most important aspects of a workplace environment. There have been so many employers who have failed to keep their employees safe at work and have faced financial claims as a result. This isn’t just bad news for the reputation of the company, but it also means that the business risks failing due to having to pay out huge sums. Keeping your employees safe is paramount to good business, so here’s how to achieve it.
Slips, Trips and Falls
General housekeeping isn’t just about dusting work surfaces or vacuuming each day. If housekeeping is maintained every day, it will be easier to spot hazards in the workplace. For instance, you may notice an uneven patch of flooring, whether it’s because the hardwood floor has become loose or the carpet has a rise in it. This is a potential trip hazard for employees so it’s important to rectify the problem as soon as possible. Similarly, there should always be signs placed where they can be seen if the floor is wet. That way, you’ve fulfilled your responsibility if someone should slip.
Maintain Vehicles
If part of your employee’s job is to drive a company vehicle, perhaps delivering goods or visiting different work sites, it’s your responsibility to make sure those vehicles are running perfectly. All of the business vehicles should be regularly serviced, and any reported problems should be fixed immediately. If your employee feels the need to contact car accident lawyers in the event of an accident on the road, the fault cannot be pointed at the business if the vehicle was maintained as it should have been.
Eliminate Fire Hazards
It goes without saying that fire exits are created for a very important reason. So, if your fire exits are obstructed and the worst should happen, valuable time is lost by having to clear the route and you create an unnecessary legal risk. Always keep your fire exits clear. In a world full of electronics, it’s easy for an office to be full of hot equipment and piles of wires. It’s not unheard of for these wires to overheat and catch fire, but if your desks are full of combustible materials, the damage can be so much worse. Encourage your employees to clear their desks of paperwork and keep any unneeded materials in a storage cabinet instead of in their work space.
Falling Materials
A busy office will be full of small and large items needed for productivity. From something as small as a stapler to as a big as a printer, these items are often stored in bulk and ready for when an employee needs them. However, some storage systems can pose a risk to employees. If an employee has to reach up and grab something they need, they run the risk of pulling other items down on top of them. Always make it as easy as possible for equipment to be reached and provide training on using step ladders or lifting heavy items.
The health and safety of a workplace should be planned meticulously, or you risk being caught out.
Lina Martinez has her B.S. in Journalism and a regular contributor to our Politics, Life and Money sections. She once admitted over drinks to singing “Careless Whisper” in the shower. We are still trying to get her to sing it at karaoke.
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