Tips on How to Improve Workplace Safety

Your business might have all the safety protocols in place, but these are not worth much if you don’t follow them regularly. Workplace injuries and damage to your equipment can cost a business tens or even hundreds of dollars in reimbursements, repair and updates of the equipment. Instead of wasting money and losing valuable talent, it’s best to boost your workplace safety. Here are a few ways you can make your business safer for your workers and clients:

Maintain your facility

Everything in your facility should be in a good working condition, from the forklift to the break room fridge. Your building, warehouses and roads should also be regularly touched up. When many people use the same equipment, appliances and facilities, they tend to deteriorate quickly, so they need regular maintenance. When your facility and equipment are in top shape, you can significantly reduce job accidents.

Host regular safety training

Workplace safety can be learned from books and videos, but it’s also something that requires regular training and knowledge-refreshment. The best thing you can do for your workers is to host regular safety training and seminars that cover everything from hazard identification to crisis response. And since most people learn best from experience, don’t hesitate to invite speakers who have already experienced emergency situations.

Provide proper safety equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) should always be worn by workers in a suitable way for your business. Usually, PPE includes helmets and gloves for construction workers, eye protection for welders and proper clothing for people who handle sharp objects. In case your business produces or handles dangerous chemicals, masks and eye protection are also necessary. Usually, all manual workers require proper work boots no matter if they work in firefighting, mining, medical or the smelter industry. These boots need to be sturdy yet comfortable for all-day wear, so make sure to invest in something of high quality.

Provide proper furniture

Many people only consider the safety of manual laborers, but office workers also need proper safety gear that’s a bit different from regular helmets and gloves. Office workers often suffer from sedentary disorders and illnesses that mostly affect their back, neck and eyes. Make sure all office workers have ergonomic chairs and desks that motivate good posture, as well as suitable monitors and secondary equipment that prevent eye strain.

Highlight emergency exits

In case something happens in the workplace, such as a fire, flood or any other crisis situation, your staff needs a quick and easy way to evacuate. Emergency exits should be marked with light-up signs and kept clear from clutter. Emergency shutoffs for power and water should also be kept clear in case power, water and equipment needs to be turned off quickly

Encourage regular breaks

Employees need to have their regular breaks—they are prescribed by law for a reason. People who are tired are more prone to accidents, improper equipment handling and slow reaction in emergency situations. All workers should take their prescribed breaks regularly to freshen up, eat, hydrate and rest their bodies and brains. It’s also smart to try out a new scheduling plan and order harder tasks to be handled at the beginning of a shift when people are fresh, focused and alert.

Encourage reporting of unsafe conditions and situations

Many workers don’t want to be perceived as hostile to their coworkers or management, so they never report improper PPE wear and equipment handling or faulty tools, equipment, vehicles and facility elements. However, it’s important to report such things to the management as soon as possible so they can react quickly, remove the issue and prevent a potential emergency.

Your workers are your most valuable asset, so they have to be treated with care and respect. Safety in the workplace should be taken seriously and practiced every day. Use these tips above to make your workplace safer and more comfortable for all.