The world is not always a wonderful place to live and if you pay any attention to the news recently, it’s also not the safest. With climate changing at a rapid pace and sending hurricanes, fires and floods through cities that don’t often get hit with that type of devastation, companies up and down the country are looking at ways of maximising their safety.
As an employer, you will be aware of the possible changes in weather that could affect your business when you choose to set up shop and move into an office. You have to decide on the type of environment you want to create for your workforce and this means being vigilant about safety in all ways in the office. Of course, there are legal reasons you should be concerned with employee safety: people deserve to work in an environment where they are protected. The type of employer that you are will always determine the calibre of your staff, as they want to work for a respectful and smart employer that cares about their welfare. It’s up to you to ensure you’ve created an environment of safety, and with these three ideas, you can ensure that safety.
Emergency Protocols. In your place of work, you should have fire and flood protocols that will come into action whenever one of those events happens. Your staff should be trained well, with training being repeated on a regular enough basis that no one forgets the procedures to follow. You should have proper emergency exits and equipment in the office to cover you and you should also have dedicated safety leaders in the office to take control when things go badly.
Security Procedures. Most offices have security doors and as an owner you must take the initiative to purchase a commercial security system for your business so that intruders are deterred. Not every danger is a climate based one, nor is it always a fire or flood. Outside chancers who want to break into your place of work to steal equipment are also a consideration, and you shouldn’t push that to one side in the name of chance.
Regular Inspections. Always invite the correct services to come in and inspect your building from time to time. They need to keep an eye on the condition of your office building to ensure that there is no damage that could impact your workforce. Combating slippery flooring outside the office by putting down safety mats, making small improvements around stairways and exterior pathways to ensure an even footing and replacing banisters on stairways are all ways you can improve the safety of your office.
Safety comes in many forms, from protecting the building from external factors that cannot be controlled, to having inspections that mean the entire office is safe. It’s up to you as the owner of the business to put these processes into place where you can and uphold them on a regular basis. Don’t let the staff down by being too relaxed.