It’s easy for entrepreneurs to turn a blind eye to safe practices when they are in a hurry to meet project deadlines or purely focussed on boosting revenue. However, your everyday actions at the workplace can either keep you safe or expose your workers to hazards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that about 2,000 eye injuries are sustained at the workplace, which takes a dangerous toll on employee health and productivity. Here are four best safety tips that businesses should strive to observe.
- Clearly show your safety rules
The best way to ensure that employees comply with safety rules is to publish them at the right places. Clearly publishing your rules will create awareness of your safety policies. You may also want to review your rules and schedule orientation programs for new employees every year. When new safety concerns arise in the workplace, be sure to update your safety manual and keep everyone informed about the new changes.
- Drill for emergencies
As you hope against the occurrence of workplace emergencies, you will also need to prepare your organization in case they do. Prepare safety drills at least one or two times a year, and educate your workers about their roles in the event of an emergency. As part of your safety protocols, you may want to launch emergency awareness protocols. Every worker is responsible for their own safety, but it’s also your responsibility as a manager to ensure that you encourage safety awareness programs.
- Carry out routine safety checks
Management needs to consistently demonstrate the essence of safety, and one great way to do that is to carry out routine safety checks. Inspect your business facilities from time to time to ensure that everything is in order. You may also want to enlist the help of disaster management experts if your workplace is threatened by dangerous conditions.
Safety often entails every aspect of your life, from your home to the road and your office. Therefore, address the issues of safe driving, home safety, and workplace safety. For instance, carcinogenic substances like asbestos can expose your employees or family members to life-threatening health problems. So, be ready to consult an asbestos removal company if your workplace is endangered by these toxic chemicals.
- Enforce safety from the top
Building a healthy business environment is something that should start from the top. When business leaders champion safety procedures as key organizational values, the rest of the team will follow suit. Your business culture should include working and acting safely. You can effectively enforce safety procedures in your organization if you invest in the right safety gear. For example, a business owner who wants to keep their workers safe from the COVID-19 should consider distributing hand sanitizers, face masks, and other equipment to his employees.
Protecting your employees doesn’t have to be a hard task if you prioritize their health. Build a strong safety culture and open up channels for your team to collaborate on hazard identification and risk management.