Workplace safety has always been of paramount concern for businesses. Nowadays, there’s a greater legal emphasis on firms of all sizes and industries to put preventative workplace safety measures in place.
Unfortunately, some businesses don’t realize hazards are lurking around that they fail to spot. Ultimately, some of those hazards could cause injuries and sickness to employees.
You want to make sure your staff isn’t likely to harm themselves or others because of some simple oversights at your premises, and that’s why it makes sense to risk-assess your workplace.
With that in mind, take a look at the following eight ways your business could fail to keep its staff safe – and tips on how to eradicate potential workplace hazards:
1. Inadequate Training
Did you know that one thing that contributes the most to workplace injury is inadequate training? Businesses always employ new people, and the sad truth is that some new starters don’t get shown the correct ways of operating and handling the equipment they use.
Indeed, it’s not unusual for an injured employee to seek help from a lawyer for workers’ compensation in such scenarios. To lower the risk of getting sued by your staff, make sure your training programs are on point.
2. Inadequate Safety Equipment
Workplaces have different types of safety equipment. For example, metal fabricators have vizors and gauntlets to protect them during welding procedures, and people in warehouses wear high-visibility clothing to ensure they get easily seen everywhere.
As a responsible employer, you must ensure that your workplace has the proper safety equipment in place to protect your staff during the course of their work.
Consider surveying your operations to help you identify any areas of concern so you can address them immediately.
3. Poor Maintenance
Everyone uses some equipment or machinery in their workplaces. For example, factory workers use machines to package goods, office workers use computers and photocopiers, and construction workers use heavy plant machinery.
All equipment and machinery need periodic maintenance to ensure their longevity and, importantly, their safety. Do you have a proper maintenance schedule for everything you use? If the answer’s no, now’s the time to implement one.
4. Irregular Risk Assessments
Despite having a proper maintenance regime for all equipment and machinery you use, you’ll likely encounter unforeseen problems like infrastructure failures due to wear or accidental damage. Sometimes, rectifying such issues is a low priority for businesses.
However, those issues could potentially cause dangerous scenarios, resulting in injury or worse. To avoid such situations, ensure that you conduct regular workplace risk assessments.
Doing so will identify any previously unknown problems and help you comply with all relevant safety regulations and laws.
5. No Emergency Preparation Plans
What would happen if there was an emergency at your workplace, such as a fire or a natural disaster? Businesses must have an emergency preparation plan to utilize in such situations, as it ensures everyone gets evacuated safely and as quickly as possible.
If your only plan is to plan and let chaos ensue, it’s time for you to formulate an emergency preparation plan. It should include:
- Locations of emergency exits;
- Assembly points (such as a designated area in your parking lot);
- The names of people assigned to oversee all evacuations.
6. Not Prioritizing Employee Well-Being
The sad truth is that some employers fail to recognize the importance of employee well-being. Certain occupations can sometimes harm a person’s mental health, for instance, so providing the proper support for your staff’s well-being is a good idea.
For example, you could work with an external provider that your team can contact at any time of day or night – one that offers tools such as health and well-being apps they can use on their smartphones.
7. Poor Safety Policies
Businesses of all sizes should have something like an employee handbook that documents their safety policies. They provide the groundwork for creating and maintaining a safe working environment for all, yet shockingly some firms still need such policies.
Having emergency preparation plans in place is one thing, but creating the framework for ensuring proper safety processes and procedures is another.
8. Failure To Keep Up With Changing Regulations
Lastly, it’s essential to keep in mind that safety regulations and rules change all the time. As a responsible business, you must ensure that you stay up-to-date with any changes that might affect your workplace.
Consider signing up for official email newsletters that will pre-warn you of any changes so that you’ve got time to implement anything new at your workplace.
