Whether you work in an office or in a factory, safety is a major issue. It is up to the employer to decrease the risk of injury and to educate the workforce on how to stay clear of all the risks. In order to achieve this, there are regulations and training procedures that workers must undergo to know how to behave in an environment that can be potentially dangerous to them. Creating a safe work environment is a challenge but if you stick to these 6 general tips, you should be able to prevent severe injuries and potential lawsuits.
Constant training
You could have probably guessed that training is going to be on the list but the importance of briefing your workers about possible dangers cannot be underscored enough. Furthermore, training procedures, lectures, and various staff meetings should not be a one-off but a constant thing. Safety training, therefore, is more of a process that ever ends.
New technologies or new legislation should not be the only time workers are rounded up in a room and debriefed. For instance, fire drills should be held twice a year and not just once in a blue moon as many unconscientious companies do to cut down on costs.
Communication is a key factor
Imagine you are operating a forklift in a warehouse but you have to navigate between aisles that your colleagues traverse on foot. Sirens and flashing light are often not enough to warn them of the danger. In fact, the best way to stay safe in such circumstances is a staff meeting where everyone would be made aware of how they should behave and where to walk.
This is true for all work posts. Workers must constantly communicate with each other and pass information and warning so everybody would be well-informed. Furthermore, the management should also have a channel of communication open constantly so no employee is kept in the dark about any safety concerns.
In terms of communication technology, you should do your utmost best to ensure workers have everything necessary. From walkie-talkies to circular memos, there should be multiple channels of communication available.
Handling toxic materials
In the office, the most common injury is probably a papercut, at best. However, in a warehouse or in a factory, there are many dangerous machines and chemicals that can be lethal to people who operate and handle them. These are the places where you need to be extra careful.
For once, keep first aid kits near at hand and establish cooperation with the local EMS crew so the response time in case of an accident would be as short as possible. Furthermore, if there is a risk of a hazardous chemical leaking out, make sure there are spill kits like the ones Industroquip make on standby. The speed of response in case of an emergency could make a difference between life and death.
Fines, incentives and bonuses
It seems odd to say so but many people display a worrying disregard for their own and the safety of others. If all the briefing and invites to the manager’s office fail, don’t hesitate to fine a member of staff who is showing blatant for safety procedures.
However, fines should serve only as a last means recourse to discipline workers. Much more effective are monetary incentives and bonuses you would pay out to those individuals who display utmost care for workplace safety. For instance, if the workers never forget to put the protective helmet on, you could a hundred dollars bonus to their paycheck once a year as a reward.
Cleaning up the workplace
Even if you manage to successfully put into action all of the measures listed above, the workplace needs to be clean. Namely, a messy workplace that is seldom cleaned cannot possibly be considered safe, even with all the safety measures applied. What good is a reflective vest and a helmet for a worker if they are spilling a fizzy drink all over the factory floor while working!
It might seem odd that housekeeping plays such a vital role in worker safety but cleanliness is half the health. Assign specific workers to clean up after work (not after work hours) areas and hold them responsible if their sector doesn’t live up predetermined hygienic standards.
A committed management
It will prove impossible convincing workers that safety is important if managers aren’t leading by their own example. Your company’s managers, including top executives, should be role models of safety. From the factory floor worker to the CEO, everyone should adhere to the same rules; no exceptions. If you manage to convince the owner of the business to come for an inspection wearing a safety helmet, then be certain that other employees will wear one too.
Creating a safe workplace is not that hard if you dedicate yourself to the project and be consistent. Issuing memos and introducing safety regulations, as well as leading by own example is the surest way everyone stays safe at the workplace.
