When you go to work in the morning, the last thing you expect is to end the day with an injury, minor or otherwise. You expect your working environment to be safe and that your employer has taken all the necessary steps to make this space as welcoming and secure for you and your colleagues to work in. Although accidents can still happen, there are ways that incidents that result in injury or other health problems can be drastically reduced. If you are an employer, manager, or are a team member who is in charge of health and safety in the workplace, here are some tips on how you can reduce accidents and injuries occurring on-site.
Clear Signs Indicating Hazards
One of the most effective ways to avoid accidents and injuries in the workplace is by making sure that any potential hazards are signposted. For example, if it is raining outside and pools of water have gathered on the office or shop floors because of people’s umbrellas, wet coats, etc., mopping up the water and then placing a wet floor sign in the area will help people avoid the area or be careful walking through. The same applies to any general spills that might occur. If there is a hazard because certain machinery gets hot to the touch, or there is a risk of trapping fingers, electrocution, or simply an area that should not be entered due to toxins or other hazards, again, the proper signposting to warn people about these hazards is a must.
Train Staff Properly
Another way to help reduce injuries in the workplace is to make sure that all team members have received quality training when it comes to using certain equipment and even how to properly report issues that are potential hazards to management. You should also be offering refresher courses for employees once a year to make sure that they are still up to date with the latest health and safety procedures and are still competent to follow these at work.
Have First Aid Kits Available
On the occasions that someone does get hurt when they are at work, you must have a well-stocked first-aid kit to dress any wounds and help the injured party feel more comfortable. You can purchase a first aid cabinet for your office space and make sure that you’re checking the stock in case you need to order any new bandages, antiseptics, etc.
Office Maintenance
You should also make sure that the office space is well looked after to reduce the chances of people getting injured or developing illness when they are in this environment. A dirty office space that is not cleaned regularly is unhygienic and can make staff ill. Furthermore, if there is clutter and mess everywhere, it’s more likely that someone will trip or have something fall on them while they are working. If you are leasing office space and can see problems with the building, like a pest infestation or a structural issue with the building, contact your building management company and report the problem immediately so that they can take action to resolve the problem.
If you want to make sure that your office space is as safe as possible for employees and visitors, use these tips as a guide to maintaining health and safety in the workplace.
