4 Ways to Make Sure Your Business is as Safe as Possible
If there’s one thing that all business owners have in common, it’s that you want to have a successful business that rakes in the profits. However, some business owners then start to ignore the importance of safety in the workplace. Having a safe business is integral to the health of your employees which in turn, affects the success of your company. And, when it’s overlooked or not implemented properly in your business, you’re actually risking how well your business functions.
Not having the right business safety protocols in place can and will affect productivity, cause injuries, cause losses, and even put you at risk of major action being taken against you in a courtroom. So, if you want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you, take a look at these safety tips that you should implement into your business.
Have clear equipment safety procedures
If you run a business within an industry that uses machinery for things like manufacturing and construction, then it’s so important to make sure you put in place some safety guidelines to govern the use of that equipment. Make sure that the safety guidelines are clear and very easy for everyone to understand, and without the risk of any confusion from anyone on your team. And remember to make sure that the machinery is only used for its intended purpose. Doing that can help you avoid any operational misuse that could end up in someone getting hurt.
Also, there are lots of pieces of machinery like forklifts that need the user to have special training. So, if you allow someone to use machinery without the necessary training, you’re putting their health and safety at risk, not to mention the lawsuit that could be filed against you. That’s why it’s important to make sure your equipment and machinery safety procedures are clear for all to see at all times.
Make sure there are clear safety rules
Alongside making sure that your machinery and equipment safety rules are always in clear view, you will also need to make sure you publish important business safety rules. You’ll need to think about everything, from safety compliance to health, and you’ll need to make sure all of those rules are alway available to your employees.
If you’re unsure on what’s compliant in your industry, or you simply want to make sure you’re not missing a trick, you can use
isnetworld compliance assistance to make sure you’re running things how you should be. And, where necessary, these rules should be placed in multiple locations of the workplace to make sure all employees and any visitors are aware of your safety procedures.
You should also make sure you’re regularly reviewing and updating these rules and procedures and let your team members know what changes have been made, even if they’re only minor changes.
Make everyone accountable for each other’s safety
While it’s important for you to make sure you, your team, and anyone else that visit’s your business location are safe at all times, there’s only so much you can do. Everyone needs to be held accountable for their own safety, so it’s important for you to create a culture of awareness in the workplace.
You’ll need to start by encouraging them to follow the rules you’ve put in place, and you can do this by giving them the equipment and materials they need to work in a safe manner. You should also encourage everyone to be accountable for others safety as well, and this can be done by making sure safety equipment is left in the right place, or by making sure things are cleaned after use to prevent any damage. For example, making sure knives in the kitchen are cleaned well and not left somewhere that could be dangerous to the next person in the kitchen, such as the sink.
Provide first aid training
Finally, if your business uses any type of machinery or equipment where someone could get hurt, you should always have someone on hand to provide first aid if needed. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure everyone has first aid training in case something does happen.
There are loads of
first aid training companies out there that can come in and teach your team members as a group, and they will certify them afterwards to show they’ve learned what they need to. It might be a cost you don’t particularly want to front, but it might just save the life of you or one of your workers.
Make the most of signage
In some instances, it’s a legal requirement to display warnings and safety signage to prevent accidents from occurring in your workplace. Even when adequate safety protocols are put in place, it’s extremely important to make sure the message is clear with appropriate Safety Decals. This will not only prevent any ambiguity or crossed wires with your employees, but it will also hold your company with a level of accountability in terms of safety. You have a duty of care to ensure that everyone in your establishment is aware of potential hazards and dangers, so installing proper signage is the ideal way to do so.
Physical Accessibility In Safety Planning
Safety isn’t just about rules and training, of course. You should also consider the way in which people physically access exits, equipment, and resources. Look at ramps, wide corridors, and accessible restrooms. Make sure they’re clearly marked and compliant. These aspects are features of a safe and inclusive workplace.
When planning safety protocols, consider how someone using a cane or wheelchair would navigate the space generally and in emergency situations. Where would they know to go and can they exit swiftly? It would be wise to take inspiration from public infrastructure. For instance, features like
digital signage for government buildings often combine real-time alerts with wayfinding. By making physical accessibility a core part of your approach, you will protect individuals with disabilities while improving overall flow.
