In recent years, workplace safety has become a widely-discussed issue. Employers have realized the benefits ensuring a safe office has for their business. Likewise, employees have recognized that taking an active role in the problem is the only way to get the protection they deserve.
If you are wondering what the most efficient ways of ensuring workplace safety are, you have come to the right place. Below, we will share all the tips and tricks you need to make your office a safe place for all your employees.
Why Is Workplace Safety Important?
Workplace safety refers to the ways in which employers and employees can work together to prevent accidents and injuries in the office. It is a big part of office life and should be given more thought for various reasons.
Firstly, a safe workplace will increase the happiness and productivity of all workers. They will know they are safe and will be able to go about their duties without fear or anxiety.
Secondly, ensuring your office is safe will help build trust and a lasting relationship between employers and their employees. Nothing shows how much a company cares about its people like doing everything in its power to make them feel protected at all times.
Finally, a safe workplace can reduce costs by huge amounts. Your business will not have to pay for any reparations, new equipment, or any injuries anyone might sustain. All in all, it is a win-win situation for everyone. Your business must follow OSHA requirements for safety. If you operate in California, choose the Cal OSHA training program and ensure your company provides a safe place for all employees.
How Can You Make Your Business Safer?
1. Post Emergency Response Plans
Providing all employees with an emergency response plan is the responsibility of every employer. These plans need to be fully visible and accessible to everyone. That means that they need to be translated into all languages that your employees might use. The plans need to be accessible to any disabled workers as well.
These plans usually include situations that require evacuations, maps of all escape routes, and locations of all emergency exits. They should also have the numbers of all emergency services and the exact locations of emergency equipment.
Every employee needs to be familiar with the plan before they start working. That way, they will know what to do upon an emergency, which will ensure it gets resolved quickly and without consequences.
2. Install a Panic System
A panic button system is an easy way to ensure workers feel safe. It functions simply: each worker gets a wireless panic button connected to a network of some kind. When they press the button, it sends a distress signal to that network, be it the police, a security guard, or HR.
The signal will register in the network instantly, and the location of the distress call will be clearly indicated. This speed will ensure that you or the police can react quickly and help whoever sent the signal.
These buttons can be helpful in many situations. They can be beneficial if your employees deal with a lot of customers on a daily basis. They can also help if your office has a lot of floors and rooms workers need to cover. Finally, they can come in handy if one employee needs protection from another.
It is a neat and quick way to ask for help without being obvious about it and without having to move too much. In high-risk situations, that can mean a lot.
3. Hire a Security Guard
Hiring a security guard is probably the most common way of making your office safer. It is so for a good reason, as it is highly effective. It is a choice you can make no matter which type of business you run. A security guard is especially a good idea if you have a lot of employees and a lot of visitors every day.
A security guard can be posted at the entrance. That way, they can monitor who enters the building. They can react if they see someone potentially dangerous. Guards might also patrol the building or have posted on each floor. It is also good to have someone guard the building on weekends, evenings, or any other times it is empty.
Having trained security will ensure that any high-risk situation is dealt with quickly and efficiently. Guards have the necessary training to do so safely and to make sure no one gets hurt in the process. In addition to having thorough training, you must properly equip security guards. This includes suitable uniforms, self-defense tools, and reliable communication earpieces for bodyguards. Regardless of the guards’ competence, their ability to effectively respond to incidents and stay connected with their colleagues depends heavily on having the necessary tools readily available.
Even if nothing ever happens, knowing that someone is watching over them will help your employees relax. It will also let anyone thinking about stirring up trouble know that a pro will be there to stop them.
4. Emotional Safety Is Essential
Emotional safety is a component of workplace safety that most people often overlook. However, it is one of its essential parts and deserves just as much attention as physical protection.
An office cannot be safe if anyone is experiencing bullying, discrimination, or feels threatened in any way. It also cannot be safe if anyone is afraid to voice their opinion and share ideas openly.
For this to be possible, the atmosphere in the office must be light. The company also needs to emphasize communication, sharing, and mutual respect. It can do so through frequent staff meetings and a strict no-bullying policy. Different rules and regulations everyone will have to follow can also help.
To Conclude
As you have read, both employers and employees can do a lot to improve safety in an office. Our list is just the tip of the iceberg, as this is an issue with a long list of solutions. However, it is a great place to start if you are looking for ways to make your business safer.
