In the time of COVID-19, workplace safety is on everyone’s mind. All of a sudden, going to work isn’t just our regular routine, but something we might be risking our lives to do. Those who work in manual jobs, be it construction, farming or factories, have every right to be concerned; they cannot work from home, and their safety is now compromised.
But even before COVID-19 swept the globe, workplace safety was a top priority for many businesses. When your business involves the use of machinery, heavy lifting, or dangerous equipment, workers’ safety is of paramount importance. Likewise, the food and hospitality industries are constantly updating and ensuring food safety, as well as keeping their staff and customers safe from slips, trips, burns and fires. So how can this essential aspect of working life be implemented properly? Here are three helpful tips to ensure workplace safety!
Information and education
First things first: having rules means nothing unless everyone abides by them. If you, as the business owner, are clued in on all your health and safety routines and rules, that’s great. But it doesn’t ensure the safety of your workers.
In order to properly establish a safe working environment, all businesses should invest time and money into efficient training for all workers. After all, they are the ones who work with the equipment that keeps your business on its feet. They deserve to know how best to use that equipment; you deserve to uphold your reputation as a safe workplace! Informing and educating your employees to keep them up to date on their safety regulations, while an expensive enterprise, will help you hugely in the long run.
Don’t shirk your administration
We all know that the administration is the least interesting part of any job. Trawling through paperwork, ensuring you have every tiny thing covered and up to date, can be boring. It is, however, the backbone of your business. Leaving your administrative work to the last minute, or simply putting it away and forgetting about it, is a very dangerous move.
Owning the right licenses and paperwork to run your business legally is essential. It costs money, but it’s the only way. Obtaining a working in confined spaces permit, for example, is needed for companies whose workers enter small spaces with poor ventilation. Without it, these companies risk legal action. Don’t ignore your paperwork – it simply isn’t worth it.
Reaping the rewards
So, you’ve trained your employees up to standard and you’ve obtained all your licensing. What next? Well, one simple way to incentivise workers into abiding by safety rules is to reward safe action. Keeping tabs on the employees who go that extra mile, who tick every single box and never cut corners, encourages others to emulate this behaviour! Alternatively, if you do not recognise this diligence, those who go above and beyond to adhere to the rules might feel under-appreciated. Rewards don’t have to be expensive or enormous – a little goes a long way in showing your employees you’re happy with their work.
