Much of the focus on workplace safety often centers around employee well-being and emergency response capacity like when a pandemic such as the H1N1 virus hits. However, what is the general perception of safety concerns in the workplace? Does working in some settings, like an office, exempt you from upholding this essential requirement?
Some organizations assume they need not invest much in this requirement since a significant percentage of their staff sits at a desk all day. But what about risks like wet surfaces or ripped carpeting that can cause an employee to slip, trip, and fall? The staff can also develop work-related health issues. Such scenarios can be a reality in your office. So how do you ensure that the workplace is a safe environment for everyone?
Maintain Clean Work Areas
Whether the workplace is a factory, warehouse, or office, keeping the entire space clean always is a safety measure. Ensure everything as its place and kept secure. Set barriers in areas where you have boxes piled to the ceiling, a designated place for the garbage, and other measures that ensure everyone is safe as they move around.
Give Clear Instructions
Workplace safety primarily starts with the company’s top brass. That means managers shoulder the most responsibility and must give employees concise instructions regarding what is expected of them in upholding safety. Sharing the wrong information or guidance can be detrimental to achieving workplace safety.
Show You Care
You are running on a deadline, and the computer, fax, or printer is acting up and could crash and pose some danger. Will you push through hoping everything functions until you are done then you can shut them down despite the safety hazard? It is best to stop and shut the machines because it shows your employees that you are more concerned about their safety than missed deadlines.
Train Your Team
Ensuring your staff is trained about emergencies and other potentially dangerous scenarios such as working alone can help avoid accidents in the workplace. An inexperienced worker is likely to make mistakes compared to a seasoned employee. Hence, investing in routine training ensure that new and veteran workers learn about safety in the workplace and how to meet these requirements even when unsupervised.
Drop Workplace Safety Incentives
Why should you offer incentives to your staff when striving to be safe? That is like bribing them to keep them from acting recklessly. Safety starts at a personal level, meaning every person desires to feel safe, which comes naturally. Hence, why honor an employee for upholding their safety and that of others in the office? Nonetheless, acknowledging your workers for maintaining a safe work environment as you lead by example significantly impacts what you want to achieve.
