If you are a business owner, one of the main responsibilities is to create a safe working environment, because this is an employee’s right. This is classed as an umbrella term that can include a variety of different scenarios including well-maintained equipment, well-ventilated workspaces, suitable and efficient lighting, and so much more.
If you are still trying to figure out where to start, a good first step would be to recognize your employer’s responsibilities. This can begin with a risk assessment to determine where the hazards are in your office. If your business has multiple offices, a fresh risk assessment will be critical due to every space bringing unique health and safety challenges.
In terms of equipment safety, this can range from building maintenance, emergency exits, and lighting to being all reviewed and checked. It’s also crucial that your team is aware of emergency exits.
Specific actions to create a safe working environment
Below are some examples and steps that can be taken to lead to a safer working environment.
Build a foundation of safety culture
Ensuring all your employees are aware of the safety risks means everybody will perform working tasks in the safest way possible. Safety starts from the top down, so as the employer you are setting an example for the rest of your team, they are all likely to follow suit. Allowing training for equipment, training, and hazard redemption will allow for safety to be at the forefront of their minds.
Slips and falls are always a risk no matter what the industry is, so it’s vital that you purchase the most appropriate safety equipment. For example, Teknomek offers anti-fatigue matting that will help keep wet or greasy production areas safe for your staff.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Investing in the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) is important to protect the employees. For example, if an individual is working in a warehouse environment, ensuring they are fitted with an up-to-date helmet is vital to protect them. This is vital for environments where there is a risk of high-up objects falling like a warehouse. Ensuring they know how to wear it is also important, which links back to the foundation of safety culture and training.
Prioritise Employee Wellbeing
Wellbeing and mental health are critical for not only productivity at work but also employee retention and turnover, which will cost more money in the long run. Looking after staff goes beyond the importance of physical health because mental and physical health work hand in hand and lead to greater productivity.
Safe work cultures will offer mental health resources including stress management and counselling. Respecting and allowing for employee time off is also vital for wellbeing and employee work-life balance.
Monitor and Improve Safety Risks
It’s all well and good to commit to mitigating health and safety risks the first time, but these risks may become greater thanks to new machinery or a growing team. These new team members will need to be brought up to scratch with the bespoke risks associated with your business.
New hazards will always crop up as a business grows, with the introduction of new projects or workplaces. Overall, we hope this article has helped you as an employer learn more about the responsibilities you have when creating a safe working environment.
Featured Photo by Anamul Rezwan
