Office Safety Tips for Every Business Owner to Enforce

03 May Office Safety Tips for Every Business Owner to Enforce

A safe workplace is one in which employees, managers, and customers alike are protected. 

For the past year, the importance of protecting people from COVID-19 exposure has been top-of-mind, with most workplaces adopting hand sanitizing stations, social distancing practices, and requiring masks if people are in close contact with each other. These are good practices that will likely stay in place for the foreseeable future as the virus continues to cause illnesses and people wait to get their vaccines. 

But safety is more than just protecting people from germs (though that’s important!). Safety is something that should be top-of-mind every day, for managers as well as employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says there were 2,836 work-related fatalities in 2019, in addition to 2.8 million workplace injuries and illnesses — safety is always important. 

Here are some important safety tips that should be adopted and enforced from the top down in order to help keep everyone protected. 

Regularly check and adopt the latest safety guidance from OSHA to make sure your workplace is in compliance.

Safety advice and best practices are updated from time to time in response to research and new techniques. It’s important to make sure your company is always up-to-date in order to keep everyone safe and to leave behind bad practices or outdated procedures. 

Schedule and mandate regular safety checks.

Just like with a car, regular upkeep and maintenance can help identify problems before they arise and allow you to address issues before someone gets hurt. Regular maintenance also tends to protect your investment and allows you to get more life out of your resources. This also provides the opportunity to make sure everything is properly stored and to make sure instructions for proper storage and procedures are clearly posted and followed. It’s also a good chance to make sure exits are free from clutter in case of a fire — make sure the fire extinguishers are still in good condition too! 

Speak up.

Make it very clear that safety risks and hazards should be immediately reported so they can be addressed. Remind employees that this is not blaming someone else for negligence but will help get the problem fixed quickly. Safety is everyone’s job and here’s how they can contribute. Train, train, train.  There’s usually a brief discussion about workplace safety during most onboarding procedures, but that’s an overwhelming time for any new employee who’s trying to learn the ropes. Incorporate regular training for safety for all employees to provide refreshers and updates to keep everyone on the same page. This also protects against someone just plain not knowing what to do when a hazard pops up and reinforces the importance of….

Don’t forget to protect your health too.

Workers who feel stressed or like they can’t take breaks are more likely to make mistakes that can result in injury or illness. Remind them that they are allowed, and should, take a lunch break and sit and rest during that time. Post information about health clinics and insurance benefits that they might not be aware of, including vaccine availability, counseling opportunities, discounts on healthy activities, etc. Also, provide information on the importance of sturdy work shoes and where they can be purchased. Working hard is tough to do when you’re not feeling your best and employees need to know that you care about their health! 

It’s cliche but it’s true: Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility. Starting with the top, show that this is a core value for your company and that it’s important to and for everyone and your employees will believe it. 

Connect with LeadingEdge Personnel

If you’re looking for more advice on safety, or if you’re looking to add to your team, contact LeadingEdge Personnel. We have excellent job candidates that can help strengthen your team and make your company even more successful. Call us today and let’s get to work!