According to the Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) law, it is your responsibility as an employer to develop and sustain a safe and secure workplace while complying with the OSHA regulations. Read on for seven practical tips for creating a safe workplace to improve employee productivity.
Invest in Proper Safety Equipment
Be sure to purchase appropriate safety equipment for all your workers, especially in high-risk fields such as construction, firefighters, home improvement, and shipping and packing industries. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes gloves, goggles, headgear, hearing and eye protection, and boots. This reduces the chances of accidents and injuries befalling your employees.
You could also invest in medical personal protective equipment like masks in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that your staff stays safe in the workplace. Remember to create a fast and easy channel for workers to receive and request replacement protective equipment if the existing pieces of gear are missing or worn out.
Maintain Visitor Records
Implement a proper strategy to record the entry of visitors inside your company’s premises to ensure your employee’s safety. Tools like ID scanner apps can help you verify identities and other crucial details to be sure that you are dealing with the right person.
You could also invest in Genea’s software for a safe workplace to track which employees have checked in, where they are located within the office premises at any given time, and when they leave. This will enable you to determine possible contact in case of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis to launch tracing immediately to minimize the virus spread among your staff.
Implement Regular Employee Safety Training
One of the most effective approaches to combat potential dangers and hazards in the workplace is by hosting employee training. The training should cover areas like hazard awareness and how to respond. However, do not limit your training to documents and lectures. Instead, include hands-on training techniques, so your employees know what is expected of them should there be on-the-job safety incidents. Consider leveraging employees responsible for tackling certain events to offer activity-based training to reduce the cost of hiring a third-party trainer.
Staff safety training should not be a one-time venture. Be sure to provide training to new employees and refresher courses to existing workers. You could also leverage the company’s electronic message boards to emphasize safety training.
Make Safety Part of Your Company’s Culture
Safety and health should be part of your company’s culture. All employees should be aware that it is their responsibility to reduce risks and safeguard the work environment. They should feel obligated to raise concerns when they identify safety issues to ensure that it is addressed promptly. Your staff should not assume that the management monitors or watches the company’s health and safety, therefore allowing them to overlook potential security threats.
Host Regular Meetings on Workplace Safety
Host meetings once or twice a month to review and discuss the company’s safety rules and the overall working environment. This will enable you to assess the performance and quality of the set safety measures. Through meetings, you also get employee feedback that provides insights into potential safety threats that may not have caught your eye. This helps you develop preventative measures that go a long way in maintaining a safe and comfortable work environment.
Do not Ignore Mental Well-Being
Mental well-being has grown as a challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with most employees worldwide experiencing feelings of dissatisfaction and burnout, one of the leading causes of safety violations. For this reason, you should not overlook your employee’s mental health as you implement measures to boost health and safety. Be sure to regularly check in with your employees to determine how they feel about their roles.
You could also allow flexible working hours and encourage workers to take some time off to prevent burnout. Educating your staff about mental health can also enable them to develop a practical personal life and work balance. This improves their productivity while ensuring a safe working environment.
Consult Occupational Clinicians
Partnering with an occupational medicine clinician can equip you with valuable insights into various on-the-job injuries and how to prevent them. An occupational clinician will inspect your worksite to identify high-risk areas for staff injuries, enabling you to prevent accidents. They can also implement body performance evaluations to help ensure that you hire employees fit for physically demanding tasks.
Endnote
A safe workplace promotes happier and more productive employees. It also prevents any legal suits for non-compliance with the OSHA regulations. Consider implementing the above strategies to ensure a healthy and safe workplace.
short url:
