No matter the area or the industry you operate in, safety in the workplace is likely one of your top priorities. Not only does it allow you to comply with any local laws and regulations regarding business operations, but it might also give you the opportunity to create a more efficient, streamlined, and ultimately more profitable company, as safe and secure employees are more likely to make a higher effort and become more productive members of the team. Making sure you complete relevant WHS officer training so you know your duties and obligations when it comes to workplace health and Safety and can implement changes when necessary. But what else can you do? Here are some effective ways you could increase safety in your workplace, for a healthier work environment:
Hire the best possible staff
Whenever you need to hire new employees, it’s always best to choose the most professional, competent, and experienced individuals. Even if this means you might have to compromise on higher salaries, hiring the best workers will allow you to maintain safety in the workplace, as qualifications and expertise often come with fewer accidents and injuries as well. Apart from being a great addition to your team, helping to improve efficiency and productivity, such experienced employees might also aid in improving workplace safety even further by offering advice and guidance to the rest of your staff.
Focus on proper training
When it comes to the employees who are already a part of your team, additional training seems to be quite an efficient way of increasing safety. Regardless of how experienced or skilled a worker is at their job, undergoing extensive training in all areas of their field is a great way to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents, particularly when working with heavy machinery or dangerous chemicals. Providing your employees with further training specifically focused on safety, such as classes and seminars, could be of great help for making their job safer and easier as well.
Maintain your equipment
In many European countries, for instance, regular maintenance of equipment and machinery is an important aspect of workplace safety that is often mandated by law, and for a very good reason. When they’re not checked, fixed, and maintained regularly, tools and machines can malfunction unexpectedly and put workers who use them at a direct health risk, as well as requiring plenty of time and resources for replacements. For that reason, regular upkeep of all of the workplace tools, machines, and other equipment should also be an integral part of your safety procedures.
Invest in the right workwear
While personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hardhats, goggles, and ear protection might be a common safety aspect in many work environments around the globe, Australians tend to take personal protection a step further. Here, employers often decide to invest in high-quality workwear from Australia that provides an additional layer of safety and defense for their employees. From jackets and vests to utility pants and overalls, including high-visibility equipment as well, proper clothing suitable for the workplace can decrease the risk of accidents and improve safety, which is why you might want to invest in it as well.
Post appropriate warning signs
In countries like the US, on the other hand, warning signs and labels have become quite a common occurrence in the workplace. And while employers here might primarily post them in an effort to avoid potential lawsuits, the truth is that any working environment could benefit from clear and visible warnings. As even the most skilled employees can be forgetful and careless at times, posting signs around the workplace that remind workers of risks and necessary safety regulations is a great way to prevent injuries, whether it’s a simple “wet floor” sign or a more serious “helmet area” sign.
Keep the space clean and safe
Trips and falls are among the most common workplace injuries each year, but they are also some of the easiest hazards to avoid. Simply by regularly cleaning and tidying up the space, ensuring walkways are clear and no direct dangers are ever in the way, you can instantly improve the safety and security of your employees while on the job. However, you should also aim to educate your workers and help them see the importance of a clean workplace, in an effort to encourage them to clean up after themselves as well.
Always make safety a priority
After all, safety in the workplace is your legal and moral obligation, as the superior responsible for the company. For that reason, safety begins with you. If you make it a point to regularly enforce safety rules and regulations, and always stand behind your decisions concerning safety, your employees will likely follow as well. In case you make it clear safety is always a priority, your workers will attempt to put safety first even in the more stressful and demanding periods, thus showing that a decisive leader could truly make or break any safety efforts a business makes.
Evidently, increasing safety in the workplace is a collective effort. As long as you prioritize protection, offer proper guidance and training, and make safety your number one goal, you can easily create a healthier and more secure environment for everyone involved.
