How Do I Keep My Workplace Safe To Avoid Injuries?

Injuries can happen in the workplace when you least expect it, just like they can happen anywhere in the world, but businesses have an extra responsibility to keep their employees safe to the best of their ability. Putting up a few posters about the importance of safety and a once-per-year safety program might have been enough to let a company say that they are doing their part to keep their employees safe once upon a time; but in today’s workplace that is not enough. Companies need to foster and promote a culture of safety all the time so that safety becomes second-nature to the employees of an organization. So what are some things a company can do to keep the workplace safe and avoid injuries? Read on to find out.

Eliminate potential hazards before they cause injuries in the first place. Some examples of hazards include big sharp objects, electrically faulty objects, or toxic chemicals. Any time these things are found there should be an easy way for anyone to report it to the proper team that can take action to address the hazard as soon as possible. Part of being better able to spot such hazards is having a workforce that is properly trained. Workplace safety training that is specific to the work being conducted at the geographic location where the training is taking place is important. The training courses should be thorough and take place more than just once per year.

Some industries are generally safer to work in than others. For companies within industries that have an average or above average risk of injury, make sure your employees have the proper equipment and that the equipment is properly maintained. On top of equipment, signage and lights specific to the environment where they are found also promote safety. If the safety in a particular location varies depending on the day/time, employers are migrating from traditional printed signs to varying messages on a digital sign/message board. These dynamic signs also stand a better chance of attracting employee eyes than static, printed (potentially old) signs.

Create a safety committee that meets regularly; most experts recommend monthly meetings. The committee should review all safety complaints, statistics, and other safety-related topics. Another important job for the committee is to get the rest of a company’s employees engaged to prioritize safety. Committees that are the best at doing this find ways to make safety fun and entertaining.