4 Ways To Maximise Safety In The Workplace

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As machinery deteriorates, or new employees join the business who have little knowledge about the safety needs of your business. Coupled with other elements that are out of your control, such as damage to the company from bad weather or criminal activity, keeping the workplace safe is an ongoing battle.

According to RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) 69,208, injuries occurred in the workplace. With the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) declaring that, from 2019 to 2020, 111 workers were killed at work.

Do not think because an accident hasn't happened to you that it can't happen. – Safety saying, early 1900's

With these sobering facts about the potential risks of workplaces causing injuries and deaths to transpire, it's ever so important to mindful of how we operate our businesses, and below features ideas of how you can do it.

Workplace assessment
Depending on the size of your business, and the number of employees you have, shall determine whether an assessment conducted by you shall suffice. Or whether your business would benefit from a professional workplace assessment, from an external company, to identify what areas of the business need improving. Included in your workplace assessment, you should identify your workplace cleaning needs. It is usually the best decision to outsource any cleaning needs to ensure that your business is kept as clean and tidy as needed. It is important that your employees feel safe and comfortable working in a well-maintained environment. For example, Dose office space cleaning services help to minimise bacteria and ensure that your employees are free from cross-contamination. Workplace illnesses can be costly due to employees needing time off work or being unproductive due to illness, so taking measures to reduce it is essential. 
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Mandatory staff training
Staff training is a necessary element for creating a safer workspace. To ensure staff use best practices, prevent accidents occurring and know what to do if an urgent situation unravels.

Training should be relevant to your company. For instance, in businesses operating heavy machinery, PUWER regs must be followed, and part of the training program should revolve around how to use this machinery safely. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE is essential in the workplace where staff are exposed to harmful or dangerous gases, chemicals, materials, bacteria, animals or heavy lifting.

Examples of PPE include steel toe capped boots to prevent workers from hurting their feet if they drop something heavy on them. Steel capped boots are appropriate in businesses such as delivery companies transporting bulky goods and construction sites.

By identifying what PPE is necessary at your workplace, you can provide staff with equipment to keep them safe and protected.

Open discussion
It's essential to be open to workers suggestions about health and safety hazards around the business. Because employees have insight into processes within the company which you might not have experienced. 

Opinions and ideas from staff can also support you with instilling actionable strategies, to ensure your business takes steps to become a safer environment for all.

Consequently, consult your employees on any changes that may significantly impact their health and safety at work before implementing them. In addition, consult them on the risk they face in their course of duty, the measures that can be taken to lower or eliminate these risks, and procedures for dealing with risks. Furthermore, get their views on the health and safety implications of implementing new technology and what should go into planning health and safety training. It would be best if you also were actively involved in these open discussions by being forthcoming about safety incidents. Luckily, you can use incident response software to keep workers informed about crises in real-time.
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Safety in the workplace across the world has been and always will be an ongoing issue, and no business premises are 100% safe. Several internal and external influences could compromise the safety of a company at a moments notice. Which is one of the reasons why safety in the workplace should be something that's worked on continuously. Only then can your business limit the risks of potential dangers harming the workforce.

By continuously looking for ways to protect workers rights and develop a safer working environment for all, you can prevent the likelihood of; 

• Someone getting injured or killed
• Funding expensive medical costs
• and nursing a damaged reputation.