For the past decade or two, we have begun to look seriously at health and safety support in the workplace, in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents at work, and there are many devices available today that do make the workplace that much of a safer environment for all. Here are just a few of the safety features that you could deploy at your office or factory to minimise the risks to your employees.
- Smoke Detectors – These are regarded as absolutely essential for any workplace and they should be installed in every room, which gives you an early warning in the event of a fire. There are specialist companies that will come into your work area and carry out a fire safety check, which would include installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Storage areas are especially vulnerable, as they very often contain flammable items such as office stationery, so do carry out an exhaustive search regarding locations that are at risk of fire.
- Safety Cut Out Switches – Electricity can be very dangerous and you should install the standard electrical safety switch that automatically cuts off the power supply in the event of an issue. There are fusible and non-fusible types and the supplier would be able to recommend the best unit for your business premises, and such a supplier can easily be located with a Google search.
- Fire Extinguishers & Blankets – Whatever the type of company you run, your offices/factory/warehouse should have an adequate supply of either fire extinguishers or blankets, depending on the type of business. If you call your local fire safety officer, they would be happy to pay you a visit and make some recommendations, and remember that these units do require testing and inspection at specific intervals.
- Manual Handling Training – Most businesses can benefit from some hands-on manual handling training, which helps employees to gain a deeper understanding of the correct methods to manually handle objects. A short course like this could reduce staff absenteeism due to back injuries that are the result of incorrect handling procedures, and if you contact a specialist company, they would pay you a visit and put together a short training course that is designed specifically for your place of business.
- Safety Signage – Low doorways and slippery floors are just a couple of the situations when safety signage would be appropriate, and with visible signs warning people they are entering a loading bay area are also a good idea. If you asked one staff member to walk around the workplace and take note of your current safety signage, this would likely result in a few signs that could be added.
As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure the workplace is as safe as possible and to consider consulting a corporate risk solution to evaluate your business risks and advise on the most effective safety measures.