Imagine an office space or construction zone filled with moving objects, broken equipment, and crowded people. This spells disaster. This environment not only reduces productivity but also increases the risks of injuries and hazards that may hinder business operations.
While more hazards are present in construction and other high-risk areas, office spaces are also at risk — from faulty electricity, poor ergonomics, and weak structural integrity. If the stairs seem to be too steep or narrow for older employees, for example, you need to contact a stair contractor for a redesign right away.
The following are some more steps you should take to provide your employees with a safer work environment.
Hazard Identification
Identifying risks and hazards before they can even harm or injure any of your employees. Take note of areas prone to fire or any other accident. Be wary of mechanical failures, heavy objects, falling debris, changing weather conditions, and chemical exposure. Make sure all workers know how to properly handle equipment and tools to avoid slips, trips, falls that could lead to injuries or worse, death.
Risk Assessment
After learning of the different hazards in your workplace, the next thing to do is to identify the risk factors and the injuries that may occur. Lifting heavy objects and moving them to higher locations by hand, for instance, can cause strain and injury if not done properly. Instead of doing it manually, having your employees utilise a forklift is the safer course of action.
Identifying risks also comes with questions, such as how likely or frequently a hazard can occur, the severity of possible injuries, and the extent of damage or injury the hazard can cause.
Resolution and Evaluation
After hazard detection and risk assessment, now is the time to find out how to reduce, if not eliminate, these hazards and risks. Ensure that more safety measures are in place to protect your employees. Since all workplaces are different, consider consulting with other employees regarding common hazards and how to address them.
After coming up with solutions and reducing workplace hazards, consider how the changes affect your employees’ work. Also, observe if any hazards continue to persist.
Training and Awareness
Providing safety policies is not only for legal reasons but also for safety precautions. Knowing the safety issues and the consequences for not following them is the first step of awareness. Additionally, training programs involving safety practices in the work area help employees practise safer steps in carrying out their duties.
Safety Clothing and Equipment
Aside from employee knowledge and awareness of such hazards, providing safety gear and personal protective equipment (PPE) should help decrease risks from hazards. Monitoring the availability and accessibility of these important materials gear, including hard hats for construction areas and protective eyewear for handling chemicals, should also be observed.
Numerous hazards exist in any working environment. While some employers and employees may not see them as immediate threats, you should be aware of the consequences they can lead to, as well as the precautions and steps needed to reduce or eliminate any possible workplace hazard.
