It’s important to employers and employees that safety is taken seriously in the workplace. Between a company and their staff, nobody wants injuries to occur during work hours. For these reasons, it’s imperative that health and safety in the workplace is taken seriously, and companies stay up-to-date with fire safety guidelines with things like fire door surveys. Here’s a list of tips for ensuring workplace safety.
Tips for health and safety in the workplace
There are a number of things you can do in the workplace to ensure the safety of your staff and yourself. Here’s a list of some essential safety tips to keep in mind:
- Know the risks
- Staff training
- Reduce stress and take breaks
- Maintain good posture
- Use safety equipment
- Keep emergency exits clear
- Report unsafe conditions
- Know your limits
- Comply with company safety policies
Know the risks
In any workplace, staff and management have to be clear on any potential risks. Safety risks at work can include lifting or moving heavy items, or using a piece of equipment or machinery.
It’s important to understand the risks in the workplace to ensure no one is put in any unnecessary danger.
Staff training
Employers are responsible for providing adequate training for staff that helps to ensure health and safety practices in the workplace are up to scratch. Training includes manual lifting, how to use certain types of machinery, which safety equipment is required in certain situations, and even fire marshal training.
Reduce stress and take breaks
A great way of helping to reduce the number of workplace injuries is by decreasing stress amongst the workforce. Overworked, stressed employees are more likely to make mistakes, which could lead to injuries to themselves or to others.
Also tied into this is ensuring that staff are given proper breaks. Allowing employees to rest and relax, even just for 15 or 30 minutes, is an effective way of reducing stress and, ultimately, decreasing the number of injuries.
Maintain good posture
This should be taught in safety training provided by an employer, but staff must follow it up with consistent use. Good posture when lifting, pushing and pulling objects is important for making sure injuries don’t occur.
If someone injures their back by incorrectly lifting something heavy, they could be out of action for a prolonged period of time. This can cause a great deal of discomfort and inconvenience for the injured member of staff. It can also cost the company valuable time and money.
Use safety equipment
Safety equipment is something else that should not only be provided during training, but should also be properly explained. Staff should be taught how to use certain equipment and where to use it, including goggles, safety glasses, or gloves.
Another good idea for ensuring workplace safety is to teach staff which fire extinguishers to use in certain situations and how to use them effectively.
Keep emergency exits clear
It is vitally important that all emergency exits are kept clear of obstructions. They have to be clear in the event of a fire because a blocked emergency exit will put lives at risk.
Report unsafe conditions
Staff must ensure that their working conditions are safe. If they find something that could put them at risk, they must inform management. Once upper levels of management have been informed, the risks can be mitigated and rectified. This will ensure a higher level of health and safety.
Know your limits
Whatever industry or environment you work in, you should know your own limits. Whether you work with loud machinery, driving forklift trucks or lifting heavy items, you should always prioritise your health over your work. Don’t push your body too far or you will risk injury.
Comply with company safety policies
Finally, any safety policies that have been put in place at your workplace must be adhered to. They have been instigated for a reason, and that is to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues while working.
Workplace fire safety
To ensure excellent health and safety practices in the workplace, as well as fire safety, there’s plenty of knowledgeable fire safety companies available to fire check your building, train your staff, and give you peace of mind.