Employee safety is one of the most important issues that you have to deal with in your business. One trip or one fall could be the difference between a huge lawsuit and bankruptcy. Any successful startup or SME doesn’t have the cash to pay their employees compensation.
And, that is why it is important to stop injuries at the source. Plus, your staff will be more productive if they feel safe while they at work. They have to do their bit, but you have to do yours as well. Here are a few tips that will come in handy.
Accept the reality
Whenever there is an inquest after an injury at work, you will hear the words ‘but I didn’t think it would happen.’ Most businesses don’t think that an injury will occur in the workplace as they hardly do. Still, that doesn’t mean that they can’t.
And, ‘I didn’t think it would happen’ isn’t a very good defence. You have to understand that an accident can happen at any time. When you do, you can take the necessary steps to stop it at the source.
Be aware
The key to understanding health and safety responsibilities is to be aware of them at every turn. There isn’t a business on the planet that can tackle health and safety issues without knowing them beforehand. It is like the blind leading the blind, which is a health hazard in itself!
The trick is to study health and safety so that you know what accidents can occur and how they will occur. For example, if you know that most falling objects cause most accidents, you can secure them. Or, you can use a stair lift.
Teach awareness to others
You are the person that has to deal with health and safety, but your employees have a lot of responsibility too. After all, they are the ones that cause most of the accidents.
For the most part, they are innocent. But, they are only innocent if they don’t have the knowledge to prevent the incident in the first place.
If you teach them what is safe and what isn’t safe, they should be able to spot hazards before they become a problem. When they can do that, they can stop themselves from suffering an injury. And, they can also help you make the firm even safer.
Ask for advice
You aren’t a health and safety expert – that is niche job role. But, the government does expect you to run your business like you are a pro in the area. That is harsh, but it is the reality of the situation. To help yourself out of a tight spot, you need to ask people that are experts for help.
That way, you can take their advice and incorporate it into your business for extra security. You will have to pay for their time, but it is money well spent. In most cases, it is cheaper than going to court.