How to Keep Your Employees Safe

Because of the Internet, most businesses tend to place a lot of emphasis on securing their digital safety. Unlike before, your sensitive information is available at the click of a button, and hackers don’t even have to be in the same room. It is easy to see why businesses are so paranoid about their online security.

However, one big mistake a lot of companies make is to forget about their physical safety.

So, here’s the basics to help you keep your employees, and yourself, safe in the workplace.

Provide Employees with Training

Ensuring your team can handle any emergencies that may arise. Ensuring there is someone on shift, you and your employees can go to in your time of need because they have experience in first aid training, fire extinguisher use, fire warden etc.

The more people qualified the more capable your business will be should an emergency ever arise.

Also ensuring your fire systems (smoke alarms) are tested regularly, you have sufficient fire extinguishers and first aid kids (and these are checked and maintained regularly).

Talk To Your Employees To Spot Hazards

It makes sense that the people who can spot the hazards are the ones that are in the business on a daily basis. You have to realise that, although you are the boss, you are not always right or not always where your team might be completing daily activities. The workers know and understand the hazards in the business better than anyone else. In fact, that is why it is your prerogative, by law, to talk to them about potential dangers.

Implementing regular tool box meetings, to discuss any incidents, hazards raised or concerns, is a vital part of running a safe workplace.

Ensuring regular workplace audits involving your staff are conducted, work with them to make your business a safer workplace (don’t forget that even an office environment posses hazards).

Provide The Information

As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Without the right amount of knowledge you and your team are bound to make mistakes. To start with, that means you have to understand what you need to do to keep everyone safe. Then, you need to pass on the information to your team. You can do this with a PowerPoint presentation or a video, just as long as you don’t neglect the instruction and supervision of your workers.

Stay up to date with industry, State and National OHS/WHS changes.

Keep A Register Of Injuries And Near Misses

Whenever someone (employees, contractors, clients) has an injury or near miss no matter whether they have made a claim or not, it is down to you need to keep a record. And, you have to allow your employees access to the records at all times. A records book allows you to see where you have gone wrong or repetitive Near Misses and where you can improve with regards to future safety.

Is more education required? Do you need to reassess the systems and processes for the tasks or workplace?

Prepare Plans For An Emergency

When the worst does happen, you need a backup plan to limit the damage. Otherwise, there could, potentially, be a lot more damage.

Ensuring you have in place:-

• Evacuation Plan (evacuation maps clearly marked in your workplace)
• Muster Point
• First Aid Kits
• If dealing with chemicals – eye wash stations etc
• Chemical Registry

Help One Another

The main cause of damage is ignorance. People don’t know that they are doing something wrong in the first place. As a result, it is important for everyone to be on the same page. To do that, you need to encourage everyone to offer help at every opportunity. That way, you can share knowledge and become a safer unit.

As an Australian business, you need to make sure you cover all the legislation of your particular state or territory.