As an employer, it’s your job to make sure your employees are safe while they’re working. Implementing some of these methods can take time upfront, but taking the time to do so can go a long way to stop employee accidents. As you work through these tips, try to find ways to adopt safety as a lifestyle in the workplace.
Keep the Temperature Within Safe Limits
National and state or local laws may dictate what temperatures you must keep in certain areas of your building, depending on the industry. A manufacturing plant may have different requirements than a standard office building. Server rooms will need their own special considerations. You’ll want to work with appropriate professionals to handle temperature regulation in each area of the building. Another helpful thing to consider is to use white surface materials in the building. Using white material on the roof can increase a building’s ability to reflect light up to 60%. The increased light reflection means that the building will absorb less outdoor heat, keeping it cooler inside.
Have Your Fire Protection Systems Inspected Regularly
Your local fire department can give you guidance on what kind of drills you should run and how often. The NFPA recommends that fire drills be done at least monthly. Depending on the setup, the fire protection systems themselves will need visual inspections and functional testing at various intervals during the year. These inspections can be done monthly, quarterly, twice a year, once a year, or every five and 10 years.
Run Evacuation Drills
Having a clear process in place for each employee to follow if an evacuation is necessary will help to ensure that everyone can quickly get out of your facility. In addition to having an evacuation plan, it’s also essential to have a plan in place for what you will do if someone cannot evacuate themselves, such as a disabled employee who uses a wheelchair or other mobility device.
Form a Safety Committee
Create an in-house committee to come up with ideas for safety innovations in your company. This committee gives employees a voice in keeping them safe and can help engage everyone in the process. The committee should hold meetings regularly and keep meticulous records. The records can be shown to inspectors, law enforcement or be used during mediation or litigation proceedings.
Encourage a Healthy Workplace
Regular breaks, healthy food options, and an active work environment are all ways that you can encourage a healthy atmosphere. Try to bring in catering once a month for the employees with menu options that consider people with special dietary requirements, such as needing sugar-free, dairy-free, or animal-free, or gluten-free items. Encourage your employees to take stretch breaks during the day. Don’t penalize them for being slightly late for a break if they take the stairs or walk a lap around the parking lot. Ensure that ergonomics are up-to-par for all employees.
Set Up an Employee Assistance Program
This program is designed to help your employees cope with any stress or anxiety they may be experiencing. The program can also help employees deal with substance abuse or mental illness. You’ll want to work closely with your human resources team to set up this program.
Implementing safety as a lifestyle should be the main goal of your standard operations. Whatever programs you choose to implement for your employees outside of mandated local, state, and federal requirements, try to emphasize them sooner rather than later. Your employees will thank you later for creating a safer place to work.