Are you a business leader looking for ideas to promote safety in the workplace? On-site accidents and operating with no policy can be hazardous and costly. Start with these five best practices now...
Workplace Safety Tips And The Importance Of Safety In The Workplace
Stats from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that in 2019:
- Approximately 3 million employees had varying injuries at the workplace
- A worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury
- There were 5,333 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States
Such numbers are staggering. To think such an occurrence could happen at your workplace is scary.
Safety at the workplace should be a priority, and workers must be able to thrive in a secure environment. Here are five best practices of safety in the workplace.
Get Insured
Getting insured is practical. In the event of any unfortunate incident, you have some cover.
Contact your local insurance company and discuss the possibilities. They will be in the best position to make good recommendations for health and safety in the workplace.
Insurance companies have safety experts who can audit your premises and recommend safety improvements. This will ensure your workplace is safe and there is a reduced risk of claims.
There is an almost endless selection of categories regarding insurance and your business will be able to find a suitable quote. If you’re a laborer working in garden and property maintenance, you’ll likely look for landscape design insurance or something closely similar. Being insured can in many ways make or break matters regarding your business' overall safety and finance.
Consult The Fire Marshal
One of the major causes of accidents at the workplace is fire. As a business leader, you must make sure that your site meets all local fire codes.
Consult your county or city fire marshal after making the safety improvements suggested by the insurance company. The fire department will suggest further improvements and potential fire hazards and violations.
You might also consider:
- Installing a poured in place rubber surfacing for better traction
- Placing fire extinguishers at vantage points
- Replacing old wiring
And other precautions.
Review OSHA Recommendations
Besides addressing safety concerns at your workplace, you should know and understand your legal obligations. The U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a lot of information on their website that you can review and use to make adjustments.
Following these Federal guidelines will help your organization avoid huge fines, as you will not fall foul of their recommendations when they come around to inspect. You should also consider having your employees take AED, CPR, and Red Cross first aid trainings.
Prepare A Workplace Safety Manual
Have a safety manual prepared specifically for your business. and Share this manual with:
- Your insurance agent
- The fire department chief
- Your attorney
The input from these people will provide you with a better insight into what improvements to make and the legal implications you could try to avoid.
Educate Your Employees On Safety In The Workplace
After preparing the safety manual for your workplace, share it with your employees. Have them study it and then have a meeting to go over the content.
- Explain how it will be enforced
- Address their concerns
- Answer any questions
Beyond this, educate your employees on best practices. Review all other safety precautions that they will need to adhere to so that you can guarantee their safety.
After this training, have your employees sign a form that indicates they have read and understood what is contained in the workplace safety manual and they will abide by the guidelines. If it is practical, make this form a part of the onboarding process for new employees.
Also prioritize conducting quarterly educational sessions on workplace safety topics to keep your employees updated and well-informed.
24 Replies
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Finally, something came that nobody usually discusses! Thank you for sharing these tips! I’d like to add one more thing. The company should also conduct a process safety audit.
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Genelia, We are always happy to share insights that will help business owners and entrepreneurs! Happy you feel this article on workplace safety best practices goes into details not found elsewhere. Thank you for adding your insights and for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your kind words, ~Keri
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This is the most important thing for every workplace. Make sure to install cameras everywhere and also take employees’ feedback about their safety in the office.
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Hi there, Thank you for visiting the blog and sharing your thoughts. Monitoring cameras are important for safety at the workplace … as long as they do not infringe on employees privacy and ability to perform work. Listening to employees about safety and efficiency is also important for owners and management. Thanks again, ~Keri
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To ensure safety in the workplace, you can also install video surveillance cameras. Employees will know that there are cameras; therefore, they will try to be more diligent and more responsible in relation to their health and the health of colleagues. In addition, it will save you from the theft of expensive equipment, and if you install heat-sensitive cameras, you can increase fire safety.
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Hi there, You make some good points that are resourceful for other business owners. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and adding value to this post, ~Keri
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The information is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi there, Always happy to share best practices about safety in the workplace. Thank you for your comment, ~Keri
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Thanks for sharing with us
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Hi there, Always happy to share helpful details – Especially about safety in the workplace. Thank you for your comment, ~Keri
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Very informative read! Fire incidents are extremely devastating causing loss of lives and property. One must ensure that all the processes and safe guards are in place in case fire breaks out. In case of a multi storied building, before setting up the shop there, adherence to fire prevention must be ascertained.
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John, Any business with a brick and mortar location should be ready for all fire and hazardous material incidents possible before opening, and train staff yearly so the company is ready. Of course, that includes knowing how to contact police, fire and haz mat teams. You make good points – Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
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Your site looks great Mani! Good luck with everything. have learned huge knowledge from here. I am waiting for your updates
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Tonny, Thank you for your kind words regarding my blog. I wish you the best of luck with your business pursuits as well. Happy to know you have gained helpful insight about safety in the workplace. We update the blog often on similar topics, so I hope you will visit again. ~Keri
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Thank you so much for this enlightening post, I have significantly got some thing right here and I will bookmark this page for your next upcoming post.
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Rifat, Glad you found this article on safety in the workplace enlightening and helpful. We update the blog on this and similar topics often, so I hope you will visit again. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
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I wish our company cares enough to do these things for our safety. Sadly, they lack in this aspect. I told them about it and they somehow added some safety features in the office like fire extinguishers, hand railings for the stairs because the office space they were renting didn’t have one. That’s why it’s important to speak up even if you’re an employee. If you feel like there are no safety precautions in place, let them know so they’ll be alarmed. It’s not just for you, it’s for everyone’s safety as well, including your boss.
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Hi there, You make a lot of good points. What I think is important is helping owners and business leaders understand and prioritize the types of safety in the workplace. They should consider this an investment in the company and their people. It may be an considerable monetary investment to include all cybersecurity steps, so it may take a little time for some smaller and newer companies. The key here is concern for the process. Hope things keep going well where you are. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
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As a practicing certified industrial hygienist with over 30 years experience, I would also add perform “hazard assessments.” This is a critical part of determining what engineering, administrative (i.e. procedures), and personal protective equipment may be required.
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Dean, Thank you for sharing your insights as an additional resource to the information in our article about safety in the workplace. I appreciate your care to offer your expertise for others. ~Keri
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Happy to read a post on such a great topic. If we maintain safety at workplaces, it could avoid any unwanted disasters. Thank you for sharing
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Bosman, Happy to know you liked this article about safety in the workplace. Yes, we must all adhere to policies meant to keep us safe at work to avoid disasters, but also for the safety of all team members. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
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These are great suggestions! Glad I popped by your blog. Thank you for sharing such valuable content!
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Hi there, Glad you like this article and feel the suggestions are good ones! 🙂 We are happy you visited our blog too, and appreciate your sharing your thoughts. We update the blog often with similar insights, so I hope you will stop back. Thanks for your comment, ~Keri
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