Avoiding accidents in the workplace should be one of the main priorities for any business. It’s not just construction companies that must take measures to ensure fewer employees get injured on the job; every industry faces challenges to avoid accidents and, wherever possible, prevent them from happening completely. Here are some steps to maintain a safer workplace for employees.

Assess the Risks

First of all, you’ll need to assess the risks on the job. These will be completely different from industry to industry. For instance, in an office environment, there are not as many immediate concerns due to there being fewer moving parts, heavy machinery, or other items that can create potentially dangerous situations. In a factory, warehouse, or another workplace where a lot is going on all the time, this creates additional risk factors.

Furthermore, reassessing the risks periodically is useful to see if anything has changed and if new safety measures should be put in place. A new accident should also trigger a reassessment to see whether something was lacking or if extra measures are required.

Create Safety Procedures and Make Staff Aware of Them

While it may seem obvious to many, creating safety procedures with do’s and don’ts is necessary. As law firm Horst Shewmaker will tell you, procedures are different and inconsistently applied from one company to the next. Therefore, businesses shouldn’t rely on employees already knowing the right thing to do under different circumstances.

Staff must be made aware of the rules to reduce accidents due to not being cognizant. Certainly, staff can be overly busy, but companies should aim to avoid needing to hire a lawyer to negotiate a settlement. Employees should be properly briefed to reduce the likelihood of injury or matters turning legal.

Emergency Exits – Knowing Where They Are and Clearing Access

All staff must be aware of where the emergency exits are in the building. There will be a designated assembly point when exiting the building. Many companies run drills to confirm the procedures work in practice too. Also, it’s necessary to perform regular checks to confirm all emergency exits are clear of obstacles. In the event of a fire with smoke quickly filling the offices and hallways, staff won’t see clearly enough to avoid anything in their way when rushing towards an exit.

Reporting of Conditions That Aren’t Safe

Staff must feel free to report conditions that aren’t safe. Companies need to avoid creating a culture where people feel like a whistleblower if they speak up. The opposite is true.

A spill that doesn’t get cleaned up quickly with warning signs displayed in the area, a loose carpet tile, or another potential accident waiting to happen is just the start. Notifying the correct person so that they can take immediate remedial action avoids potential slips, falls, and serious injuries.

Wearing Personal Protective Equipment

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) depends on the situation and workplace environment. Some companies may decide to have staff wear a face mask at all times, perform temperature checks at entrance points, and offer handwashing stations. Others may adjust what they feel is necessary depending on the current status of Covid-19, including having many more employees work remotely to limit the risks.

It’s always worth taking the appropriate steps to keep staff safer. Not only will they appreciate it, but it avoids needless complications thereafter too.