A good business owner understands that their employees are the backbone of the company. There is no doubt that without a functioning staff, progress comes to a halt, which means profit comes to a halt. Therefore, it is in the best interest of an employer to place as many preventative measures as possible to protect their employees from common pitfalls in the workplace. The following list details some of the ways this can be accomplished effectively.
Offer Adequate Breaks
Safety doesn’t only apply to accessible safety tools, repairs on a machine, or physical dangers. They can also take shape in the mental health of your employees. This is why breaks are such a crucial component of an effective safety program. It has been proven that an overworked staff is more likely to make a mistake during their shift than a well-rested one. This is not only a financial liability on your part, but also a dangerous environment for anyone working alongside those fatigued employees. It is best to consult with your staff to determine if any changes need to be made and how they can be effectively implemented without impeding the flow of production.
Watch for Common Hazards
Simply being aware of the most common accidents at work can help you prevent them. One of the most dangerous of these common hazards is the overwhelming amount of paper and stored objects within your premises. Holding on to piles upon piles of paperwork is a fire hazard. Objects being stored within the work floor can also begin to block crucial exits in the case of a fire. If paperwork is vital to the day to day operations, consider converting those documents into digital as to remove this hazard. Paperwork can also be moved to an off-site storage facility or shredded if they’re no longer needed. Other common dangers include a lack of height support (working on high ground) and the exposure of electrical wires or an occurrence of wet walking surfaces.
Ergonomic Injuries
The silent killer amongst all these hazards is the one you might be doing right now: sitting at your desk. Employees are often required to sit at their desk or stand in one place for hours at a time. Many medical professionals have concluded that this type of rigid lifestyle can lead to an increase in blood pressure, depression, and even early death. What can you do as an employer? There are a variety of things you can implement for your office workers. Some of these include mandatory walking breaks, standing desks, and ergonomically correct office chairs. This can prevent various ergonomic office injuries. Those on the assembly line would greatly benefit from cushion pads that they can stand on. These pads can reduce the amount of stress on their feet, legs, and backs.
As with anything, the best way to protect your employees is to be proactive. Thus, every business leader must make sure to conduct an audit of their workplace in order to implement the appropriate safety measures for their particular industry.
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