Getting the best from your business often means keeping your employees safe. Under federal law, businesses in the United States are obliged to provide a safe working environment. But there are also good business reasons to stay safe.
Safer working environments enjoy higher levels of morale, and reduced absenteeism. Employee turnover tends to be lower, as is exposure to legal risk.
But exactly what steps might a business take to improve safety? That might depend on the nature of your particular workplace – but there are a few general rules that can be applied fairly broadly.
Make sure your buildings are in good repair
If the premises aren’t in good shape, then they might pose a risk to those working inside them. This might mean that the building itself is crumbling – but often the risk is more subtle. You might think of a window that’s letting in cold air during the winter, making life uncomfortable for a set of office workers.
Providing appropriate safety equipment
Many jobs can only be safely performed with the assistance of the right technology and equipment. Construction site workers, for example, might benefit from protective headgear, reflective jackets, and steel-capped boots. Equipment should also be frequently assessed and repaired. Having a stock of essential components, like terminal blocks, might make this easier.
Take precautions at height
When work is taking place at height, there will often be a risk of workers falling, and suffering catastrophic injury, or worse. Given the seriousness of the risk, it’s vital that employers take serious measures to mitigate it. This might mean guard rails, fencing, or harnesses for those working on high scaffolds.
Keep walkways clear
Slips and falls are a significant driver of workplace accidents in the US. And in many cases, these incidents are caused by obstacles being left in a high-risk area. Trailing cables are notoriously problematic.
The best defense against this problem, as with many other health and safety issues, is a culture of constant vigilance. Workers should be able to notice when a cable is trailing in the wrong place, and have the courage to call it out and correct it.
Let there be light
When employees can’t see what they’re doing, then they might be at risk. This applies to potentially dangerous work, like soldering and cooking – but it’s also an inherently damaging activity, given the consequences of long-term eye strain. Workers should therefore expect to be able to work in a well-lit environment.
Control the temperature
We’ve already mentioned the potential problems that might arise from an uncomfortable temperature. In some cases, the nature of the work might preclude the temperature from being optimized. If you’re working in a barbeque restaurant, then you might expect the temperature in the kitchen to be fairly high.
However, employees might still be expected to control the temperature, and to keep workers comfortable. In many cases, this will lead to higher productivity.
