Maintaining a safe workplace should be a priority for every business owner and manager. Taking a few basic steps to focus on employee safety and ensure that your office is as safe as possible is the easiest way to prevent major headaches and problems occurring down the road. Workplace injuries, workers’ compensation claims and potential lawsuits could end up costing the company dearly. Therefore, it is vital that you pay attention to the following factors to ensure your workplace and employees remain safe.
Safety Signage
One of the easiest ways to prevent potential injuries is to ensure that employees are aware of all potential hazards and how to avoid them. OSHA regulations require that employers use signs, posters or labels to notify employees of potential hazards. In this sense, safety signs won’t just make your workplace safer, but they can also help prevent you from running afoul of OSHA regulations or facing a lawsuit for negligent injury. Make sure that you consider where you are posting your signs and posters though. If you post them some place that isn’t visited very often, they aren’t going to be as effective as they could be. Place them in high traffic areas, such as a break room, where people can have access to them and take the time to read them. You may also want to post any notices for safety meetings next to your posters and signs.
Regular Safety Training or Meetings
In addition to safety signs, OSHA regulations also require employers to provide their employees with all necessary safety training. Training and safety meetings are another way to make sure that employees are aware of all potential hazards and how to best avoid them. This is a great time to make sure that everyone knows what some potential hazards are as well as get feedback on any problems you might be unaware of. At the same time, holding regular safety meetings helps to drive home the importance of workplace safety and will go a long way towards creating a culture of safety.
Legal Advice
OSHA safety requirements can be fairly confusing, and it’s not always easy for employers to understand all of their responsibilities. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you discuss the situation with a professional like Oxner + Permar, LLC. A professional worker’s compensation law firm can provide you with detailed information about all of the various safety requirements. In this way, you can both ensure that your office meets all necessary requirements and also help to create a safer office environment for your employees.
High-Quality Ergonomic Furnishings
Although this one is not technically a legal requirement, most safety experts still recommend that all businesses invest in high-quality ergonomic desks, chairs and computer stations. Back injuries, carpal tunnel and numerous other common office injuries can often be prevented simply by sitting in the right chair or using an ergonomic mouse and keyboard. Providing your employees with a comfortable, ergonomic workstation will definitely help to improve your office safety, but it can also help to boost productivity. In this sense, purchasing ergonomic office furniture and equipment can be one of the best investments your company makes.
The importance of workplace safety really cannot be overstated. Workplace injuries can seriously impact a company’s bottom line due to loss of productivity, increased workers’ compensation insurance rates and potential legal fees. Luckily, creating a culture of workplace safety isn’t all that difficult. Nonetheless, it does start at the top, which means it is up to you as a business owner or manager to make sure that you provide your employees with a safe, productive office environment.
