If you run a business that requires your employees to work in a risky environment like a factory, mechanic garage, or similar work zone, you are liable for work related accidents that may happen during the workday. In order to protect your employees and yourself, you should consider taking steps in order to ensure everyone’s safety at work.

BusinessInstall Safety Signs

This is one of the simplest yet affective safety steps you can take in your business. Exit signs, caution signs, and the like should be placed throughout the work area to ensure your staffs’ safety. Exit signs can come in handy if there needs to be an emergency evacuation of the area. Similarly, health and safety signs that point out warnings and danger areas should also be visible in the work area. If you have a lot of equipment in your workplace, signs spelling out the dangers can also help reduce workplace injuries. For example, if there is machinery with blades or other sharp components, a sign stating that caution be used can help your staff be more aware of the machine and their surroundings. Signs in general make everyone in the workplace more aware of their surroundings. If you know the dangers first, you can utilize the proper signs to make sure everyone on the job is on the same page.

Conduct Regular Safety Seminars

If you run a business where safety hazards are common, it is important for you to hold regular seminars or courses to keep your staff up to date on safety procedures and potential dangers. For instance, if you work with chemicals or bio-hazards, it is essential for your employees to understand the dangers of working with such caustic materials. They should always be aware of the risks and know exactly how to handle everything in a safe manner for their own health and the safety of their colleagues. These courses shouldn’t be a one-time deal, either. You’ll want to have some kind of safety course at regular intervals for optimum safety. This will ensure that new employees will get a safety training course and will remind seasoned employees about safety guidelines, you don’t want them to become complacent on the job just because they’ve been with you for so long.

Inspect the Work Area and Equipment

If you want your employees to know the dangers in their work zone you have to know the risks first. You should regularly inspect any machinery that is used on the job to make sure that it is in proper running order. A minor malfunction can lead to injuries so it is important to maintain all equipment that is used by your staff. If you allow machinery to fall into disrepair you could be held responsible for any damage that is causes to a staff member. The general work area should also be inspected and maintained. Cracks in the floor, loose ceiling tiles, and even something as small as a blown light bulb can lead to an unsafe work site. For example, if the lights in a stairwell aren’t working and an employee falls due to the dim lighting, you are responsible. By inspecting your work area and keeping up to date records, you can stay on top of potential problems and fix them before they cause any damage to your staff or your site.

Require Safety Equipment

When there are known risks it may be necessary to use safety equipment. This can be a hard hat or high-visibility vests or things like harnesses and back braces. By enforcing the use of these tools, you can ensure the safety of all of your staff members. You can either have this equipment on hand to give out to employees once they’re on site or you can require your employees to have their own (if the equipment in question is something readily available, that is). All of these options take minimal work but can make a world of difference in the workplace. It can also provide you, the owner, with peace of mind.