It is a basic human need to be in a healthy, safe, and comfortable environment. People spend a decent amount of their time at work, sometimes more than they spend at their own homes, so having a workplace that is positive and safe is important to keep employees healthy, engaged, and productive. As such, it is very essential to create a safe working environment in any workplace. The size of the organization does not matter; the safety of the workplace should never be taken lightly. All companies should have safety regulations and must ensure that these regulations are met by all their employees.
Here’s how you can ensure the safety of your employees at the workplace –
Create awareness about the importance of workplace safety: Being conscious and coaching cognizance is a fantastic and proactive technique through the team, which allows for addressing ability and upcoming risks earlier than they turn out to be a problem for the workplace. Paying interest to suspicious and uncommon behaviour allows in figuring out the chances and it’s far crucial to be stern when dealing with the odd behaviours around you. Make sure to always report about such behaviours or happenings and create a culture that takes that approach automatically too. Also, encourage your personnel to be robust and fearless.
Designate a Proper Emergency Exit: While developing the workspace, it is very important to designate emergency exits. All employees should be familiarised with the emergency exit properly in case of any alarming situation. By showing everyone the relevant exits, both physically and via clear signage, you’re putting the safety of your employees first. Fire drills in the workplace also help in reminding everyone from time to time about the nearest exits and the procedures along with any changes since the last drill. Make sure that the route to exits is clear and adherent to building codes, that first aid kits and emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers and public access defibrillators are present, and that employees know how to work them.
Provide adequate training: Not presenting your personnel and new hires with an applicable onboarding journey can have an instant impact on their morale, confidence, productivity, and the way they view your business. First impressions are vital when assembly new people, and they are simply as necessary for new personnel when coming into a workplace
Make certain your new hires go through adequate initiation to their group and to the company’s culture. Provide them with ongoing, individualized First Aid and Safety training with enough time to research and exercise their skills. You must additionally set expectations and desires in particular for your new hire’s role, with truly described success metrics and milestones, and talk with them about possibilities for growth. Also make positive their workspace and technological know-how is functioning, clean, and prepared for them to get started.
Schedule periodic building maintenance: It is very necessary to keep the upkeep of your workplace periodically. The administration needs to get the construction inspected from time to time and crucial enhancements need to be done. Small security measures like including rubber padding at the top of the stairways, and mats to keep away from slipping can help with your personnel protection.
Maintain proper visitor records: Establish a proper procedure for recording the entry of visitors before they come inside the office premises. It is necessary to check the identification of the visitor and take necessary details before allowing the person to enter the premises.
Create an environment for open discussions: Setting aside time at the end of the day once a month to discuss safety rules and the general working environment is a great way for managers and supervisors to assess the overall quality of current measures taken. Getting feedback from employees is helpful because it opens the manager’s eyes to potential hazards that went unnoticed, how well certain areas are doing and little touch-ups here and there that go a long way towards keeping employees safe and happy in the office.
Set clear expectations regarding the performance and behaviour of employees: It is important that your team knows what is expected of them with their performance and behavior. Without clearly set boundaries and objectives, you can’t expect them to give the results you need. Newly hired employees should be given a grace period, but after that time ends, they should be held fully accountable for their performance.
Your team should all be treated as equals and given an equal amount of work. If you notice an employee not meeting expectations in their competency or behavior, try not to shift their workload onto a better-performing employee. This can put your top performers at an increased risk of burnout, while the underperforming employees’ growth will remain stagnant.
