It can be easy for office workers to think that workplace safety isn’t something that they have to worry about. After all, there’s no heavy machinery or power tools to work with, so isn’t there nothing to worry about?
Workplace safety is important for everyone, including office workers. In fact, working in an office is a common way for some of the most prevalent injuries to develop.
Read on to discover five easy tips for keeping a safe workplace.
1. Encourage Breaks
You might be surprised to learn how many injuries are the result of employees not taking proper breaks. A lot can happen when someone is overworked, tired, and not giving their job their full attention.
To prevent injuries caused by distraction and overexertion, encourage employees to take regular breaks. Getting up and stretching for five minutes every once in a while can work wonders.
2. Have Accessible Emergency Exits
Does your team know what to do in an emergency? Are the emergency exits in your building clearly labeled?
No one ever wants to be in an emergency situation, but if that time happens to come, you need to be prepared.
Make sure everyone knows where the emergency exits are and how to get to them. If your building has several floors, make sure each floor can quickly access the staircase.
3. Clean Regularly
A cluttered and dirty space can be the cause of several problems. Leaving boxes on the floor or the staircase could cause someone to trip and fall, for example, leading to a costly lawsuit.
Meanwhile, leaving too many dirty dishes in the sink can attract roaches and other pests.
Make sure your workplace is regularly cleaned and that everything has its place. Not only will it look more professional, but your office will also be safer.
4. Ensure Open Communication
Office leadership can’t be expected to catch every potential hazard. Instead, make sure you have a culture of open communication so that employees feel comfortable coming to you with questions or concerns.
If everyone feels like they can come forward with issues, they’ll be less likely to keep quiet about a problem that will cause harm down the road. It’s always best to catch things as soon as possible.
5. Establish a Clear Safety Protocol
Office safety requires everyone to be all in, so you should establish a clear safety protocol during employee orientation. You might have different rules than if you were working at a gun auction site, but offices need safety tips, too. Everyone needs to know what’s expected of them so that they can work together to keep the workplace safe.
If specific positions have different hazards, each employee should be trained according to how they’ll need to stay safe.
Make sure a copy of your safety protocol is always available for employees to review when needed.
Maintain a Safe Workplace with These Tips
These five tips will help you maintain a safe workplace in any situation. Whether you’re working in an office space or outdoors, everyone deserves a safe place to work.
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