In the fast-paced realm of today, the guardians of health and safety stand taller than ever before. No longer can we tolerate the flouting of safety guidelines, for in doing so, we jeopardise not only ourselves but also our comrades and the very existence of our organisations.
Consider this: the United Kingdom bleeds billions each year due to workplace-related injuries and illnesses, and as a business owner, the onus may fall upon you. Given the exorbitant toll workplace injuries exact upon our world, it is incumbent upon us to spare no effort in ensuring an impregnable fortress of safety within our professional domains.
Granted, banishing the spectre of accidents entirely may prove an unattainable feat, yet a panoply of measures awaits our grasp, enabling us to lessen risks and erect formidable barriers against their catastrophic impact.
Upgrading Electrical Equipment
Faulty electrical equipment is one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fires. As a result, it’s important to ensure that you’re regularly testing equipment, with PAT testing being the most common type of test available.
You should also make sure that any sockets and power connectors are adequately rated for the volts and amps going through them. You can find a variety of industrial power connectors at RS, which can be installed into existing systems to improve safety ratings and avoid potential hazards.
Encourage a Culture of Safety
Workplace culture makes a big difference in how people behave and what kind of risks they take. By encouraging the right culture, one that’s more focused on safety, you can reduce the chances of accidents happening and help remove potential hazards. The vast majority of accidents are caused by human error, so encouraging employees to behave responsibly is important.
You can introduce this culture by improving safety training, as well as rewarding employees for being safe and responsible. Not only that but as a business owner, you need to make employees feel comfortable reporting potential hazards and unsafe behaviour to you, as this will make a big difference in cutting down the risk of accidents.
Ensure the Right Equipment is Available
Aside from upgrading electrical equipment, you should always make sure that all of the equipment your employees use is right for the job. If your staff are using broken, outdated or incorrect equipment, the chance of an accident occurring increase significantly. This includes all regular tools, as well as actual safety gear.
While it can be expensive, the right tools are important for maintaining a safe and effective workplace. They should also be regularly checked to ensure they’re in good working condition and are unlikely to lead to accidents because of faults.
Safety Reminders
While you can develop a culture of safety among your employees, providing regular reminders on proper safety protocols is still important. This includes placing the correct signage and warnings on equipment and applying health and safety messages around the work and recreation areas to serve as gentle reminders.
Additionally, put together regular safety meetings and demonstrations to reinforce the point. While these shouldn’t be constant and overbearing, it’s good to hold monthly meetings and establish a safety committee to update all safety training that employees receive when they’re hired.
Risk Assessments
Carrying out risk assessments is critical if you want to identify, evaluate and control potential risks. This shouldn’t be a one-time thing when you first set up your business, as your risk assessment will need to be constantly updated. New risks may form over time based on the nature of the company, and each one should be evaluated properly.
When evaluating each risk, you can look at what impact the risk will have and potential ways to control it. After that, putting these ideas into practice will help you control and minimise the risk.
