A Safe Workplace is a Profitable Workplace

A Safe Workplace is a Profitable Workplace: Four Tips for Maximizing Productivity by Building a Safe Work Environment

A hazardous work environment won’t only be bad for productivity; it could also make your company liable for thousands, even millions of dollars in damages in legal fees. Purchasing insurance is important to have a back-up plan, but preventing accidents is the most cost-effective and consequence-free solution. The following tips can help you promote safety in the workplace to ensure smooth daily business operations.

1. Slip Prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, slip, trip and fall injuries account for 15 percent of all job-related injuries, and between 12 and 15 percent of all Workers’ Compensation expenses. Many of these accidents could have been avoided if employers simply paid more attention to caring for and maintaining flooring. To avoid these accidents, enact policies in the workplace for cleaning up spills as soon as they occur, wearing non-slip shoes and covering slippery surfaces with stabilizing rugs.

2. Fire Safety

A fire can be devastating to your place of work, and has the potential to claim lives as well as property. Since the stakes are so high for fire outbreaks, it’s crucial that your workplace practice fire safety from day one. Once you get settled in at work, make sure to have a fire escape plan in place and brief all new employees on the plan. Practice fire drills regularly and make sure everyone knows where fire extinguishers are and how to use them.

3. Cleanliness

Cleanliness might seem to have more to do with organization and aesthetics, but you’d be surprised how much of a hazard a poorly maintained workplace can be. Maintaining organization prevents clutter, which can cause slip and fall accidents or mold and mildew growth. Failing to clean thoroughly can foster mold growth, and can be especially dangerous for food in a restaurant. Have a set cleaning schedule for your staff or hire professional cleaners to make sure the workplace is thoroughly sanitized and organized for each day of work to prevent danger and disorganization. Make the task easier by providing the proper cleaning supplies in bulk so they’re not constantly running out.

4. Personal Safety

Burglary and random acts of violence can happen virtually anywhere, and it’s important that your employees know how to respond and take precautions just in case. Lock all the doors in the business after hours and store all valuable items in a carefully secure safe. Train employees regarding what to do if a burglar were to come into the workplace and encourage cautionary rules like the buddy system when walking to vehicles at night. Have a no-tolerance policy for workplace harassment and encourage employees to foster a safe and violence-free work environment.

Safety in the workplace isn’t as easy as it seems, and sometimes accidents can happen no matter what you do. However, there are important federal and practical guidelines you can follow to make safety a more attainable goal. The benefit of a safe work environment is maximum productivity and profit, which is ideal for any business. The tips above can help you build this ideal environment, so you can stay focused on business as usual.