Office safety is a shared responsibility among employers and employees. Some offices say they prioritize safety, but priorities can change instantly. Instilling safety as a value in the workplace is a commitment everyone should take seriously.
Taking simple but effective steps and creating a safety mindset will benefit everyone.
10 Office Safety Measures For Your Workplace
Here are some office safety measures you should consider implementing in your business.
Conduct Safety Training
Management must require all workers to undergo safety training as part of their commitment to workplace safety. Staff who know and understand the dangers inside the workplace will develop a safety mindset that benefits everyone in the office.
Maintain Clean Work Areas
Keeping the work area clean and tidy is more than just aesthetically pleasing. It also improves overall safety in the workplace. Clutter can quickly get out of hand if left unchecked. It can also cause trips, slips, and falls that lead to injury. Doing this simple step will lessen the chance of accidents at work.
Promote Hygiene
Allergens, germs, and viruses are more common in the workplace than people think. Management must keep their employees updated with the latest health advisories to prevent contagious diseases from spreading.
Workplaces must promote proper handwashing and other forms of hygiene. They should also consider providing facemasks, gloves, cleaning wipes, and other hygiene products and make them accessible to everyone at all times.
Train Staff for Emergencies
A trained staff is a prepared staff. Emergencies will always be a serious concern and should be treated with care and vigilance. Management should ensure their employees have proper training in case emergencies happen.
Proper evacuation procedures and designated safety personnel should be commonplace in all offices. The safety of employees is paramount during natural disasters or unforeseen circumstances.
Report Workplace Hazards
Workers who spot a safety hazard should be encouraged to report it to management immediately. This simple step ensures the safety of everyone at the workplace, regardless of their location.
Exposed electrical wires from equipment in the copy room might not seem like a big deal, but OSHA would consider them to be electrical hazards. Spilled coffee on the floor is a common accident, but one wrong step could land an employee in the hospital. Any potential hazard that can pose risks to employees should be taken seriously.
Follow Scheduled Breaks
Management should ensure their employees are taking breaks at scheduled times. This simple practice will give workers ample time to recover from their tasks and even improve their productivity.
Some workplace accidents can be prevented by giving staff time to rest during the workday. Employees who follow scheduled breaks maintain their focus and awareness of their surroundings more than those who miss them.
Minimize Physical Contact
Physical distance can help workers remain safe, especially when dealing with many people during the workday. Minimizing physical contact can reduce the risk of spreading contagious diseases and increase mindfulness in the workplace. Some reasonable steps to follow include the following:
- Posting reminders around the office
- Installing protective barriers
- Placing decals on floors indicating safe distances
- Setting lower capacities in common areas
Practice Using PPE
Although offices are typically situated away from shop floors or factory sections of a business, management should make wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) a must when employees need to leave office premises. Hard hats, safety vests, and steel-toed boots are some popular PPEs worn in the field. Whether it’s for ensuring the safety of employees or complying with industry standards, businesses should consider using PPE a mandatory practice.
Follow Procedures
Everyone in the workplace should be mindful of the correct procedures when working. Avoiding accidents in the office is a shared responsibility. Management must instill a safety culture in their staff and ensure everyone knows proper guidelines, especially when working with equipment and tools.
Always Close Doors and Cabinets
Partially closed doors and cabinets can pose significant risks to employees and customers. Bumps and bruises from collisions and trips are more common than people think. Fully close all doors and cabinets to enforce workplace safety. It’s a simple step people often take for granted.
Office Safety Is in Everyone’s Hands
As more businesses face the new normal and employees return from their work-from-home arrangements, management must be proactive in ensuring the safety of employees. Maintaining situational awareness can save everyone the hassle of missing workdays from being hurt on the job. It’s up to everyone at the office to keep safety in mind whenever they’re working, taking a break from work, or even leaving the premises.