Workplace safety is a top priority, especially if you run your own small business.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can keep your business and your employees safe and injury-free while they’re on the job.
With workplace well-being in mind, here are just a few tips for cultivating safety at your small business:
Importance of Safety in the Workplace
Whether your small business has an office environment or a busy manufacturing environment, workplace safety should be a daily priority.
With workplace injuries on rise, practicing workplace safety can help keep your employees safe and your small business out of financial trouble.
According to a recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 3 million non-fatal workplace injuries that take place each year across all industries. Of these injuries, nearly 50% result in seven days or more of employee absence.
Likewise, many workplace injuries result in lawsuits that cost businesses millions each year.
In order to avoid injury at your small business and the legal repercussions that follow, there are some helpful safety tips to keep in mind.
Safety Meetings and Discussions
When your employees are aware of the dangers of the workplace, it creates a safer business environment.
In this expert interview with Dr. Timothy Ludwig on cultivating a safety culture in the workplace, Ludwig explains the importance of creating an environment where employees look out for one another.
By starting each day or work week with a brief safety meeting or general discussion, you can keep your entire staff on the same page when it comes to safety.
This helps keep your employees well informed on workplace dangers and encourages them to watch each other’s backs.
Repetitive Motion Safety Information
One of the leading causes of injuries in businesses both small and large are injuries sustained from repetitive motion. Whether your employees are at their desks throughout the day or they’re involved in physical activity and manual labor, repetitive motion can cause serious injury over time.
To avoid this scenario, it’s important to provide your employees with the proper repetitive motion safety information associated with their job position.
For desk workers, this may include information on exercises and hand position tips that will help them avoid carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries.
As for employees who participate in manual labor on a regular basis, you should provide information on proper lifting techniques along with any repetitive motion information that goes along with their job position.
Safety Training
Properly training your employees on all equipment and any job-related activities they participate in is an important aspect of cultivating a safe workplace. If your employees use heavy machinery, they should be thoroughly trained on the equipment they use – don’t rely on their prior experience.
Although there isn’t much safety training involved with office employees, you can still train your office workers for emergency situations.
By showing your office staff how to properly exit the building in the event of a fire; you can ensure your employees avoid unnecessary injury during emergencies.
By keeping in mind the tips above, you’ll successfully cultivate safety at your small business.
About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including workplace safety and small business.