It’s an unfortunate fact of life that accidents happen in the workplace all the time. What’s shocking is that most, if not all those accidents could have been preventable! Personal injury at the workplace usually occurs because of lax health and safety controls. But there are also other reasons why they happen.
Are you concerned about accidents occurring at your business, regardless of their severity? If so, it’s time you did something about the matter. Today’s how-to guide will walk you through the steps needed to lower the risk of workplace accidents. Here is what you need to know:
Perform risk assessments on a regular basis
The first step is to identify areas for concern at your premises. They could be things like damaged electrical wires or worn carpets that are a trip hazard. Risks can also include things like badly maintained or faulty equipment.
What you have to do is put yourself in the shoes of your workers, so to speak. You need to learn about what they do on a daily basis. And you need to make notes of things that require urgent attention.
It’s best to document your findings, as well as sign and date them. That way, you have a record of when your last inspection got carried out. You should also note in there when you rectified any potential risks at your workplace.
Law firms like John Medler find that a shocking amount of companies fail to perform such a basic task on a regular basis. And that’s usually the cause of how things can escalate into major problems!
Keep your equipment maintained
You often hear of people injuring themselves on tools and equipment that jams or breaks off. That happens because those items had little to no maintenance! As a company owner, you are responsible for the safety and well-being of your staff when they are working.
Be sure to put in place a system whereby a series of regular inspections occur on all items your workers use. That way, any faulty parts can get replaced. And those items won’t compromise the safety of your team.
Ensure your staff have adequate training
One of the biggest causes of workplace injuries is down to staff not knowing how to use equipment properly. It’s crucial that everyone knows what they are doing at your premises. Because if they don’t, and something bad happens, it’s your company that is liable for any compensation claims!
You can train your staff in any number of ways. In-house training is often the best way to teach people how to do things. You also have the option of sending employees to training centers.
Keep access paths clear of obstructions
There is a reason you need to keep your premises neat and tidy: safety! The last thing you want is for people to start tripping over boxes or loose electrical cords.
Make sure that everything at your workplace has a proper place. Invest in storage facilities to keep things like spare parts out of harm’s way. And if you find that you’re constantly running out of space, consider moving to bigger premises.
By following those tips, you can reduce the risk of personal injuries from happening!
