The fact is that no workplace is safe even after taking adequate precautions. Small incidents and accidents do occur. But then a single accident might cause a major impact upon your business. It is your responsibility as the business owner to provide medical benefits and bear hospital expenses to the person injured at your business premises. It can be your employee, customer, vendor or anyone walking into your place. Also is impacted productivity resulting from low morale among your employees!
Ways To Avoid Workplace Accidents
The truth is it is not possible to completely avoid accidents at the workplace. But then you can take adequate measures to minimize it effectively. The given below tips can help protect your workforce and prevent serious injuries from occurring.
1. Conduct pre-placement physicals:
Your workplace duty involves performing heavy tasks, operating big machines and carrying around heavy loads. Those not being physically fit or weak in health or lack proper experience and exposure might cause some accidents. Hence, it will be necessary for the HR or recruitment team to conduct several pre-placement physicals. This will ensure the hired employees are physically capable to do the strenuous job.
2. Wellness and safety plan:
The work environment should be good enough to encourage all employees to put in their best efforts to complete their assigned tasks. A well established environment can help prevent accidents effectively. Also should be in place wellness and workers’ compensation program to cover employee health and safety in various levels. Also should be reported hazardous behavior or practices.
3. Safety vulnerabilities:
The fact is not every business is the same and might not experience similar safety concerns. There might occur some common accidents for which you need to pay extra attention. Also develop proper strategies and ensure such setbacks and personal expenses are avoided at all costs. Removing all vulnerabilities can help make the workplace safe. Do implement the latest tools and resources. Provide necessary training to the employees to ensure they use them safely and increase their productivity.
4. Educate management staff and employees:
Cultivate safety standards continuously amongst management staff and employees alike. Train them on the significance of having to follow set safety measures. Also provide extra training on body mechanics as it can help reduce strains and injuries. Provide them with proper medical benefits and insurance to boost their morale. Being safe will mean you can save on unwanted expenses and also enjoy increased business performance.
5. Sufficient staffing levels:
Often, your employees might have to work overtime to complete extra urgent work. It might also be due to low staffing levels or some staffs taken a leave, thus putting burden of work on the others. The overworked employees are likely to suffer from exhaustion. This will be noticed in their work quality that will only deteriorate. Meet their personal expenses while working overtime like providing them with snacks, beverage, etc.
6. Protection equipment:
If your business requires working in hazarding environment, dangerous machines or using chemicals, then ensure safety. Personal protection equipment should be provided to the concerned employees. Enforce them at meetings, hiring and through spontaneous monitoring. Teach them to use properly face protection, goggles, ear muffs, earplugs, hard hats, gloves, etc.
7. Avoid taking shortcuts:
Do consider good workers’ compensation if any employee experiences an accident at the workplace. Accidents are bound to occur if employees skip vital steps just to complete their tasks ahead of their schedule. Ensure they follow all instructions properly.
Irrespective of the amount of precaution you take, Workplace Accidents might still occur. Any employee might get injured. They should get appreciate and immediate care possible.
