Every employer has a legal obligation to create a safe work environment for employees. It is vital that you take steps to improve workplace safety standards to prevent accidents and injuries that can lead to time off, low morale, lack of trust between employees and employers, costly compensation claims, and damaged reputation.
Creating a safe and secure workplace can prevent avoidable accidents and help staff feel happy, safe, and secure at work. Therefore, it is helpful to be aware of a few workplace safety upgrades you can make that will help protect both your employees and business property.
Read on to find out more.
Protective Barriers & Bollards
Vehicles can pose a significant threat to your business and staff. This is why you need to take steps to control vehicle access and protect pedestrians, which can be achieved with the use of protective barriers.
Bollards, in particular, are highly effective as they can withstand vehicle impact, which makes them perfect for high-traffic areas, including entrances, parking lots, and loading bays. Parking bollards can serve as protective barriers, boundary markers, and visual guides, allowing you to improve traffic control in potentially dangerous areas.
Improve Lighting
Poor lighting is one of the main contributors to workplace accidents, particularly slips, trips, and falls (the most common cause of accidents). By upgrading lighting in key areas like corridors, stairwells, and parking lots, you can improve both safety and security.
Motion-sensor lights are ideal for less-frequented areas and can help staff feel safer when leaving during non-daylight hours.
Anti-Slip Flooring
As mentioned above, slips, trips, and falls are the most common causes of accidents in workplaces. Slips, in particular, are prominent in many industries. This is why it is a good idea to install anti-slip flooring in high-traffic or spill-prone areas, such as kitchens, outdoor walkways, and warehouses.
Anti-slip flooring significantly reduces the risk of slip accidents and can also give employees confidence when walking across high-risk areas.
Invest In Emergency Preparedness
Accidents can happen even when you have taken steps to prevent them. Therefore, it is vital that you have sufficient equipment on site that will help you respond swiftly and effectively in different types of emergencies. This should include first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
These should all be accessible and maintained, and staff should be trained on how to use them. It is also wise to conduct regular safety drills so that staff know exactly how to respond in different situations.
Ergonomic Equipment
People tend to think of accidents when it comes to workplace injuries, but many occur due to issues like repetitive strains or poor posture. Poor ergonomics can lead to long-term injuries and extended time off work, which is why employers must always provide ergonomic equipment for staff.
This can include supportive chairs, adjustable desks, and monitor stands. These are preventative upgrades that will improve safety standards and can even enhance productivity.
These are all workplace safety upgrades that can elevate safety standards, protect staff, and prevent avoidable accidents and injuries. Every employer must consider workplace safety and look for upgrades that will protect their employees, property, and business.