How to Improve Safety in the Workplace

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No matter what industry you operate within, from farming to fashion, maintaining a safe work environment is crucial. 

After all, failing to uphold health and safety standards puts the safety of your employees, your customers and your business at risk. 

With that in mind, here are some effective ways in which you can improve safety within the workplace. 

Know your responsibilities. 

To begin with, it's crucial that you are aware of your legal responsibilities as a business owner. For example, within the US, you must: 

“Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSH (Occupational Health and Safety) Act.” 

Failing to uphold these standards not only puts others at risk but it could also put your business on the path to closure. For example, you may be facing lawsuits, fines and even criminal charges. As such, you should endeavor to make safety a priority on your farm.  

Carry out a risk assessment. 

One of the easiest ways to improve health and safety in the workplace is to conduct a quick risk assessment. This will help you to identify any potential workplace hazards and put preventative measures in place that reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. 

Invest in the right tools. 

Investing in the right tools and equipment for your workplace will also enable you to improve upon your health and safety practices. For example, installing a 

ductless fume hood in factory environments and clinical settings (among others) can provide your employees with protection from harmful and toxic chemicals by improving indoor air quality. This can prevent the development of respiratory conditions and other health complaints while also ensuring that you are complying with any government regulations. 

As such, while installing new equipment can be expensive, it is a worthwhile investment for both your company and your employees. Remember, you cannot put a price on health and well-being! 

Offer comprehensive on-site training. 

Many workplace accidents are caused by human error, which can often be attributed to a lack of proper on-site training. For example, while your employees may have previous experience driving large and heavy vehicles, they may not know how to safely transport cattle. This means that they should be given on-the-job training to ensure they are doing everything correctly, as opposed to being given vague instructions.

While onboarding training is a great way to ensure that your team is working safely, you should also offer refresher training at least once a year or whenever you begin to use new tools and equipment. This ensures that everyone’s knowledge is up to date and that they are taking health and safety seriously.

Final thoughts. 

In short, there are many different ways in which you can improve health and safety in the workplace - from offering more comprehensive training to investing in new tools and equipment.

However, it is an aspect of business management that you need to consider a priority. Health and safety checks and policies are more than a box-ticking exercise; they are a way to keep your team and customers safe!