In a busy work environment where meeting deadlines can be the day’s order, it is difficult for employers to enforce strict safety rules. This lends credence to the fact that from 2017 to 2020, workplace injuries cost employers a total of £3.2 billion. So, how can you prevent such expenses and protect your employees? Here are some essential safety tips you should implement in your company today.

1. Conduct regular safety checks

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As an employer, you must carry out regular safety assessments at the workplace. Your inspection should include the following five elements:

• Identifying potential risks
• Determining the cause of hazards
• Neutralising physical threats
• Recommending and enforcing corrective actions
• Constant monitoring of priority areas

Carrying out safety checks complies with national regulatory legislation. Therefore, failure to conduct these checks leads to being fined. An example is the Mace Limited case. This construction company was prosecuted and slapped with a £400k fine after severe safety lapses in remedial works on an AOV. Coupled with other corporate giants who got caught in the snare, the UK’s top ten safety fines exceeded £1 million in 2019. 

2. Provide appropriate protective gear for your workers

Depending on the type of work your company does, the required protective outfits may differ. Providing the appropriate protective gear for your workers can help mitigate a hazardous incident and therefore, safeguard your employees. It is your responsibility as an employer to ensure your employees comply with the health and safety laws and that their lives are safe in the workplace. The Personal Protection Equipment Regulation, introduced in 1992, seeks to ensure that every protective equipment employers provide comes at no cost to their workers. As an employer, you are also duty-bound to train your staff on how to use their equipment and work gear. Most importantly, as expected, it is your responsibility to repair and replace all work gear whenever necessary. There are many stores you can partner with to provide your bulk purchases of work gear, such as MTN shop, whom since 1979 have continued to provide the safest, toughest, and approved protective gears for businesses.

3. Prepare in advance for emergencies

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Sometimes, even with the best safety checks and attention to the minutest detail, accidents can still happen. When they do, you need to be prepared to act swiftly as you may not be able to remember safety procedures when in panic mode. Therefore, you should do the following in advance:

• Plan evacuation routes
• Label all exit points
• Post emergency numbers at vantage points within the workplace
• Keep all five types of fire extinguishers (Water, foam, CO2, Dry Powder, Wet Chemical)

Also, proper and adequate signage at the workplace will eliminate chances of confusion should there be an emergency. Be sure to run regular safety training procedures for your workers. This creates a concerted effort to reduce or eliminate workplace safety mishaps. As it is now, review your current safety procedures to see if there’s anything else you can do to enhance them.