6 Steps to Take as an Employer to Reduce the Risk of Accidents in the Workplace
Even the most thorough and attentive employers can’t avoid all accidents in the workplace; some injuries simply cannot be foreseen in any way. Yet you will be less likely to form a bad relationship with employees and be liable for any financial compensation – or worse – if your workforce is aware that you have taken every possible step to prevent risks in the workplace.
The more amiable you are to resolve any situation, the less likely an employee is to want to sue or make a complaint.
When it comes to workplace safety, every employer should have a policy already in place should the worst happen.
Carry Out Risk Assessments
This means being aware of all the risks within your workplace, and the severity of the risks. Risk assessments should be carried out consistently as an ongoing process and not just once, as new risks may develop all the time.
Failure to carry out appropriate risk assessments which result in an accident means an injured employee has the right to claim compensation with the help of a skilled representative, such as Trialguy.com.
Produce Relevant Guidance Policies
These policies should be made available to all workforce members, and should outline guidance for all relevant tasks, including the safest way to complete the task and how to avoid risks. It’s also your responsibility as an employer to check that all employees know how to access the guidance policies, and that they have read and understood them.
Conduct Daily Inspections
This doesn’t have to be a long-winded task everyday: it can simply be a quick check and walkaround to see that everything is how it should be. This includes checking that no emergency exists are obstructed, that all lights are working and that nothing is faulty, for example. This task can easily be delegated to managerial staff or an appointed person, and ideally should be done first thing in the morning or before the main workforce arrives.
Always Have One First Aider on Site
You should always have an appointed staff member trained in first aid on the premises at all times, to ensure that help can be given appropriately if an accident or injury occurs.
You should also provide fully stocked first aid kits, which are easily accessible from various locations. You also need to ensure that all staff are aware of the first aid kit locations.
Make Hazard Signs Available
This includes warning signs such as ‘wet floor’. All relevant people, including a cleaning crew, need to be aware of how to access hazard signs should they need to erect one, such as following a spill in the workplace kitchen, or after the cleaner has mopped the floor and it becomes a slip hazard.
Provide Adequate Training
The majority of accidents can happen if employees are not suitably trained for their role, especially in the case of operating machinery or physical tasks. Proper – and legal – health and safety training needs to be provided in all areas, and more specific training needs to be given for key tasks where relevant.
Author: Carol Trehearn