3 Steps to Keep Your Employees Safe in the Workplace

Posted by Radmin on February 4th, 2020

Whether you work with hazardous chemicals and products or not, here are some steps all business owners can take to help keep their employees safe in the workplace.

Assess the Human Elements

A place to start promoting safety is within the ranks. Do you have an open-door policy, where employees can come to you, a manager, or an HR director with issues concerning their peers? If you don’t, it is a good idea to have one. Make sure all reports are held in strict confidence, and investigated, and dealt with efficiently.

It also helps to be observational and notice any sudden changes in employee’s behaviors, actions, and moods. If you have secure areas in the building or secure information, keep access limited to senior personnel, and train staff for what to do in the case of a robbery or provide self-defense lessons.

Assess the Digital Components

Along with the in-person elements, there is the area of cybercrime to consider. Digital criminals continue to be innovative in their methods of defrauding unsuspecting users. Take care that all employees know basic internet safety and work with an IT company to protect your data and files.

Once again, there is the opportunity for theft to come from within your staff when it comes to digital information. Create a seniority system where only the most trusted employees are given access to sensitive systems or proprietary information. You could also have a legal agreement drawn up that must be signed by those who are allowed to view confidential data so that they cannot divulge what they learn.

Assess the Physical Environment

The physical environment can provide many areas for safety and health problems if left unchecked. Having proper safety equipment like a first aid kit, chemical wash station, fire extinguisher, and portable gas detector on hand is essential. Make sure the building and employees are secure by having proper locks, key card readers, and security equipment in place. Proper lighting in the building and parking lot goes a long way to help prevent crime, and you can restrict cashiers to only keep a limited number of bills in their drawers. Extra steps could mean installing a panic button or silent alarm, or hiring a security guard if necessary.

If your building begins to show any signs of health hazards like broken or damaged electrical wires, fire hazards, or if a portable gas detector signals a warning, see that these issues are addressed immediately. Practice evacuation and other safety plans with your staff periodically so your employees will know what to do in the event of an emergency.