As some businesses start to make the return to work after over a year of remote working, it’s important that they are prepared with a safe working environment.
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It’s clean
Ensure that your building is clean for the arrival of your employees. Surfaces should be wiped down with antibacterial products regularly and chemicals should be correctly stored and out of reach in a locked cupboard away from anyone unauthorised. Any biohazards should be removed safely and efficiently whenever they occur.
Trained cleaners should regularly sanitize the space and bins should be provided for employees to dispose of any waste.
It’s spacious
Having a spacious workplace free of clutter and any trip hazards will help staff and visitors to remain safe, as they are less likely to trip over or become tangled in any wires. Use wire organisers and tidy away any products that aren’t in use rather than leaving them strewn about as these can put your staff at risk.
Having space means that staff won’t feel overcrowded, and colds and viruses are going to spread much slower than they would if work conditions are cramped.
It’s clearly signposted
Having signs clearly labelling any potential risks and hazards in the workplace, along with rules to follow (such as areas where protective equipment should be worn or that only two people should be in a space at once), means that your staff are more likely to follow these implements and injury is less likely to happen.
All chemical products need to be labelled accordingly and handled with care as this will avoid any problems that could become detrimental to health. If signs are not provided and a worker ends up with an injury, they might plan to sue the business due to malpractice, resulting in them turning to personal injury solicitors for help and advice.
Safety equipment is provided
Providing your workers with the right personal protective equipment to do their job will result in them putting themselves at less risk when working with things like heavy machinery and noisy environments that could impede the way that they work.
Having protective footwear, eye and ear protection, gloves, and masks if needed are all good ways to keep your employees safe when doing manual tasks. Ensure that all machinery has the correct safety guards in place and is switched off and unplugged when unattended. Staff must not use equipment that they haven’t been trained on, and regular training should be provided whenever a new chemical or material is introduced to the business to ensure maximum safety knowledge.
