4 Ways to Ensure a Safe Work Environment

Safety in the workplace is a top priority that needs to be upheld in the company—and employers are not the only ones who should be concerned. While it is a given for business owners to ensure that the standard safety practices and guidelines are implemented, such efforts will only be put to waste if the employees themselves do not understand these rules and don’t have the initiative to take them into action.

To ensure the success of your workplace safety program, here are five tips that you can apply in your business:

 

1. Identify potential hazards in the workplace.

Safety and health hazards are inherent in any type of workplace—whether from the most high-risk jobs such as the construction industry to even the most mundane desk jobs. From trouble with heavy machinery to slips on wet floors, anyone can be exposed to such hazards.

With this, the most basic thing for employers and employees to do to ensure safety is to be conscious of their surroundings. Particularly, employers should be familiar with the tasks involved in the workplace to be able to identify potential hazards. This will help you and employees to keep accidents and injuries at bay as much as possible.

 

2. Implement and communicate safety guidelines.

Once you have familiarized every nook and cranny of your work environment, make sure that it is in compliance with OSHA’s regulations regarding workplace safety.

For starters, include workplace safety and health guidelines in your business plan and make sure that it is implemented and well communicated. Safety and health should be everyone’s responsibility, which is why it is highly important to keep your employees informed about safety-related issues.

 

3. Perform medical tests on employees.

Make sure your employees are in their maximum health by requiring annual medical exams and screening procedures. It’s essential to constantly keep tabs on their health not only to ensure productivity, but also to keep the entire workforce safe from any untoward illnesses.

Some states conduct marijuana drug tests on current employees or as screening requirement for applicants. Since drugs and other substances are known to affect one’s productivity and judgment, your company and its safety could be compromised when you tolerate drug abusers under your wing.

 

4. Look out for psychological hazards.

There are also other hazards that you need to watch out for within your workplace aside from the physical ones, and these are associated with your team’s psychological health. As much as possible, try to relieve your workers of stress by keeping a positive atmosphere at work and providing recognition when it’s due.

Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can also take its toll on employees, which may encourage them to resort to drugs and alcohol. Aside from requiring them to pass urine drug test, you can always prevent such situations by letting your workers enjoy a healthy work-life balance and fostering a sense of purpose and belongingness within the company.

Every employer and employee wants to work in a safe and healthy environment, yet ensuring safety is not a one-man feat. With everyone’s coordination, these efforts can easily come to fruition for the benefit of the entire team.