According to the 2019 Report on Work Fatality and Injury Rates in Canada, thousands of Canadian workers get hurt in work-related incidents every year. Unfortunately, the injury rates continue to go unchecked.
Not only are workplace injuries bad for company morale, but they’re bad for your business’s bottom line — statistics suggest that such problems cost Canadian businesses billions of dollars annually. Any business must take the correct preventative steps to protect their employees. Here are some essential tips that can enhance workplace safety at your company.
1. Improve Training:
It’s advisable to run regular training sessions to improve safety at your workplace. If your workers use potentially dangerous gear, then they should be certified and trained to use it.
2. Provide the Right Tools:
Your employees should have the latest safety gear to stay safe. If germs are a concern, then ensure that they have access to hand sanitizers and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In addition, if your business uses high-powered tools, all your equipment should be regularly maintained.
It’s also critical to take fire safety seriously. Your business should have smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and even fire blankets placed at critical places. Moreover, it should have an emergency evacuation plan.
3. Partner with Experts:
Hire safety experts to examine your office and share professional insight on injury prevention. The right experts can also identify high-risk areas and help you take the appropriate safety steps. For example, your workplace may need safety labels and signs to give timely warnings and reminders to people in risky areas.
4. Maintain Your Property:
Your property should be regularly maintained to nullify fall hazards such as cracks, spills, etc. It’s also a good idea to try epoxy services from a reputable team of specialists like Commercial Concrete Polishing for your business.
Not only does epoxy flooring improve the looks and durability of a floor, but it also enhances safety, especially for businesses that use heavy machinery, deal with pharmaceuticals, or manage food production.
Unlike regular floors, epoxy flooring is unaffected by moisture as it’s not porous and hence provides your employees with better air quality. For example, epoxy floors don’t trap mold, mildew, dust, bacteria, and other allergens. In addition, with the right enhancements, epoxy floors are slip-resistant. This increase traction makes it safer for your staff, especially if they’re carrying heavy items.
Of course, a bonus is that epoxy flooring looks exceptionally good, which is good for the mental health of your workers.
5. Encourage Breaks
Some dedicated employees get so caught up in their work that they forget to take breaks. It’s essential to encourage your staff to take short periodic intervals in order to relax. Not only are regular breaks good for the mental health of workers, but they’re also good for their physical health — a five-minute walk can improve blood flow and ease tension in the muscles and joints. Any thriving business needs to keep all lines of communication open, even when it comes to safety. Not only should you apply the best safety protocols, but you must encourage your employees to speak up if they have any questions or concerns.
