Running a business isn’t all about making a profit and raking in the cash. While that’s generally the primary goal, in order to reach it, other things have to be considered as well or circumstances could hamper the end goal.
Workplace health and safety should be paramount on any business owner’s priority list. You want to attract the very best employees and keep them happy and productive. The safer the workplace is, the more confident and content your employees are going to feel and the more likely it is that they’re going to work well.
If your business attracts customers into the premises or other visitors, their safety should be a primary concern as well.
This isn’t all just about remaining compliant with the law so you don’t get fined or shut down. Your business reputation and your bottom line also depend on having a safe and secure work environment.
Therefore, let’s look at a few key ways you can guarantee your business is a safe place for everyone.
#1 – Is Everyone Aware of Workplace Health and Safety Regulations?
Step one in the plan to make your workplace safe is to understand the rules and regulations that govern your industry. Once owners and managers are fully aware of what’s required by law, they’ll be able to communicate those regulations to the rest of the staff.
All Australian businesses are expected to remain compliant with current workplace health and safety laws and the only way everyone can be compliant is if they know what those laws are.
Rules are in place to protect employees, customers and the public at large and they also act as a guideline so you know how to create and maintain a safe work environment. It might even be a good idea to compile a report that can be distributed to everyone to have a read.
Further, lists can be created and printed up, so they can be displayed on the walls in the kitchen, the office and various other locations throughout the workplace. These lists will serve as a constant reminder for everyone.
#2 – Regularly Keep An Eye Out for Workplace Hazards
This is something everyone in the workplace can be tasked with, being diligent and keeping a keen eye open for anything that could be hazardous. If each and every employee is mindful of this, then the entire team is working together to keep the environment safe.
Having a risk management plan is also something you should do. In your plan, you can list these potential hazards or problem areas and then work out ways to have them addressed before they can cause any issues. It’s better to nip things in the bud and avoid a problem, rather than having to repair the damage, so to speak, once an issue has eventuated.
You also might want to hold regular team meetings, where things like risk management and workplace health and safety concerns can be discussed in a group format. Everyone notices different things and this is a good way to compile all of this information in one sitting. Plans can then be discussed and put in motion to counteract any problems.
#3 – Hire a Workplace Health and Safety Professional
If you’re running a medium to large business, you could consider hiring a professional who has training and expertise in workplace health and safety procedures. This individual could also be charged with risk management in general. This way, you have someone who is on the task constantly, monitoring, gathering information, data and feedback and putting into action systems and countermeasures to eradicate any workplace hazards or substandard procedures.
Taking things a step further would be the purchasing and installation of a work health and safety management system. This type of software is designed to monitor your business, allowing quick and easy analysis of how everything is travelling. The software can also alert you to potential problems. If any workplace incidents occur that need to be reported, the software has reporting modules built into it.
In Conclusion
This article has covered three crucial ways you can keep your workplace safe. Much of workplace health and safety is about being aware of what’s required and remaining alert and diligent.
