Office workers aren’t the first people that come to mind when you think about dangerous jobs. You probably think about firefighters or deep-sea divers. However, the office can be full of potential hazards, which is why it’s so important to consider office safety carefully.
Analyze problem areas
To improve office safety, you need to look at the potential hazards. Look around the office and carefully consider how these problems might be resolved. Be creative about this – if nothing seems to work, brainstorm some new ideas! List all of your potential hazards so that you can properly address them after this step.
Consider the following:
- What is the problem?
- Why is it bad?
- How often does this happen? (i.e. once an hour, every day)
- Who is at risk of being hurt by this problem?
When creating the list, try to be as detailed as possible in order to carefully go over them later and see how they can be resolved. It will also help to be specific when listing potential hazards. For example, if you have a lost of electrical cords in the office, don’t write down “electrical cords.” Write down which cords are hazardous and how they could potentially cause injuries.
Secure equipment
To improve office safety, you may need to invest in securing equipment. Look at the list you made of hazardous areas and items and think about how they could be resolved. For example, if there is an exposed electrical outlet, buy a surge protector so that employees don’t risk getting electrocuted when plugs are inserted into it. If there are cords laying around, get cord clips or ties to keep them in place.
Provide training
To improve office safety, think about what employees need to know in order to stay safe at work. For example, if your office has a step ladder that employees use frequently, be sure that everyone knows how to properly utilize it. They should be able to climb up and down it, as well as know where they can set it up.
Get the right insurance
Lastly, you should make sure that your office is properly insured. Look into health insurance for companies and business liability insurance. This will protect you from negligence lawsuits. If someone slips and falls in your kitchen area, for example, they may sue the company.
Remove hazards
You should now have a new list of hazards that you need to remove from your office. This is not as easy as it sounds, however. There may be people who are opposed to the changes you are making, which will require some convincing on your part before this step can be properly completed. However, if all else fails, go to your boss and make it clear that the changes need to be made. After all, they will benefit everyone in the company.
Review and improve
Finally, once you’ve done everything from securing your equipment to removing hazards, think back and review the office safety policies. You may want to check in with your employees or take a poll to see how they feel about their safety, as well as what they would like to see changed or added.