A Simple Guide to Creating a Safe Work Environment

85 percent of employees feel disengaged at work. And, working in an environment that doesn’t feel safe contributes to that lack of engagement.

But, how do you make sure that your business feels safe for everyone who works there?

Check out this guide to help you create a safe work environment.

Have Strong Workplace Safety Policies

Well-written, enforced policies are an important part of creating a safe and inclusive workplace.

For example, you’ll want to have a laid out plan for preventing accidents, and what to do to avoid employee injuries.

But, safety in the workplace certainly isn’t just about physical safety. You need policies to help prevent workplace sexual harassment and assault. You also need anti-racism and inclusion policies to ensure that employees of color, LGBTQ+ employees, and employees in other minority groups feel safe.

Have the Right Training

Certain skills can make you more adept at keeping your business safe. EHS skills are an important part of workplace safety.

Everyone in your workplace should also have mandatory training. These should be required upon hiring, but you should also have required training every so often to keep everyone’s knowledge up to date.

Your human relations department can help you come up with a training plan, or you can hire outside consultants to help develop a plan from an independent perspective. Just ensure that this training is mandatory for everyone at the company, no matter their position.

Check the Physical Environment

Making sure that the physical environment of your workplace is safe is also an important part of workplace safety. How you do this depends on what your workplace is. If you manage a construction site, ensure that all of your employees have the right equipment, like goggles and steel-toed boots. Keep an eye out for hazards, like electrical issues.

If you manage a restaurant, your concerns will be different. Food safety will be one of your top concerns. Your city or state probably has specifically guidelines you need to follow, so read through them carefully. You don’t want to be dinged if the food safety inspector shows up, after all.

No matter where you work, you’ll need to watch out for seasonal hazards. In the summer, you’ll need to keep your workplace nice and cold to prevent your employees from developing heat-related illnesses. In the winter, you do need to keep your office warm, but you also need to watch out for slip and fall hazards. Keep pathways around your office salted, and watch out for ice. Keep your parking lot maintained, to prevent any crashes (especially at night).

Work Towards Building a Safe Work Environment Today

Starting a safe work environment is one thing. You need to actively work to keep it safe. The earlier you start, the safer your employees will be.

Are you searching for more advice for the office and more? Take a look at a few of our other relevant posts.