Employers have a responsibility to keep their staff healthy and safe at work. While you’ll already have policies in place, it can be a good idea to review and improve these regularly. When you improve your health and safety practices, you’ll also boost well-being and productivity, decrease downtime, and see a greater ROI. To get you off to a fantastic start, try taking on board these tips.
1. Ergonomics
When operating an office environment, it’s important to consider ergonomics to prevent your staff from becoming injured. There are several steps that you can take to create an ergonomically sound workplace, including:
- Ergonomic chairs: Ergonomic chairs are especially designed to support the spine and prevent injuries from sitting. These chairs are easily adjustable so that it’s easy to obtain the perfect height.
- Ergonomic keyboards: These keyboards are designed to reduce muscle strain when typing. Usually, they are designed in a V shape, to allow both hands to assume a more natural position.
2 . Health & Safety Apps
- Wellspace: Using this application, you can improve wellbeing in your workplace. The Wellspace program is made up of both an app and an online platform. Wellspace provides your staff with a wide range of content, which can help to improve their financial health, nutrition, mental health, and sleep. Stress-related burnout cases are steadily rising, which is why it’s important to provide a sufficient wellness program. Offering appropriate wellbeing support is the best way to become a caring boss.
- Tap into safety: This application provides tips on health and safety and mental health in the workplace. TIS offers a rich library of training materials, covering a wide range of industries. There are also customized courses which can be tailored to certain scenarios.
2. The Right PPE
Providing your employees with appropriate PPE is absolutely essential. Whether it’s earplugs, face masks, or gloves, it’s your responsibility to see that all staff have the correct work-specific safety equipment. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, workplaces that do not traditionally use PPE are changing their policies. Many offices have also chosen to install cough guard screens between desks as an extra precaution. The right protection equipment is vital, no matter which line of work you are in.
3. Detailed Risk Assessments
To protect the health of your staff, it’s essential to carry out regular risk assessments. A risk assessment means determining unsafe areas and practices and then figuring out solutions to correct these issues. Risk assessment data helps companies to take extra safety precautions. First, an assessment will look to define the hazards; the next step is to determine who could be at risk of harm. From here, a risk evaluation is performed to decide on the next steps. Lastly, you create an appropriate plan and then record the results.
4. First Aid Training
Providing your staff with first aid training is an excellent way to improve your workplace healthy and safety practices. When you prioritize the right training opportunities, it’s far easier to make your workplace a safe space. There are plenty of affordable First Aid courses, and refresher courses to choose from.
