Health hazards within the workplace pose a major concern for your employees’ safety and your business’s operation. Certain hazards can be enough to get a company shut down, and some can even be life-threatening, so it is important to properly manage and address any health hazards that arise as soon as they are brought to your attention. The following tips should help you do just that:
Remove Hazard Wherever Possible
Some hazards, such as the presence of hot water for tea and coffee in your kitchen, cannot be removed. Others, like old office furniture or redundant fit-outs, can be. Indeed, you can easily address the hazards presented by shabby buildings, old furniture, and outdated fittings by seeking the assistance of a company that offers demolition and office strip-out services.
There are companies offering office strip-outs in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and most other towns in Australia. Just note that you’ll need to tailor your approach to the specific risk. For example, an office that’s been found to have asbestos is an entirely different ball game from one that simply needs a new carpet and electrical fittings.
Create Appropriate Policies For Handling Identified Hazards
Not all companies have a dedicated occupational health and safety (OH&S) representative. However, you should at least have policies in place regarding the health and safety of workers on your site. If you are unsure of where to start or what to include in these policies, a local solicitor should be able to help you get the appropriate documentation and processes in place.
Regularly Inspect For Hazards
By regularly checking to ensure that no new hazards have arisen, you’ll be able to catch any potential issues early and mitigate risk far more effectively. Ideally, this will be done on a set schedule, with additional touchpoints available if an employee brings a hazard to your attention.
Keep The Workplace Clean And Tidy
You would be surprised by how many workplace hazards can be avoided or eliminated simply by keeping things around your site clean and tidy. Regularly cleaning workspaces helps ensure that they are sanitary and safe to work in. Meanwhile, removing clutter helps to minimise tripping hazards and other physical dangers.
Don’t Forget About Psychological Risks
Feelings of isolation or being the odd one out can cause significant harm to employee well-being. In this particular scenario, a step that can be taken to mitigate this risk would be to implement a diversity and inclusion program. However, this is not the only psychological hazard that may be present in the workplace, so it is essential to audit all aspects relating to employee well-being and minimise harm wherever possible.
Prevention Is Better Than A Cure
Finally, it is essential to remember that prevention is better than a cure. While addressing hazards as soon as you become aware of them is vital, preventing them is a better strategy. By stopping issues before they can even become a problem, you’ll help ensure that everyone is safe within your workplace and things run smoothly every day.
While workplace health and safety is everyone’s responsibility, you owe an extra burden of care to your employees as the business owner. Hopefully, the tips in this piece will help you create a safer working environment for your staff and make it easier to address hazards if they do arise. After all, everyone has a right to go home safely at the end of the day.
