Keeping employees secure is fundamental to a company’s success. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to provide a safe work environment, so you must always stay alert for hazards that could compromise that goal. Here are some of the more common issues that you need to consider in determining what kind of steps to take.
Carbon Monoxide
Using fuel-burning equipment and tools in semi-enclosed or poorly-ventilated spaces exposes workers to poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, which is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Reduce the risk by installing monitors with audible alarms, and an effective ventilation system that removes carbon monoxide from work areas.
Cluttered Work Areas
Poorly kept workspaces leave employees vulnerable to slips, trips, and falls. So don’t wait for maintenance to clean spills, and don’t let boxes or items of equipment pile up where they don’t belong. Keep storage rooms separate from other areas, and spend a few minutes cleaning up before each workday ends.
Cybersecurity Threats
If you take online payments, you’ll need some type of authentication process to prevent advertising and credit card fraud, as Inc. magazine notes. You’ll also need to consider technologies like message encryption, so sensitive data isn’t stolen, and develop policies to regulate employees’ online habits.
Fall Protection
Falls at lower levels accounted for 14 percent of workplace fatalities in 2014. Outfit workers with proper equipment, like harnesses, and make sure workspaces are protected with items like railings and swing gates. Develop a program and review it regularly.
Safe Chemical Storage
Chemicals, like other commodities, have expiration dates. You need a proper inventory control system to keep track of them, including when you ordered a particular chemical, and why. Otherwise, you could stockpile hazardous substances that are illegal to store, and expensive to dispose.
Workplace Violence
Keeping a business safe also requires protecting employees from threats by co-workers, customers, and contractors, especially in high-risk industries. Create procedures, so employees know how to respond to emergencies, and put them in writing. Also, consider a zero tolerance policy, which lets potential violators know their actions aren’t acceptable.
Whatever steps you take to secure your business, plan on revisiting them regularly. As hazards and threats change, you’ll have to update your own policies and procedures accordingly. The more often you do it, the less likely you’ll get caught off guard by the next safety hazard.
Eileen O'Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy.
