Improving Workplace Safety: 5 Tips For Office Managers
Employers are responsible for the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees within the workplace. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, it sets out the general duties of an employer. These duties include employers have towards employees and members of the public, employees have to themselves and one another and lastly the duties which certain self-employed individuals have towards themselves and to others.
The importance of workplace safety is to ensure that no employee or visitors are injured during their time in the office. Especially, if they were injured by something avoidable had there been safety measures in place.
Ensuring that health and safety regulations are met, is and should always be at top of every employer’s list. For office managers looking for ways to further improve safety in their workplace, here are just a few tips to help create a safer environment for your employees.
Having Insurance In Place
Whether you have a small size office with less than 15 employees, or a larger company with more than 20 employees, having insurance can help to protect you and your company against any unexpected costs. The protection provides a sense of security if something were to happen. Both you and your employees can feel confident that you know you are protected, and the business can resume as normal. Whilst there are optional insurance plans, the primary ones that are mandatory are professional indemnity insurance and employers’ liability insurance, which covers the cost of compensating any employees who have been injured or fallen ill through work.
Conduct Regular Safety Meetings
Depending on their role within the company, conduct comprehensive training for employees to prevent any workplace injuries. Ensure that each employee has access to and completes all safety training applicable to their position.
Aside from conducting training for employees, having regular meetings to review the current safety rules in place, as well as discuss prevention keeps workplace safety fresh in everyone’s mind. In case an incident was to occur, everybody is aware of what they need to do straight away.
Regular Checks To Electrical Appliances
Most offices will rely on a vast range of electrical items, such as computer monitors, computer towers and printers to name but a few. How to ensure that the electrical items are safe to use, is to have PAT testing (portable appliance testing) conducted. Qualified electricians or electrical engineers carry out PAT testing by inspecting electrical appliances and related equipment to ensure that they are not only safe but are also running properly with no dangerous defects. Although there is no set timeframe between when appliances should be checked, it is a mandatory process to protect those that may use or operate equipment and appliances. Proper maintenance should be conducted at regular intervals, with many recommending PAT testing occurring every twelve months.
One electrical accessory to be aware of are cable glands. These are connectors that are used to seal the ends of cables and secure them to items such as plugs, enclosures or electrical equipment of varying types. They help to protect sensitive wiring from moisture, contamination and corrosion. There are numerous cable gland types, with single compression being the most common one found within office buildings.
If your work requires you to be outside, there are outdoor cable glands available that are made from materials to help protect cables from various weather conditions. You can find outdoor cable glands from expertelectrical.co.uk, which provides a selection of options to choose from, as well as informing you of what they have available and positive reviews of their products.
Appoint A Workplace Safety Officer
In addition to their current role, select a competent person in the business who you believe will help you to meet your health and safety legal duties. It can help to partake in formal training, but it is not required by law. Instead, the person selected should possess the skills, knowledge and experience to be able to recognise any hazards within the workplace, as well as implement sensible control in place to help protect all employees and visitors to the site from any harm.
Keeping Things Organised
If a workplace is untidy it can lead to unnecessary accidents occurring. Ensure that any boxes in the workplace are stacked together safely and that any spillages that occur are quickly cleaned up. Have the person you have appointed to ensure health and safety legal duties are fulfilled conduct regular inspections. Highlighting any potential dangers to employees such as tangled cables and items on the floor like bags and boxes which a person could trip over.
Using signs and labels is an effective way to communicate important information to the office quickly. They can be kept simple as they can rely on pictures to detail any hazards and proper procedures employees need to be aware of. These safety signs are helpful ways to prove regular reminders and warnings to ensure everyone is updated on how to maintain a safe workspace.