According to a recent report form Protecting.co.uk, 74% of British workers are too scared to complain about workplace safety. This is because they fear that they are “rocking the boat” which could cost them their jobs or promotion prospects. This fear means that many harmful situations at work often go unreported. Especially since 81% wouldn’t report if they thought it was trivial such as a broken chair or ripped carpet. Therefore we have listed the ways to keep your workplace safe and encourage staff to speak out if they see a potential hazard.
Develop a system
Make sure that every worker knows what to do if they notice hazard. Have a written plan that can be referred to in each situation. The most common type of workplace injuries are slips, trips and falls. Therefore put in place procedures to avoid any potential accidents. This could include ensuring boxes are not piled up in walkways, there are no wires to trip over or any slippery surfaces. Ensure staff know what to do if they notice a hazard and act immediately once you have been informed of them.
Delegate jobs
You could see who would like to be responsible for the health and safety of the workplace. Someone may volunteer to be the person to report any issues too and to be in charge. They could deal with any minor issues and report to you if any are particularly hazardous. By doing this you can split the responsibilities, make them feel like a valued member of the team and other workers may feel more comfortable reporting a problem to them.
Encourage staff to speak up
If your staff notice a hazard, big or small, they need to report them. As stated above, some employees avoid reporting issues at work due to a number of reasons. Hence why you need to create an open environment where staff feel comfortable in reporting any potential hazards. Assure them that they will not be viewed negatively if they do so and that you actually would appreciate it if they did. By doing this staff may be more willing to report and speak up if they notice anything.
Refresh yourself with laws and regulations
If unsure, read up on the health and safety laws and regulations. Ensure you know what to do in the event of an accident or fire and what should be implemented to avoid injuries. As a boss, your employee’s welfare is your responsibility. Therefore you need to take health and safety very seriously. You could even print out a copy of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 so you can refer to it when needed. By doing this not only are you helping in preventing accidents at work, but you also show staff that you care about them as a person and aim to keep them safe.
The health and safety of your staff is paramount. At their boss you need to ensure they can work in a safe environment. Therefore you need to ensure any hazards are reported and seen to straight away to prevent any serious injuries. The safer your staff feel, the happier they will be and happy staff are more productive for your business.
How do you implement health and safety in your workplace? Please leave your comment below:
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