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The Hazards Every Workplace Has To Be Mindful Of

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Workplace Hazards|The Hazards Every Workplace Has To Be Mindful OfThere’s no responsibility more important to an employer than their responsibility to the health and safety of their business. A crucial part of ensuring that safety is being mindful and aware of the potential hazards in the workplace that can affect here. Here, we’re going to review some of those hazards and why it’s essential to audit the workplace for any you might otherwise miss.

Can you prevent falls?

Statistically, the most frequent type of injury across all workplaces is the fact that people can slip, trip, and fall, in a wide manner of ways. Take a look at some of the methods of preventing trip and slip hazards in your workplace, such as hiring a professional cleaner to ensure the best standards of floor cleanliness, preventing items from being stored on frequently trafficked walkways, and improving visibility in dark areas.

The risk of fire

Most workplaces have a number of connections to electrical supplies, as well as electrical appliances, combustible materials, and the like. Where any of these exist, there is always the risk for fire. Performing a complete fire risk assessment in your workplace can help you find and mitigate these risks, as well as ensure that you have the right equipment installed to deal with fires that break out. You may also need to ensure that you have a fire escape route at the ready at any moment.


Don’t be shocked by electrical hazards

Many of the causes of fire hazards, as mentioned above, can also be dangerous when it comes to the electrics. Ensuring the right electrical protections in your wiring, such as an IP rated junction box wherever two connections meet is crucial. Training employees to be careful around any manner of electrical feature or appliance is essential, too, such as making sure they don’t transport or carry liquids around them.

Be mindful of any chemicals

Not all workplaces are going to feature ready access to chemicals but those that do should make sure that they are always handled to the utmost standards of safety. Most industrial chemicals can be majorly harmful when people are exposed to them. To that end, you should make sure that your workplace invests in safe chemical storage, transport, and cleanup tools so that your team is ready and able to handle them in any situation.

Work well with your equipment

In warehouses, construction sites, manufacturing floors and more, it’s the machinery and vehicles that your team works with that can potentially be the most dangerous. Preventing machinery injuries requires a multi-pronged strategy. Training in the correct use of the equipment is vital, as is making sure that you have all of the personal protective equipment that you need and, most importantly, that it’s used when necessary. Of course, you should invest in the routine maintenance of each machine, as well.
The above list of potential hazards in the workplace is far from comprehensive. As mentioned, you should carry out a thorough safety audit of the workplace to ensure that you miss nothing that could pose a danger if left alone.

Creating a Personal Protective Equipment Strategy for Your Business

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Personal Protective Equipment|Creating a Personal Protective Equipment Strategy for Your BusinessEvery business should have a personal protective equipment strategy in place whether staff sit at a computer or handle toxic chemicals. In light of recent events, this strategy is ever-more important, and there will be a range of extra things to consider protecting your workforce.

Adapting and updating your PPE and broader health and safety processes can be challenging, depending on your industry. However, there are some key considerations that every strategy should have, and these are detailed below:

Carry out a risk assessment

Before you start to plan the strategy for your business, a risk assessment needs to be conducted. This assessment will look at every aspect of the company operations and identify hazards to the workforce. This initial look into the areas that require PPE will examine how people require safety equipment and how much you need to carry out everyday tasks safely. The added requirements for the recent pandemic also mean that extra elements need to be considered, such as face coverings and screening.

Adequate training

A crucial part of the PPE strategy is training. Your company may have all the right equipment, but if people do not know how to use it, it is counterproductive. Everyone needs adequate training on what they use and how to use it. It is also crucial to impart knowledge of your employees on how to identify risk and carefully equip themselves to avoid danger in the workplace.

Using the correct equipment

There are several suppliers of personal protective equipment. However, it is essential to choose the appropriate equipment for the job. Employees must have a safe and well-fitted kit to ensure they are safe at all times. Suppliers such as medical-supermarket.com have a wide selection of equipment to assist across all departments, including overalls and gowns, to face and hair covers. For the recent risks due to COVID-19, there are also thermometers, sanitizing gel and cleaners to reduce the risk for all staff.

External risks

Businesses come into contact with external risks every day, so this needs to be a part of your overall strategy. A significant part of this area will involve identifying potential risks that could come in from deliveries, outside contractors, or if your staff work off-site.

Responsibilities as an employer

Business owners have a responsibility to ensure their workforce is safe to conduct their daily duties. This aspect needs to be incorporated into the strategy, as it will detail these areas and how to ensure you comply with regulations. It is also an area that needs to be kept up to date as changes frequently occur in the health and safety arena. You should also have a plan in place in regard to changes in government policy and ensure that a health and safety officer is available to answer questions and manage the responsibilities.

Regular reviews

After you’ve completed your PPE strategy, regular reviews need to take place to ensure you are equipped for changes that could happen quickly and without warning.