Workplace safety is key to your organization succeeding. Lost time equals lost production. Unsafe and hazardous working conditions lead to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover rates—or worse, severe or fatal employee injuries.
Safe workplaces improve morale, productivity, and lower attrition. Let’s look into a few common workplace safety tips for your management team to focus on.
1. Offer proper safety training
Proper training is vital for a safe work environment, and that comes in a few forms. First, always provide proper training on the equipment that will be used. Under-trained employees are at higher risk of injuries.
Next, set clear safety expectations with your employees. This means hosting informational sessions, providing supplemental training when needed, and even posting workplace safety signs. These signs can provide on-the-spot information about using tools, or they can save time and warn employees about potential dangers quickly.
Also, be sure to offer this training in any language needed so that each employee can access this information.
2. Keep your workplace clean and organized
Keeping the workplace clean and well organized is an essential step in maintaining workplace safety. This includes maintaining proper floor markers to limit traffic issues, cleaning the machinery and equipment throughout the workday, and properly disposing of any leftover materials.
Cleaning up any spills right away is key, as well. Slips are some of the most common workplace injuries, and these are often caused by wet surfaces.
The best way to ensure you’re keeping the workplace organized is to define specific roles for employees to manage day-to-day.
3. Comply with OSHA regulations
This is key: Make sure to keep your workplace in compliance with all federal, state, and local requirements.
Keep up to date on current OSHA requirements to remain in compliance, and stay on top of common OSHA violations so you know what to look out for. Also, be sure to keep a log of infractions or warnings, and report any violations promptly.
4. Clearly mark any hazardous areas and materials
If your workplace has chemical hazards, OSHA provides clear guidance on the regulations that you need to follow to limit the exposure and keep your employees safe.
Many workplaces not directly involved with chemical materials also deal with hazardous or harmful substances or spaces. Those harmful materials can be exceedingly common, like pesticides, petroleum products, and electronic waste. Consistent training throughout the workforce will ensure proper hazardous material handling—just be sure to stay on top of training.
Use these workplace safety tips
Managing workplace safety can be overwhelming, especially when you’re splitting time between taking action and keeping track of any violations. Use these workplaces safety tips to prioritize the health and safety of your employees—and consider AI for safety monitoring to take your safety record to the next level.