Top 24 Workplace Safety Tips from the Professionals

1. Know How to Identify and Report Safety Hazards Immediately

Jenny Pearce, Owner, Happiness and Healing with Horses

This refers to their own safety and the protection of others and to talk about what that means in the context of what they’re doing. This sounds like such an obvious thing that it’s easy to miss which makes it the big deal it is. I want folks THINKING about their safety and FEELING safe. I also want them listening to what I predict their instinct that something is”Not very right” and taking action to help keep themselves and others safe. Safety ethics ought to be about auto-pilot. There is a deep and personal commitment to safety involved in this step and with no every other office safety tip is merely window dressing. Given that people are often not educated that security is such a big deal, this step requires reinforcement by constant talking about it and drawing people’s attention to it.

2. Make an Emergency and Disaster Plan

Sage Singleton, Safety Expert, SafeWise

When the unexpected happens, it’s important to be ready with an emergency action plan. Safeguard your small business by using a process in place. Practice regular fire drills, earthquake or storm drills with your employees. Have workers maintain water and snacks in their desks in the event of a crisis or disaster. Update your office first-aid kit. Ensure that your important data is backed up regularly and the backup is located . Inventory all of office items for insurance purposes. This may decrease losses, and help secure your business.

3. Prioritize Safety Even for the Smallest of Tasks

Leigh Manning, Senior Safety Management Advisor, SAIF

Remember that little things that you do around the workspace can make a major difference when it comes to safety. As an example, if you operate in a kitchen, educate employees on which knives to use for your occupation. Make sure you’ve got a step stool accessible so employees are not using a box, and consider where you place things in the cabinet –you want the heaviest ingredients in the center shelves so that you do not need to bend or reach.

4. Create a Safety Task Force

Sheila Kilpatrick, Vice President of Operations, RUPCO, Inc..

Our best resource for finding answers to workplace security issues is our staff. Last yearwe assembled a six-person”Safety Task Force” to examine our safety guide, together with building, property and inner protocols focused on keeping our offices, residences, customers, tenants and employees safe. Asking our employees right about what they believed was needed has surfaced a few problems we had been blind to. Staff-suggested solutions made them feel valued and safer upon execution. By way of example, our secretary wanted a button at her desk, a buzzer to alert her boss if she was having difficulty upfront. This proposal made us think about the safety of employees working one-on-one behind closed doors, often where a client is involving the staffer and exit. We had not originally believed this”escape from battle” plan until we asked for staff input. This new business strategy for us — getting input from those whose safety is in danger — has produced common sense remedies to regular problems, many at no- or low-cost.

5. Introduce Toolbox Talks

Mark Pauley, Director, Safety Training Scotland

Health and safety training could be a drag, and we often see that people send only the absolute minimum away for coaching. This is a shame. As a compromise, really more of an upgrade if you inquire, toolbox talks should be introduced. A toolbox talk is a four-minute debate on a particular health and safety issue, also helps keep everyone on top of their health and security game, and as a result this helps maintain the office a lot safer. Schedule weekly five-minute brush-ups together with employees, brew some coffee, and be sure everyone knows their basic health and security. There are plenty of important things to pay for, as a small business start together: first aid at work, manual handling and fire safety. The ideal time to start new habits and set ground rules for how your company ought to be run, is when you are starting out. It’s easy to present something new once you’re five individuals, introducing 500 to some thing brand new is bit trickier.

Make learning chances that a enjoyable experience for your employees. Check out Fit Small Business’ list of team ideas in the experts .

6. Regularly Conduct an Employee Safety Survey

Spencer Coursen, Threat Management Expert, Coursen Security Group

A safety survey should be repeated at regular intervals and should cover everything from how employees feels about management’s dedication to security, to the efficacy of security training, and the simplicity of reporting issues. The replies should provide employers with insights into favorable feedback, procedures in need of development, and priority regions of concern. Conduct an honest assessment to discover the most realistic dangers you are likely to face, then ask what safeguards are in place to avoid those risks from becoming a reality. Here’s a hint: At the wide divide between company policy and employee practice is the point where the risks of harm frequently conceal. Inspect what you expect.

7. Possessing a Go-To OSHA Resource for Employees

Joe Flanagan, Senior Career Advisor, VelvetJobs

I have established a go-to OSHA source — a guide that covers many contemporary facets including resources for companies and employees, podcasts, blogs and social groups. This Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) resource guide aims to be the most comprehensive free manual available and do the legwork of earning complying with OSHA as readily as possible. It includes a vast range of resources and are available here.

8. Maintain the Workplace Well Lit at All Times

Greg Bullock, Marketing Manager, Theraspecs

At TheraSpecs, we think that protection from fluorescent light and device screens falls into the category of critical”workplace safety”–notably since they can trigger people with light-sensitive conditions or just make employees feel ill. All these directly impact employee productivity, health and happiness at work. Some simple tips on how small companies can address lighting activates in the workplace include: decreasing or diffusing fluorescent lighting at Work, installing f.lux on office computers or even the app for mobile devices–this removes harmful blue light to get a more soothing experience into the eye and mind purchasing anti-glare covers for computer monitors, trying out precision-tinted FL-41 glasses–such as TheraSpecs which filter out blue light and also the invisible pulsing in fluorescent lights, rather than encourage the wearing of sunglasses at the office; although this can be a popular option, this actually makes people more sensitive to mild over time

9. Train Employees and Set Guidelines on Good Friday

Ellie Collier, Content Writer, Higher Speed Training

A safety tip that’s important in most workplaces is the necessity for good housekeeping. Good housekeeping ensures that you always work to maintain your workplace tidy and free from dangers. All employees must be trained in the importance of this, and all should understand how to recognize and rectify any instances of bad housekeeping. Poor housekeeping can cause a multitude of risks, many of which can be hidden. Tripping over piled boxes, slipping on wet surfaces, and being struck by falling objects are only some of the results of poor housekeeping. Some simple tips that everyone should adopt for great housekeeping include: ensuring all spills are cleaned up quickly, keeping aisles, stairways, and paths clear. You must never block fire routes or exits, since this may be devastating in the event of an emergency, keeping tools and pieces of equipment in a secure place and draining any hazards immediately after discovering them.

10. Always Keep a Clear Pathway to Emergency Exits

Brad M. Shaw, President and CEO, Dallas Web Design Inc..

As a company owner, I consider these measures very seriously, and I make certain to implement the right security procedures to make sure that all of my employees are safe. 1 way to watch this is to take the initiative to maintain your emergency exits easy to access. In time of a fire, an earthquake, or some other nature related disaster, a clear pathway to your emergency exit can save lives.

11. Stand More, Move More

Coleman Collins, Writer, The Road Warrior Blog

One in four occupational accidents are low-back-strain associated, causing US $100 billion each year in unnecessary medical bills, lost work time, along with other expenses. Even though a number of them are definitely lifting-and-twisting associated, many are not. They are related to what experts call”static work positions” — which is, extended sitting, frequently in a bad posture or compromised position, particularly when coupled with poor ergonomics. Thankfully, the answer is a simple as the issue: encourage your workers to sit less. Stand more. Move more. Sit-stand desk choices as well as other ergonomic and architectural interventions like monitor risers and ergonomics consulting will assist, as can simple cultural changes like occasional status meetings and encouraged routine”desk breaks.” I have also seen business – or team-wide’step competitions’ (tracked through pedometer) be tremendously effective.

12. Heal All Electrical Keyboards as Live

Brett Brenner, President, Electric Safety Foundation International

As an electric safety organization, we focus on workplace safety for small electric contracting businesses, along with other areas that may utilize power, such as building. It is important to treat all circuits as live before tested. Every year, thousands of employees are injured or killed by circuits that they believed were safely turned off and simply shutting off the electricity is not enough. Make certain to consistently”test before you touch”. This should be run by a person who’s qualified for your task to spot possible dangers and wearing personal protective gear. A professional person would understand how to de-energize the circuit, make sure lockout/ tagout procedures are implemented, examine the circuit, and verify the testing device.

13. Post Safe Driving Reminders and Tips Close to the Exits

Donna Bayless, Partner, RightLane

Most everybody pushes. And driving your vehicle is most likely the most dangerous thing the overwhelming majority of us can perform on a daily basis. Businesses with strong security programs encourage their workers to drive safely, wear their seatbelts and put their cell phones down, while being more patient and considerate drivers. Getting home safely after a long day at work, whether you are in a vehicle or in a desk, is what it’s all about.

14. Request Employees to Dust their Place Before Starting Their Workday

Nate Masterson, Director HR, Maple Holistics

Besides for keeping a clean office, removing dust is among the most fundamental workplace safety responsibilities. Even though it may seem harmless, overaccumulation of dust can pose severe fire and explosion dangers. But, make certain to never clear dust with compressed air. If the dust levels are high enough, then they could burst upon contact with lights or other electrical gear. Additionally, dust shouldn’t only be a concern for people with allergies. Airborne contaminants could potentially cause both serious respiratory and non-respiratory illnesses. High-efficiency vacuums are the best way to remove dust on a large scale, but simply wiping down surfaces is also powerful.

15. Adopt a Buddy System in the Workplace

Paul Ormerod, Director, Nisbets Australia

For any company, protecting your workers by putting opening/closing time protocol in place is critical for keeping your workers safe. Implementing a safety plan for escorting employees to and from their cars (especially, girls walking into their cars alone at night) is an integral strategy in maintaining your staff safe. While there’s security protocol that has to be followed within the 9-5 workday, fixing items such as never scheduling just 1 worker to shut up shop or placing a key entrance lock to the office door entry are equally as important as wearing eye protection eyeglasses or washing your hands before returning to your server station.

16. Speech Workplace Emotional Security

Spencer Chambers, Owner, The Chambers Organization

I believe there’s a new conversation to be started about office emotional security, meaning not your actions but how are you processing items . Do you understand what the actual line is and how to deal with it? Imagine if you’ve emotions for someone and don’t understand how to properly express them from your position at work? How can you know if you are being harassing or when you have just grown fond of someone and would love to make this known to them in the most professional way? This goes back to what’s the appropriate way to consider this, particularly with there being a lot of pollution around this topic currently. It all seems to point to maintaining work and dating separate, but this ignores the reality that many of people have begun healthy, even lifelong relationships within their office. In the end of the day, this is the reason you want to have proper psychological and mental interaction guidelines set up when it comes to romantic relationships at work.

Find out more about workplace safety from the occupational safety and health act. Check out Fit Small Business’ national labor laws every small business should know.

17. Be Careful When Working with Office Equipment

Joanna Douglas, Owner, Clean Affinity Cleaning Service

If you want my opinion, there are a great deal of dangerous office equipment out there that can cause bodily harm to who ever doesn’t know how to run it. If you do not know how to use this, or if a person ends up misusing the machinery or any type of dangerous equipment in the office, you could get hurt. So, always read up on the user guide or ask someone to help you if you don’t understand how to utilize it. Employees needs to be aware of the significance of reporting to superiors any hazardous or dangerous conditions around the office. From time to time, people at the workplace could be missing a place. If you or your workers see something which can potentially harm people, be sure to let your supervisors or instant boss know of the situation, so that they can attend to the issue immediately.

18. Maintain Cleanliness in the Workplace to Help Reduce Workplace Stress

Harrison Doan, Director of Analytics, Saatva

Including everything from overtime responsibilities to getting a clear desk once you come in every day. In many acute cases, continuous stress from work could result in anxiety due to consistent overthinking. At the end of the day, workers need to be able to disengage and know that it is okay and encouraged to do so. In less acute cases, aggression outside of work, mood swings, and headaches are frequent workplace stress injuries and disorders. A stressful environment doesn’t produce present, productive workers. As a small business owner, the best thing to do is always check with your employees and make sure they aren’t taking on too much extra work. Verify the environment is clean, comfortable, and conducive to collaboration.

19. Equip Your Workplace with Safety Tools, Guides and Equipment

Lynn Simmons, OSHP, Owner, Commercial Risk Management of Kansas City

While all companies are different and every business has its own unusual exposures, there are many common areas a small business can look at to increase overall safety and mitigate risk. Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers should be present and properly installed. Handrails on stairs must have vertical balustrades in order to prevent small children from falling. Emergency lighting and illuminated exit signs should be present in common locations. Use of extension cords should be minimal, and cords shouldn’t obstruct aisles or walkways. Keep a three-foot clearance around water heaters, furnaces, and electric panels. Uncoiled Utilities and cracked sidewalks pose trip hazards. This simple action can help you enhance security and reduce risk on a continuous basis.

20. Discourage the Use of Unsafe Phone Chargers

One safety hazard from the workplace that can be easily overlooked is the bringing of electrical items from home. In this guide, a poll conducted by CMD revealed that mobile chargers are definitely the most popular electric item that employees would contribute to work. However, this behavior alone can give rise to a number of potentially dangerous situations which includes faulty phone chargers and overloading of sockets which can result to fires. Instead, offer alternative phone charging solutions like investing in wireless charging ports or on-desk sockets that have been properly tested and demonstrated to follow security standards.

21. Create Workplace Safety Learning a Enjoyable Expertise

As was mentioned previously by one of our experts, safety training can sometimes be a drag, but it doesn’t need to be. Learning security ideas may be a fun experience for your employees if you include interesting activities to reinforce your in-house security training orientation. This may be in the shape of little games or contests like a scratch and win card, a company-wide bingo, a motto making competition, or even a knowledge scavenger hunt. Make sure the materials involved in these actions will include safety ideas, slogans, company safety policies and perhaps even federal security guidelines. Distribute small prizes to recognize the winners for their efforts.These small games will help your employees recall important workplace safety tips and construct better relationship with one another in the procedure.

22. Teach Employees How to Lift Correctly

Back injuries from heavy lifting aren’t confined to blue-collared jobs. Zit impacts all workers up and down the ladder. Whether it’s from boxes of documents, transferring office furniture about, or bringing a large pile of paperwork, heavy lifting can lead to chronic pain and influence you and your employees’ health. Invite a health professional (when possible) to your town hall meeting to talk about the value of the appropriate way of lifting. Explain how employees who need to lift heavy items should use proper form to avoid injury.This knowledge will benefit everyone and as a corporation. As a company owner, you should also provide appropriate equipment like carts or trolleys to assist your employees move around heavy items in the workplace.

23. Install Curved Mirrors at Hallway Intersections

It may not be that hot but it occurs. Injuries from collisions in the hallway occur. While it usually contributes to humorous stories, it’s also a possibility of causing injuries. Unfortunately, safety precautions for this incident usually gets overlooked until something serious happens. Installing curved mirrors at hallway intersections and concealed areas is a simple remedy to avoid accidents arising out of this situation. As soon as you have it installed, make care to orient your staff on how curved mirrors will help keep them secure. Explain the capacity of blind sighted accidents as well as the benefit of understanding how to it might help without exposing themselves to danger.

24. Be Generous with Security Signs

Some might feel that a few safety signs placed around the office should be sufficient. This simple act of installing signals happens to be the most effective approach to prevent accidents. Studies reveal security signs that inform you of potential danger can decrease injury rates at work by up to 80%. Considering they are cheap makes this idea that the best investment in promoting workplace safety. Place them on doors, blind corners and every other potential danger at eye level in which it’s impossible to overlook.