One-Stop Guide To Ensuring The Safety Of Your Business

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Businesses can be expensive to run, and with that comes a unique set of responsibilities. You may have a lot of expensive equipment in your office that needs securing, or the building may need a health and safety check.

Health and safety brings with it a whole host of other concerns. If someone is injured in your building, they could submit a personal injury claim against you. This is not only financially costly, but can damage your brand and reputation severely.

Understand The Rules And Regulations

As an employer, you’ll have many legal guidelines to be aware of, as well as plain old recommended ones.

By law, employers must partake in specific responsibilities. For starters, you are legally obligated to carry out regular health and safety risk assessments. This means that any areas of your building that may prove unsafe have to be dealt with. Got a step that isn’t clearly marked? Wrap it in hazard tape! Is that bathroom a little bit too dark? Install a brighter bulb! Consider putting up signs to make these areas stand out.

Other legal requirements include ensuring your employees are well-versed in health and safety. They need to know your building’s fire drill, as well as where all the extinguishers are located. It’s up to you to make sure this equipment is fully installed, as well as that it’s accessible to disabled people.
If you aren’t sure that your building meets the legal safety requirements, then there are things that can help you. For example, AS 1851 can let you know the standards that you should be getting your fire safety equipment up to. In a similar vein, your local government office can supply you with relevant documents that supply information. You can do online health and safety checks, and even call someone in to inspect your building.

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Don’t Forget Basic Health And Security Issues

When all is said and done, just use your common sense. Don’t leave expensive equipment in view of a window, or out on a desk. It could go missing or get damaged. Make sure you have multiple first aid kits on-site, and that they’re fully stocked with all necessary items. If your employees use your car park, ensure it is fully locked up at night with vehicles left in it. Remember the basics so you don’t have to worry about them.

Keep Your Employees Protected

No business can function without those hard-workers, and your employees need to feel safe. Feeling uncomfortable at work can lead to loss of productivity, which can impact your business at all levels.

You must have a firm first-aid procedure set in place and all staff must be aware of it. You also need to have at least one trained first aider in the building in the event of an accident. Similarly, law states that business owners must have an accident book on-site, to make note of any injuries and accidents. Keeping track of things like this can help you identify any areas of the building that may be unsafe.

Running your business can seem hard enough even before worrying about health and safety. But, ask yourself this; how bad would you feel if an accident did happen, and someone was hurt? Taking steps to prevent injury can protect people, keep your business safe and create engaged employees.

Thanks for reading, and keep those businesses secure!