As a manager or small business owner, one of your key responsibilities is to your staff. You have a responsibility to ensure that they receive fair treatment and pay. To ensure that they are happy at work and that their needs are being met. You are responsible for finding the right liability insurance and making sure your staff can take time off when they need it. Most of all, it’s your responsibility to make sure they are kept safe while they are at work.

How you keep your staff safe, and the precautions that you have to take will depend on what you do, the space that you work in, and the nature of your work itself. Staff members that spend their days in factories or warehouses will have different needs to those that spend their day at a desk. Those that work with the public will need different protections to those that work alone. But, there are some universal ways to keep your team safe. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are essential. Spend time preparing risk assessment templates. Go around your business and note down anything that could pose a risk, however small that risk might be. Ask yourself how this risk could be minimised and if there is anything that you could do remove it entirely. Then, ask if your staff require any special training around this risk.

Every time you employ a new member of staff, take them through risk assessments. Have separate templates for pregnant employees and those that need further protection, and do them when you need to.

Training

Risk assessments highlight some of the training that your staff need. But, it’s your responsibility to train them when they start, and then update and refresh this training when it’s required. Teach them how to protect themselves by training them on machinery, company policy and methods.

Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Damaged machinery can be dangerous. It can increase risk and be unpredictable. If you have drivers, small things like Trailer Brakes can cause big problems. Make sure all of your equipment is serviced at least once a year. If something breaks, get it fixed as soon as possible and take it out of use until them. The rest of the time, make sure everything is kept clean, well looked after and correctly used to help you to keep your staff safe and protected, as well as saving your money on future repairs.

Open Communication

Open communication is an important, and yet simple way to keep your staff safe. It’ll also help you to improve your processes, build positive working relationships and boost morale. Encourage your team to speak to you about their needs, and to tell you if there’s a problem or they feel unsafe in the workplace. Keep communications open, check in on them and ask them for regular feedback.

Keep it Clean and Tidy

Keeping your workspace clean, tidy and free of clutter is an easy way to improve safety. Encourage your team to clean on the go, and to pick up after themselves, and you’ll all be much safer.