However, there are plenty of precautions you can take to make your workplace a much safer environment for both employees and visitors. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Be alert
You should never turn a blind eye to potentially dangerous scenes and setups within a workplace – the notion that ‘it will never happen to me’ should not be a phrase you utter when spotting a hazard.
Instead, tell someone if there is a nail hanging out from a cupboard or a spillage on the reception floor. Even things that look so minuscule can still cause serious injury on occasion, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Sort out hazards yourself
Even better than reporting something dangerous in your workplace, why not take the initiative to sort out the problem yourself if possible?
If you know where the correct equipment is, one minute mopping a wet floor and putting up a sign around a spillage will prevent people oblivious to the matter from slipping and potentially breaking bones.
Know your company’s emergency procedures
Would you know what to do if the fire alarms suddenly began to blare in your office? If not, it is critical that you top up your knowledge as soon as possible.
Take the time to identify every fire exit in your workplace, particularly taking note of which one is closest to your desk or workstation.
Furthermore, ask if you don’t know where you are meant to assemble during an evacuation – most companies opt for a car park near to their building or a street overlooking their office if based in a city centre.
This article was submitted on behalf of Beecham Peacock Solicitors , Newcastle, UK. Get in touch In with Beecham Peacock on 0191 232 3048 in the event of an injury at work.
photo by Tomás Fano