Employee Protection: Here’s How You Can Make Your Workplace More Secure In 2021

Your employees are an integral part of your business. Without them, your company would struggle to survive.

So, it is important that as business owners we understand our duty of care. It is important that we do our bit to look after our employees and ensure that they are working in a safe environment.

Today, we will be discussing a few ways that you can help to make your workplace more secure. So, your employees can feel protected during day-to-day operations.

Provide Thorough Training

Every workplace will have its risks. So, it is important that you train your employees well so that they understand them. Once your employees are aware of the risks that surround the workplace, they can then learn what they need to do to avoid them. It is your duty to put together a comprehensive safety training program for each member of staff. It can be useful to put a system in place which helps you identify when all employees have completed their training.

You can learn more about how to build a safety program online. Once you have a safety program in place, it can help to welcome feedback from your employees. They may be able to identify areas in the program that need improvement. This can help you build a better safety training program in the future.

Prioritize Cleanliness

Maintaining a clean workplace can have many benefits. Not only can it help to increase productivity amongst your employees, but is also provides them with a safer and healthier environment to work in. If your workplace is littered with debris and waste is disposed of incorrectly, it can lead to your employees being ill. This will only increase the number of sick days that are taken as a result of this.

It can be a good idea to create a cleaning schedule. Each employee can have an allocated day to clean communal areas. It is important that your team know what is expected of them so that they can contribute towards a healthier environment too. Teamwork is essential with this step.

Access Control

Many businesses are now adopting cloud-based solutions to help their businesses adapt and grow. Now, you are likely to find a cloud-based solution for almost all aspects of your business. Genea are a company that have developed a mobile access software solution which can help you keep your workplace secure, and employees protected.

Your employees can now use their mobile device to access doors, gates, networks, services and more within your business. Instead of worrying about losing key cards, your employees can keep all their valuable credentials in one place. They can even enjoy added security in high-risk areas with two-factor authentication.

Use Safety Signs

An inexpensive way to keep safety in the forefront of your employees' minds is by using safety signs. You can purchase work safety signs online and they are good reminders for all staff. There are plenty of safety signs for you to choose from and it helps to conduct some online research of your own to find out which ones would be relevant to your workplace.

Some of your employees may find it difficult to remember all of the safety procedures that are in place. Luckily, these signs act as a friendly reminder and they are fairly simple to understand. They rely on pictures to detail hazards and proper procedures. They are also useful for any visitors who enter the building, so you can ensure their safety is not at risk too.

Hold Regular Meetings

As briefly mentioned, it can be difficult for all employees to remember all of the safety protocols in place. That is why it is important to hold regular meetings. You can use these meetings as an opportunity to review safety rules and discuss prevention. It helps to protect your employees whilst working to provide a safe environment for all.

These meetings are also a good opportunity for you and your employees to identify any new hazards that may have occurred around the workplace. You can then work together to help prevent them in the future and incorporate this into your safety training program. As the nature of your business evolves over time, new safety hazards are likely to occur. So, you should always make an effort to review the safety procedures you have in place.

Provide The Necessary Equipment

As a business owner, it is your duty to ensure that you are providing the necessary equipment to keep employees safe. This can be anything from protective headgear to cleaning products. If you have a communal area for staff, it helps to provide them with cleaning equipment, hand sanitizer, cloths, mops, the list goes on! Without the right equipment, your employees will struggle to do their bit. There are many cleaning equipment necessities that your workplace needs. Conduct some online research of your own to help you find out what you need.

Equipment safety is also hugely important. If your workplace has appliances or heavy machinery, it can help to put inspections in place. This can give you reassurance that the equipment is being kept in a safe and clean condition and it is not posing a risk to anyone in the area.

Encourage Employees to Speak Up

Often, employees can feel like they can’t speak to their superiors about certain issues. It is important that you avoid this and make it clear that your employees can speak to you about any issues/risks they may see in the workplace. Encouraging your team to speak out can help to prevent the risk of injury in the future and helps to provide a safer working environment for all.

If your employees spot something that makes them feel unsafe, you want them to feel like they can reach out to you. Communication is key. It can help to check in with individual employees/teams from time to time to see if they have any concerns that they feel like they need to express.