A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Maintain a Safe Working Environment

Having a safe working environment should be a significant concern for any organization. Sadly, sometimes we tend to forget this basic fact and take workplace safety for granted. Reports suggest that each year about 340 million occupational hazards occur.

Well, the good news is that there are some organizations working heart and soul to bring safety in the working environment. Moreover, following a few safety tips might keep you and your employees safe from hazardous accidents.

So, let's take a look at a step-by-step guide on how you can introduce and maintain a safe working environment.

10 Steps Towards a Safer Working Environment

1. Introduce Basic Safety Rules

Bolstering safety is all about raising awareness. But sometimes awareness alone cannot bring in much difference. You need to impose some workplace safety rules.

It’s not that much of a hassle. Just keep the floors dry, or encourage your employees to maintain better hygiene. There are tons of modern strategies that can help you increase workplace safety.

2. Conduct Employee Training Sessions

Obviously, your organization should have some set of rules regarding safety issues. It’s only unfair to assume that the new employees of your organization will have knowledge regarding these safety rules.

So, what should you do?

Include safety training in the inauguration program of the new employees. Moreover, you can introduce regular (once in three months) safety drills so that your employees can get prepared if something hazardous actually happen.

3. A Gift for the Dedicated Ones

If you maintain a reward-based system for the employees who follow the safety instructions, it can change the whole scenario.

Soon you will notice that almost all of your employees are following the safety guidelines.

4. Introducing Kanban

Kanban is one of the simplest yet most effective systems that can revolutionize workplace safety. So, what is Kanban? Basically, it’s a tool in the lean manufacturing system that involves using signboards for better and quicker understanding.

You might ask what does that have to do with safety management. Well, you can add labels and signs to relay important safety information. It works even better in factories or similar other manufacturing plants.

5. Don’t Overlook Cybersecurity

In today’s world, there is no scope of overlooking the importance of cybersecurity. Without having a sound cyber defense system, you might lose valuable intellectual properties. Even your credentials and passwords might be in jeopardy

So, stay safe from the online mafia (!) and install a robust security system to bolster your defense strategies.

6. Detoxify Your Workplace Security

With the crime rate in our society rising higher and higher every year, detoxification of workplace security is not a joke anymore. In fact, it is now a must for modern workplaces.

Don’t you know how to detox cleanse for a drug test. Just like detoxifying the body, you need to detoxify your workplace.

But how?

Secure the doors with a better locking mechanism, install a digital wireless doorbell, add a glass break sensor, install a strobe siren, and so.

There are many things you can do to detoxify your home or workplace.

7. What Tools Are Your Employees Using?

The use of the right tools can enhance productivity and work pace. However, hazardous accidents might occur if your employees don’t use the right tools.

It’s your responsibility to monitor if your employees are using the right tools or not. Moreover, make sure that the tools are clean and are in the proper condition. Conduct regular inspections and change any old tools if you notice. If they use old and worn-off tools, things can go south very quickly!

8. Introducing 5S

5S is a widely popular workplace organization method that can help your employees maintain their workplaces clean and organized. It is another effective practice invented by the Japanese.

So, what is 5S, and how can you implement it?

As the name suggests, 5S is a combinational practice of five S’s –

• Sort – Sort out the materials around the workplace; let go of all the unnecessary items.
• Set in Order – Once you have sorted out all the essential items, you need to organize them into the correct order.
• Shine – Regularly and periodically clean all the items in the workplace. Shine them up!
• Standardize – Creates schedules charts, and lists to standardize all the processes.
• Sustain – make sure that to follow the principles of the previous four S’s.

9. Improve Workplace Ergonomics

If you improve workplace ergonomics, the employees will feel more comfortable while doing their jobs, and overall productivity will skyrocket. Moreover, with an ergonomically designed workplace, they will not suffer from strains and occupational injuries.

10. Encourage Occasional Breaks

If you force your employees to work at a stretch without a single moment of break, they will fall victim to stress fatigue. It's only healthy for them to take a few minutes of break after working for an hour. It refreshes the mind and soothes muscle tension.

Final Thoughts

Having a safe workplace is essential for having a sustainable working environment. It lifts the spirits of the workers high and boosts efficiency.

The strategies mentioned above can help you create and maintain a safe working environment. Still, you should be open to the suggestions of your employees as they can help you to create a safer and sustainable working environment better.

Authors Bio: Kathrin Garner is an enthusiastic journalist and writes article on social issues. As an activist, she takes part in FV KASA program, which is a discussion platform on the relevant cannabis topics. So, if you want to know the best how to detox your body and hair follicle detox in a short time, feel free to contact her. Also, she is a volunteer at Marijuana Detox. She searches for current issues, and writes about it to a wide range of readers.