Health and safety is more important in 2020 than ever before, and this has led to an increasing number of employers to rethink their policies and to change the way that they are run. If you are looking to create a safe and welcoming environment for both your team and your clients, here are some of the top steps that you can take.
Implement Social Distancing
The workplace has changed for the foreseeable future due to the rise of the coronavirus pandemic, with offices and factories being some of the top places where the virus can spread. However, rather than having to ask your employees and clients to stay at home until the pandemic is over, you should implement strict social distancing rules around your business. If you are struggling to do this, social distancing solutions can help your employees find desk space and stay aware of their surroundings.
Hire a Cleaning Service
Many illnesses can be easily spread around the workplace due to the fact that there are large numbers of people close to each other. Not only this, but many workplaces have poor ventilation and filtration, with some office practices, such as hot-desking, leading to the easy spread of germs. Then, since we are now entering the winter season, you should ensure that your team can reduce the number of sick days they take by hiring a cleaning service to ensure that your office space is spotless. This can also help you to remove hazards.
Train Your Employees
However, to help your employees to be in charge of their health, you should make sure that they are trained on every major piece of equipment that could cause them harm and that they have a great understanding of these before they operate them alone. As well as internal and external training schemes held regularly, you should also consider mentoring and buddy schemes that can help your new recruits to learn from the best.
Respond to Concerns
The people that know best whether your business is safe or not, though, are your clients and your employees, and this means that you should always respond immediately to any concerns that are raised with you. For instance, if a customer spots a hazard, you should inspect the hazard as soon as possible and close off the area. You can ensure that all of your concerns are looked into by hiring a health and safety co-ordinator and arranging inspections of the workplace throughout the day.
Take Out Insurance
Although having insurance cannot prevent any accidents or injuries from occurring in the workplace, taking out insurance can make sure that your employees and customers are well compensated if an accident does occur and that they are unlikely to sue you over any injuries that they sustain. This shows that you accept the responsibility that you have toward your employees and clients and prioritize their health and safety within your business above all else.
