Regardless of whether you own a small business or a large corporation, it takes everyone to make sure the workplace is safe. After all, you don't want your employees getting injured for something that could have been prevented, right? When you take that responsibility seriously, the number of injuries and illnesses in the workplace are bound to drop significantly.
Not sure how to foster a positive and safe work environment? Follow these tips below to ensure your workplace is a fun and safe place to work for all employees.
Pay attention to employees learning a new skill
If you have an employee that is transitioning from working on the assembly line to driving a forklift to load and unload trucks, you need to make sure that employee knows what he or she is doing and has been properly trained. Since newly transitioned employees aren't doing anything like they once did, there are lots of new variables to consider. The best thing you can do is provide them with ample training and supervision to ensure they truly do have their job down pat and are confident in how to perform each task.
Only authorized personnel should be doing certain jobs
If an employee has no idea how to drive a forklift and has never taken the training classes necessary to operate this kind of heavy machinery, don't let them get behind the wheel. Otherwise, you are simply putting everyone in the workplace at risk for an out-of-control driver who doesn't know how to safely operate the vehicle. That's the last thing you want as an employer.
Maintain your equipment on a regular basis
Regardless of whether you’re trying to save money and increase profits for your business or not, skimping on maintenance and repairs isn't where you need to start. Machinery needs to be inspected, repaired and cleaned on a regular basis. It is up to you as the business owner to make sure this happens. Don't sit back and say, “It can wait until tomorrow.” That tomorrow could be the time when someone gets hurt because of your negligence.
A workplace should be a safe place for employees and managers alike. Apply these safety-driven tips to play your part in creating a better work environment – for you and your employees.