Workplace safety has evolved to include wellness and environmental management. Here’s how to achieve both and build a work environment that both your employees and customers will appreciate.
Hazard-proof your business
This includes both physical and ecological hazard prevention. In terms of physical hazards, the benefits are obvious. No business wants its workers burned, electrocuted, poisoned, or crushed. Inspect the workplace and take precautions to keep your people safe.
Replace old and faulty electrical installations. Safely store any combustibles or toxins. Put up appropriate warning signs and labels. Identify loose screws, rotted beams, damaged pillars, etc. Review your local building and fire codes, and bring in an expert to help you get everything up to par.
Ecological hazards can stem from the materials, supplies, and processes your business uses. These will vary between industries. Some things to consider include:
- Amount of water consumed in manufacture
- Electrical energy required for manufacture
- Electricity sources
- Types of fuel implemented
- Types of waste generated (e.g. metal, textile, paper, plastic, gas, chemical, toxic, radioactive etc.)
- Waste disposal procedures and locations
- Effect of operations on local land, waterways, flora, wildlife, pollinators, etc.
Update your emergency procedures
How many types of emergency scenarios do your procedures cover? Do all of the employees in all locations still remember what to do? A business owner must remember that all lines of responsibility converge on them. If you want to attract and keep quality employees, they must feel safe in their professional environment.
Review your policies. Remove or change any that are outdated. Put together a contemporary training program and mandate it. Cover topics like evacuation routes, exit points, gathering spots, assigned posts, improvised relief roles, and appropriate emergency services.
Tailor first aid training to your industry. Emphasize mechanical injuries and fall damage if your business is in construction. Teach common toxins and antidotes if you’re in chemistry or pharmacy. Remind people not to splash water on electrical fires in a moment of panic. Consider arranging occasional drills so employees can practice the procedures and not flounder when genuine emergencies occur.
Modernize staff uniforms
Review the equipment and workwear you use and make sure they are as eco-friendly as possible. This benefits you via worker health, brand reputation, long-term savings, and an overall better work environment.
Firstly, keep a keen eye on the condition of workplace-issued helmets, footwear, hi-vis jackets, general uniforms, gloves, etc. Whenever something becomes worn, re-issue it immediately. Equipment that isn’t in top condition is a safety hazard.
Secondly, eco-conscious equipment is an unspoken requirement now. Take a leaf from manufacturers of workwear in the UK who are incorporating high-tech materials and smart designs. This results in more versatile, more durable workwear. In other words, it needs replacing less often.
Longer-lasting equipment means less material ends up in landfills. The textile industry consumes a lot of resources, and modern customers are aware of that. If your brand is known for utilizing smart, long-lasting workwear, you will be seen as responsible, reliable, and in line with modern-day values. Moreover, investing in high-quality equipment saves you money on replacements down the line.
Invest in some dust management
Sounds silly? We know. But dust management is actually a big aspect of office comfort. Along with ergonomics, refreshments, and a supportive culture, quality air is extremely important in workplace wellbeing. Dust and pollen are not only annoying, but they are also health hazards.
Allergies, breathing issues, and even skin issues can be prevented or minimized with a few good dust collectors. Choose the type that’s best suited to your business environment. You can install a large-scale system on the very walls, or opt for portable ones in key areas.
Whichever way you handle it, make sure to keep up with inspections and maintenance. Keep them in good condition to get the maximum influx of clean air, as well as to control any odors in the workplace.
Be open to feedback
Let your employees know that you appreciate and actively want their input on their work environment. Consider implementing periodic questionnaires or polls, or some other kind of formal review. Ask your workforce what contributes to their wellness in the workplace and what hinders it.
Include an optional section for eco-friendliness ideas. Many people have some notion of how to make their offices “greener”. Make sure they know that any feedback scale is welcome: from “a few more plants” to “new waste filters for the whole factory.” Make the process anonymous to foster honesty.
To sum up, a safe and eco-friendly workplace demands an interdisciplinary perspective. On the one hand, invest in up-to-date physical safety measures, hazard prevention, and emergency procedures. On the other, keep up with eco-centered trends and policies. Adapt your practices to environmental legislation, your customers’ values, and your employees’ own feedback.
