Safety is something that should be taken seriously by every employer, but unfortunately, there are some industries that are well-known for having a lot of safety issues. For example, the construction industry is considered to be the most dangerous industry in the country, and 721 workers died while on the job in 2011. Whether you work in construction or at an office, though, it is each employer’s legal responsibility to ensure a safe workplace.
Following OSHA’s Guidelines
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides federal worker safety guidelines that every business is required to follow. OSHA’s website has links to worker safety information for all of the major U.S. industries, and you can also access the entire content of their regulations. Keep in mind that it is illegal to operate a business that is not OSHA compliant, and you could face a wide range of penalties if you fail to meet OSHA’s minimum safety requirements. Therefore, it is in every employer’s best interests to take the time to review OSHA’s regulations and guidelines for their industry and put the necessary safety measures in place.
Make Everyone Responsible for Safety
Although it is up to each employer to provide a safe environment, your employees should be involved in the process of making sure that it remains safe. After all, your employees will have the most interaction with both the main work area and any necessary equipment, so they need to have a full understanding of how important it is to report any potential issues. As long as you let your employees know that you welcome this information, it should make it much easier for you to ensure that your business remains safe.
Safety Logs
Even though some employees might be resistant to filling them out, it is vital to incorporate safety logs into any work environment that has the potential to be dangerous. For example, if you work on a construction site, you should have at least one safety captain appointed who will inspect the conditions of both the site and the construction equipment on a regular basis. Instead of simply performing these inspections, though, the employee should then record their findings onto a safety log. This will enable anyone within the company to quickly see that the inspections are taking place, and the logs can also help protect the company if an employee files an injury lawsuit.
Installing Security Cameras and Door Codes
Although a lot of employees believe that security cameras are installed to keep them from stealing, their main purpose should be to keep the work environment safe. After all, if someone who is unauthorized to enter the area is captured on film, it will be much easier to track them if anything goes wrong. Keeping unauthorized people out altogether is also the goal of installing door codes. If you work in a high-profile industry, though, you should consider having cameras in the lobby along with door codes. By doing this, you can help prevent any catastrophic issues from occurring such as a disgruntled customer who comes to your office with the intention of killing someone.
The Importance of Safety
Not only is keeping your employees safe the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, but it is also the best option financially. After all, each time an employee is injured or becomes ill, they will miss work. Minimizing this lost time and the need to cover workplace injuries through workers’ compensation claims will help you keep your annual budget in line.
Byline: Susan Anderson has made it her mission to fight personal injury and help such victims whenever she can.
