How to Create a Safer, More Efficient Workplace
Under United Kingdom employment law, workers are entitled to a safe environment. On top of this, safer workplaces tend to be efficient ones, where morale is higher. As such, safety is something well worth pursuing. But what might not be quite as obvious is how this pursuit should be conducted.
Start With Regular and Thorough Risk Assessments
A risk assessment is a process by which you’ll gauge the size and shape of the existing problem. Only once you have this information to hand will you be able to make changes.
Since the safety risks you face will naturally evolve over time, it makes sense that you should update your approach to them. Thus, a risk assessment should not just be a one-off event that ensures workplace safety in perpetuity, but a series of events that takes place at regular intervals, and in response to new information (which might stem from an accident).
Empower Staff Through Strong Training and Communication
When your staff doesn’t understand the nature of the threats they face, they’ll have difficulty fighting against them. And this can be highly demoralising.
Your staff might be your most potent assets in the battle for workplace safety. But they can only be helpful if they’re equipped with the right knowledge and skills. This is where good training and communication come in. The former, like your risk assessments, should occur regularly, so that the skills can be topped up. The latter should be a matter of culture. Workers should feel empowered to step forward when they spot a workplace hazard. Once they can do this, you’ll enjoy a safer workspace.
Invest in the Right Tools and Equipment for Your Team
In certain contexts, equipment plays a critical role in limiting risk. For example, if you’re stepping through a construction site, and you aren’t sure of what lies beneath your feet, then a pair of construction safety boots, complete with reinforced soles, might prevent you from suffering a problem.
Optimise Workflows to Reduce Bottlenecks and Hazards
The way that your employees physically move around their space can make a difference, too. If workers are being forced to move past one another, or to work alongside hazards, then the risk of a problem may escalate. Design the workspace so that this doesn’t happen.
Use Technology to Streamline Processes and Improve Visibility
The influence of tech can make a big difference when it comes to identifying risk. Sometimes, this might mean using digital logs to troubleshoot and streamline your processes. In other cases, an LED worklamp might make it literally easier for workers to see what they’re doing.
Build a Culture Where Safety and Efficiency Go Hand in Hand
Safety shouldn’t be seen as the enemy of efficiency. In the right culture, the two go hand in hand. However, building such a culture means being consistent, creating the right incentives, and leading by example.
