If you own a small business, it’s essential to know the basics of safety in the workplace. Many risks come with owning your own company, and knowing how to protect yourself is vital.
As the owner of a small business, you’re responsible for everything that happens in your workplace. Therefore, you need to make sure your employees are safe and healthy at all times.
No matter what industry you are in, the first essential step is to check all relevant Australian and other standards on the Safe Work Australia website. Beyond that, this guide will help you understand what those risks are and how to avoid them.
Ensure Everything Electrical is Tested, Tagged and Compliant
Ensuring your electrical equipment is safe for use is not only crucial to prevent injuries and fatalities in the workplace; it is a legal requirement.
Too many small businesses have been fined for not having electrical work done correctly by a qualified person, or worse still, had a fire that destroyed their business and livelihood because they did not comply with electrical safety standards.
Ensure all electrical equipment in your small business is inspected by a commercial electrician in Melbourne at least every five years and that everything electrical is tested and tagged.
Develop, Review And Improve Safe Work Procedures
The best way to ensure safety on your job site is by having a safe work procedure in place and making sure it’s followed at all times.
The process starts with creating a risk assessment that identifies hazards associated with each job task performed by every employee at every facility operated by an employer. Once risk assessment strategies have been outlined in safe work procedures, they should be reviewed regularly, and when changes occur in the workplace environment or technology used on the job site is upgraded or replaced.
By following this simple process, employers can ensure their companies remain compliant with OHS/WHS regulations. This also helps them to protect themselves from costly litigation due to unsafe working conditions caused by negligence on behalf of management or improper safety protocols and training programs for their workforce.
Keep Your Tools And Equipment in Good Working Order
There are several reasons why maintaining and servicing your tools is crucial for every small business owner out there. For starters, keeping up with maintenance ensures that everything runs smoothly throughout the day without any issues arising unexpectedly.
When something does go wrong, it’s much easier (and cheaper) to fix an issue before it becomes a significant problem instead of waiting until things get worse later on down the road. In addition, regular maintenance helps prevent accidents by ensuring everything is always in proper working order, which could potentially save lives.
How to Make The Layout of Your Workplace Safe
The layout of your office can have a massive impact on your employees’ productivity and well-being – as well as their safety.
A well-designed workplace can help ensure that all workers remain healthy and safe at work. It can involve the design of work, workstations, operational procedures, computer systems or manufacturing processes. When designing an office, warehouse and commercial space, there are many things to consider – from furniture placement and lighting to noise levels and employee flow.
A safe work environment can help you avoid injuries that result from slips, trips, falls or other accidents on the job site by eliminating and mitigating any potential hazard.
Ensure All Staff Are Adequately Trained And Are Refreshing Their Knowledge
If you’re like most business owners, it’s easy to assume that your employees know how to do their jobs safely because they’ve been working for you for years or have worked in similar roles elsewhere before coming on board with your company. The problem is that people can get rusty regarding safety procedures if they don’t practice them regularly.
This is why it’s essential to ensure that all your staff are correctly trained, refreshed their knowledge regularly and have the right tools to do their job safely.