Many businesses talk about safety a great deal, but not all of them really internalize safety and make it a priority. If your business truly wants to make safety a point of emphasis, you will need to have several things in place. They include both tangible items like equipment and intangible things like knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Taken together, they will make your business a safety-minded place.
Safety Equipment
Some of the most basic equipment can make a big difference in the safety of employees, customers, and vendors at your business. This is a broad area that includes prevention equipment like lighting and no-slip walking surfaces as well as response equipment like fire extinguishers and first aid kits. Talk with your local fire, ambulance, and police agencies as well as your insurers about what should be on hand. Get the right equipment and keep it properly maintained.
Adequate Coverage
Despite your best efforts, accidents will happen. That is why it is essential to procure enough insurance coverage to deal with all the possibilities. This includes everything from traditional fire and theft coverage to professional liability insurance. Medical bills, lost wages, and civil judgments will come to far more than you can pay out of pocket. Get the coverage you need.
Appropriate Training
One of the worst things you can hear from workers after an accident is, “I didn’t know what to do.” Safety should be a regular topic of training. Make sure everyone on the staff knows proper procedures for preventing incidents and what to do if something does happen. This includes things like CPR, first aid, fire evacuation, earthquake response, and any other special concerns that may be relevant in your area.
Proper Attitudes
Another bad thing your employees can say is, “That will never happen.” With so many people and so much activity in a business, there will eventually be some kind of accident. Keeping your employees in the correct mindset is essential. The more they believe that an accident can happen, the more they will do to prevent it. This attitude will also keep them in the right frame of mind to respond appropriately.
Safety is everyone’s job, but when it is a priority for management and ownership, the entire staff will view it more seriously. Take the time and invest the money that it takes to make your business as safe as possible. Your staff, customers, and even your bottom line will all benefit.
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.
