Companies with a high-risk working environment know how risky it is for their employees to get into an accident. Such accidents can make one physically impaired and in the worst cases, can claim lives. However, you can reduce the chances of fatalities by providing a safe working environment for your workers.

Additionally, an employee can file a case against you and claim compensation if they get into an accident at your workplace due to negligence.

“There is a wide variety of situations that could lead to a personal injury lawsuit, provided that the circumstances meet three initial requirements. There was an accident caused by negligence, malpractice, or malice. There were injuries caused by the accident. The injuries caused economic damages,” says personal injury lawyer Atlanta based firm Seay/Felton LLC Trial Lawyers.

So, maintain safety protocols in your organization rather than land into an expensive and problematic lawsuit. Now, let’s look at how to ensure workplace safety for your workers.

Communicate Company Safety Policy

Your company should have a set of safety policies right from the beginning, especially if your workplace is hazardous and has the potential for accidents. Communicate the company safety policies with your employees right when they join your organization. Make sure they attend the drills regularly and follow the protocols at all times.

Don’t forget to upgrade these policies when you change the processes or introduce new machinery to your workforce. Hold training sessions if required. Form a dedicated team in your HR department that can handle these and provide the training sessions. A dedicated team can relentlessly work to upgrade and maintain the safety protocols of the company and minimize the chances of accidents at your workplace. 

Implement the Use of Safety Gear

If your company uses hazardous procedures for production or service, make it mandatory for your workers to wear safety gear, such as helmets, fireproof vests, gloves, masks, safety goggles, or non-slip shoes. Many believe that a simple helmet, a pair of gloves, or non-slip shoes might not be effective. But they can save you from severe head injuries, burns, and even slip-and-fall accidents.

So, your employees must wear helmets when handling loose objects and working in an open space, use gloves and gas masks when handling chemicals or toxins, and wear non-slip shoes when the process creates spillage. Monitor their usage of safety gear and provide warnings if they fail to adhere to the policies.

Provide Training for Running the Equipment

Handling heavy and complex machinery can be difficult without training. Some are safe only when used for their intended purpose, and using them in the wrong method can lead to accidents. Even if it doesn’t, the machinery can malfunction and hamper the production process. So, train your workforce adequately before letting them work with the machines. Check the manuals that come with the equipment. Bring a specialist if the equipment is new and your workforce doesn’t know how to use them. Renew these training sessions every time you introduce new equipment. They will reduce the chances of accidents and enhance the longevity of your equipment.

Provide Sufficient Breaks

Many employers believe that lunch breaks are enough for their workers. However, introduce smaller breaks during the shift, especially if the process is arduous and requires a lot of strength. Workers become exhausted easily if they continue to toil for long hours, and it can lead to accidents. This also applies to employees who work at their desks for hours. Resting can help replenish the lost energy. Keep them well-fed and hydrated to ensure that they can complete their shift without feeling fatigued.

For desk workers, moving around helps move their muscles and enhances blood flow. Sitting for too long can lead to chronic health issues later in life. 

Eliminate Risks in the Workplace

Even if you don’t have heavy or complex machinery, your workplace can still be hazardous. Electric connections can malfunction, leading to electrocution or even damage to company goods and equipment. A simple tap leak can lead to slip-and-fall accidents. Uneven floors, loose flooring, an unsafely attached ceiling, or even a malfunctioning desk chair can lead to accidents. So, employers should always try to spot and eliminate these hazards from their workplace to reduce the chances of life-threatening accidents.

You can create a dedicated team that will check all the electric wiring, kitchen and cafeteria equipment, and heavy machinery at least once every two weeks to detect and eliminate the problems as soon as possible.

Create an Overall Safe Working Environment

Apart from checking for faulty equipment, you can also focus on creating a safe working environment for your workers. Keeping the workplace tidy is a great way to reduce accidents. Declutter the workplace and remove objects that lead to tripping. Mop up spillage to prevent slip-and-fall accidents. Remove all loose wires from sight. Ask your employees to replace all tools and loose objects before leaving the workplace for the day, or ask them to clean up first thing after entering the next morning. Teach them to switch off equipment after using and turning off the electricity connection before they leave the workplace for the day. These small steps don’t take long but can reduce the chances of accidents by a large margin.

Workplace accidents aren’t completely preventable, but maintaining some simple safety measures can reduce their chances. Many workers lose their lives every year because of the negligence of their employers. If you’re one of these employees, you should know how to claim compensation after being a victim of workplace injury because of the organization’s negligence or malpractice.

Published by HOLR Magazine.