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Is Safety Your Biggest Business Problem: Fix It

— If safety is your biggest business problem, it’s time to take real action—because protecting people protects your company too.
By Emily WilsonPUBLISHED: September 3, 12:20UPDATED: September 3, 12:29 8080
Business owner reviewing safety checklist in office environment

Is safety your biggest problem in business? If it is, then you need to do something about that. You can’t just continue to run a business that isn’t safe for your employees, or for the people who are trusting you to provide a service or product for them. The longer that you leave your business unsafe knowing that this is the case, the worse things are going to get. It’s going to take more effort and more money to make your business safe again, and this could end up harming you in the long run.

So, the best thing that you can do is get started on sorting this problem as soon as you notice that it is one. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that you can fix this issue, so keep reading if you would like to find out more. 

Fire Safety 

We’re going to kick things off by looking at fire safety. Fire safety is one of those things that you need to hope is never needed, but should take precautions for anyway. Of course, you never think that a fire is going to happen to you, but it can, and it’s imperative that you are prepared for this. 

To start with, you should look into companies that provide commercial fire alarm installation if you do not already have a fire alarm, or if your system is super outdated now. You want the best alarm that you can afford to ensure safety as much as possible. Take a look into the different systems that are on offer, and think about what would be best for your business. You can even consult a professional if you would like some more advice on this. 

Health And Safety Measures

The next thing that we’re going to focus on are health and safety measures. If you think about health and safety in your business right now, what comes to mind? Do the many measures that you’ve taken to ensure the safety and wellness of all employees and clients come to mind? If not, that likely means that you’re not taking enough.  

You need to be looking at all of the health and safety guidelines that have been set out for your industry, and do all of them as the bare minimum. You need to be able to prove to your employees and to everyone else that you are taking this seriously. Even when there are some guidelines that you might not agree with, or that you might think are ridiculous and a waste of money, they didn’t come from nowhere. Someone with authority clearly thought that this was necessary, and you never know what’s around the corner so being prepared for anything is always ideal.

Employee Training 

Another way that you can fix your health and safety problems is to train your employees better. Each and every person who works for your business needs to know what to do in order to keep the business safe and secure, both online and offline. Health and safety does not just extend to the physical world, but also to the tech world seeing as how tech has advanced these days. 

It’s imperative that you are sending each of them on a course that teaches them all about health and safety, what to do in an emergency, and training them to protect themselves and others. Yes, it’s a lot. Yes, your employees probably aren’t going to like going on these courses, but it helps them to understand what you expect from them, and keep everyone on the same page. Plus, it’s going to be a huge help if an emergency ever comes around. 

Non-Accessible Areas In Business

If your business is non-accessible, you might not think that this could be a health and safety issue, but it definitely can be. What happens if you have a client or an employee who needs to access the building but isn’t able to because you don’t have what is needed to cater to them. For example, what if you have an employee or a client who is in a wheelchair or who is limited in their mobility, but you only have stairs leading up to your business and inside? Or what if your hallways are not safe for those who use mobility aids? 

It’s imperative that you are making your business as accessible as possible. The longer that you don’t do this, the more problems that you are going to run into as your business isn’t focused on equality, and the more dangerous it is for these people also. 

Cleaning In Progress? Signs Are Important 

The final thing that we’re going to say is that you need to ensure you are using the correct signage in your business when cleaning is happening. Slipping on wet floors is a lot more common than you would think, and it can be super dangerous if someone lands the wrong way, or falls down some stairs. As such, you need to ensure that your cleaning staff are correctly sign-posting areas that they are cleaning, because this way if an accident does occur, you can prove that you did everything possible to avoid this happening 

Of course you’re still going to need to compensate them fairly as they were injured on your property, but you won’t have to fork out thousands upon thousands in a legal dispute that you do not want to be involved in. It’s a simple way to keep your business safe, and keep people safe as they will be warned that the area will be slippery and that chemicals are being used to clean.

Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the different things that you’re going to need to do for your business if safety is currently your biggest issue. Your employees and your clients deserve to feel safe when they are on your business premises, so you need to make this happen, no matter what it takes.  

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Emily Wilson

Emily Wilson is a content strategist and writer with a passion for digital storytelling. She has a background in journalism and has worked with various media outlets, covering topics ranging from lifestyle to technology. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys hiking, photography, and exploring new coffee shops.

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