Keeping Your Employees and Customers Safe

3/25/2021 (Permalink)

The safety of employees and customers is extremely important, during COVID-19 and beyond.

As a small business owner, it is very important to keep the safety of your employees and customers a top priority. Some of the most common workplace incidents include slip-and-fall accidents, premise liabilities, equipment accidents, or an employee or visitor injuring another person. While is it always possible that accidents can happen, mitigating potential risks beforehand can greatly reduce the chances of an incident occurring.

Here are some tips to make sure everyone on your property is safe and sound.

Constantly inspect your premises and be on the lookout for hazards

The best way to prevent any injuries or accidents from occurring is minimizing any hazards in the workspace. To do this, inspections should be conducted regularly, on either a weekly or monthly basis. It is also a good idea to preform random inspections to see how the workplace runs on the day to day.

Maintain all tools and equipment

Any faulty or poorly maintained equipment can be a potential risk in the workplace. If a piece of equipment breaks down, it can put many people in harm’s way. All tools and equipment should be cleaned and tested regularly to ensure they are functioning property and can be replaced if need be.

Keep record of inspections and repairs

It is very important to document all inspections, repairs, and incident investigations. If there is a repeated incident, you will be able to dig to the root of the problem and correct it. Also, if an accident does occur, it is important to have all of your records in order.

Post warning signs

If there happens to be any unsafe conditions in the workplace, there should be signage to indicate this to employees and customers. A simple example of this is placing a “wet floor sign” to an area that was recently mopped to prevent anyone tripping.

Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the way business function. Here are some of the most common ways to keep your employees and customers safe:

Keep a clean environment and perform routine sanitization. All frequently touches surfaces such as workstations, countertops, handrails, and doorknobs should be frequently cleaned and disinfected. If possible, reduce the need for shared equipment.
Promote practices sanitary practices like frequent handwashing and provide either soap and water or hand sanitizer for all employees and customers.
Require everyone to wear a mask or face covering over their mouth and nose.
Encourage workers to stay at home if they are sick and ensure that sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidelines.
Create a plan to minimize face-to-face contact between both employees and customers. Actively encourage flexible work arrangements such as teleworking or staggered shifts.
Develop policies and procedures for employees to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.