As a business owner, your top priority is the safety of your building and your employees. When your staff comes to work every day, they expect a safe environment. In addition to protecting your staff, you need to protect your property in the event of an emergency.
You never know when an accident can happen or when an emergency will arise. An unexpected storm, pipe leak, or freak accident can happen at any time. Therefore, you need to prepare for the unexpected – here are five suggestions on how to do that.
Anticipate Hazards
You cannot properly secure safe office space or prepare for an emergency without knowing what accidents your office space is prone to. Of course, freak accidents can happen, and you’ll never be able to anticipate every possible accident.
However, if your office space is in close proximity to hazardous chemicals, you will have different needs than an office space with no chemicals. Similarly, office space in a cold climate will have different needs than office space in a tropical environment.
Take an inventory of potential accidents and outcomes so that you can tailor your response and prepare accordingly.
Mitigate Hazards
The best way to prepare your office space is to prevent hazards from happening in the first place. Things like securing objects that may fall or removing flammable items from the area around a heater can make a big difference.
The process of restoring your office space from water or fire damage can be intensive, so it is best to try to avoid the damage in the first place. It is never a bad idea to consult a safety expert or your local fire department. They are trained to spot potential hazards that you may not know to look for.
Purchase Safety Supplies
Safety supplies for your office spaces come in two varieties: protective supplies and first-aid supplies. Depending on your office environment, your employees may need protective supplies, such as gloves and goggles, to perform their job duties. You should also purchase safety supplies to protect your building—things like tarps and cleaning supplies.
On the other hand, you also need supplies to respond to an accident. As a business owner, you should invest in quality First-Aid kits and set them in an easy-to-find place around the office. In the event of an emergency, you or your employees should be able to spring into action and leverage the supplies that you’ve provided.
Train Your Employees
Investing in safety supplies won’t mean much unless your employees are properly trained. As part of an onboarding process and ongoing education, employees should be trained on utilizing safety supplies and how to respond in an emergency. For example, employees should know what to do and who to call in the case of a water emergency.
Some businesses even invest in professional training for their employees. The last thing you want is for your employees to feel lost in the event of an emergency.
Make a Safety Plan (for Emergencies and Non-Emergencies)
When a disaster happens, having a plan in place can make a huge difference in whether your business and employees survive the event. Most of the time, companies that successfully weather the storm had a plan that they executed successfully.
A comprehensive plan can include evacuation practices, whom to call, and what to do until help arrives. Safety plans are helpful for disaster and emergency response, but they can also help your staff respond to less urgent safety risks like mold.
Knowing what to look for, what to do when you see mold, and what precautions to take can make a big difference in remediating the problem and keeping your employees safe.
Preparing Your Office Is Not a One-Time Job
Following these five practices will go a long way in creating a safe office space. However, making a one-time effort is not enough. As a business owner, you need to think about your company’s safety constantly.
Restock safety supplies, invest in new training methods, re-evaluate your space, and practice the plans that you put in place. If disaster does strike, you’ll be glad you made the investments in safety upfront.