Offices are generally considered a safe place to work. However, there may be some dangers lurking in the corners. You need to take care of various facets of the work environment before thinking of profits for your business. Numerous reports come up daily that point towards unsafe avenues and practices at the workplace.
This can cost employers a lot of money in paying medical bills. Time is also another issue when an accident occurs. It can delay projects and cause massive losses too. When creating a healthy and safe workplace, you can consider various facets. Therefore, as an employer, you need to take care of the physical, mental, and social facets of safety and comfort.
Read about them here.
1. The Building Structure
This often goes unnoticed. However, the structure of the building is essential when it comes to creating a conducive working environment for employees. Additionally, the physical environment can have long-lasting repercussions on employee psyche and health. One of the things that can bother them include temperature. It is vital to maintain the proper temperature at the workplace. Maintain the temperature with the right weather coating or other amenities like shade installation.
Moreover, the top structure or the flat awning on commercial buildings withstand several environmental factors’ direct onslaught. Heat, strong winds, and rain are a few natural factors that cause problems. It is essential to avail of a commercial roof repair service to protect the said area from leaks, cracks, and dampness. Slowly, the damage can percolate into the below floors and cause further structural issues. It can pose a physical risk for the employees as well. So, it is necessary to tackle the issues early on with efficient repair works.
2. Ergonomics at the Workplace
It refers to the design of the workstations, cubicles, and office equipment that employees handle frequently. You have to ensure that the computers are placed at a suitable level so that employees do not suffer from backache. They should also be placed in a manner so as not to put excess strain on the eyes. The keyboard, the mouse, and the webcam should also be placed within a hand’s distance, where the elbow gets some support.
Glares on computers are also a huge plus, given the range of eye problems people suffer from today. You have to invest in the right office equipment that should not hinder safety while work is in progress. It applies to printers, xerox machines, paper shredders, and pantry supplies. Moreover, you also need to ensure that electric cables, mats, and slippery items should now lie on the floor, where employees frequently move around.
3. Frequent Breaks at work
You have to ensure that your employees do not work continuously, straining their eyes and brains. When one works constantly, it can lead to monotony. Too much of it is maybe detrimental to performance. Therefore, you need to allow employees to take breaks, to improve focus and concentration. After a break, you will notice the employee working with double the motivation. So, help your employees avoid fatigue and stress through frequent breaks.
4. Improved Lighting
The right amount and adequate lighting at the workplace are directly related to performance at work. Light affects humans in two ways. Firstly, it affects how employees see, and it also affects their moods. The initial costs may be more for focus lighting, mood lighting, and reading lights. However, you will save a huge amount with the strategic positioning of lights. There are smart lights that dim on their own when a cubicle or room at the office is vacant. The moment someone enters the space, the lights come on. Additionally, proper lighting can prevent mistakes as well.
5. Emergency Exits and Safety Equipment
You also need to ensure that emergency exits at the workplace are installed at all strategic positions. They are important for workplaces, as they provide a safe way to evacuate when there is a crisis. The workplace should also have an adequate number of fire extinguishers. You should have them placed on all floors.
Moreover, the instructions to use them should be clearly marked as well. Just ensuring that emergency exits and safety equipment are there is not all—you need to maintain them. Secondly, you need to ensure that the sprinklers are also active at all times. You must also check to see if there is any furniture blocking them.
Conduct fire drills and evacuation drills often. Have an emergency exit plan ready. According to OSHA guidelines, you should have two emergency exits. However, it is not the final word. You can increase the number of exit points depending on the number of employees. It is your duty as an employer to maintain all the standards at work.
These are a few of the ways you can keep your workplace safe and comfortable for employees and workers. So, incorporate these today.
