Six Safety Items Every Office Should Have

Are you a business owner? If so, how often do you think about workplace safety issues? Chances are, if you operate a business in an industrial environment where employees use heavy equipment and complex machinery, dealing with safety concerns remains a part of your daily routine. After all; local, state, and federal laws generally demand employers in high-risk industries carefully monitor the company’s safety policies and procedures. However, many employers that operate their business in an office environment give little consideration to workplace safety. Aside from distributing the obligatory safety literature to employees, many companies – especially small businesses – do very little to keep their employees, clients, and customers safe.

Employers who neglect making workplace safety a priority not only put their employees at risk, they also place themselves in legal jeopardy if an accident or injury occurs. Therefore, it’s worth taking a little extra time to make sure you and your staff are protected. The following list includes many items prudent business owners should have on-site to promote workplace safety.

First Aid Kit

Having a first aid kit in the office is a step in the right direction. However, many companies make some egregious mistakes after initially purchasing first aid kits. First, they often don’t ensure that the first aid kit is complete. At a minimum, each kit should contain bandages, antibiotic ointment, hot and cold packs, burn cream, rubbing alcohol, over-the-counter pain relievers, throat lozenges, and tweezers. Second, they fail to replenish the kit. Over time, employees will visit the first aid kit to retrieve a bandage for a paper cut and for other minor issues. If those bandages are not replaced, when a more serious incident occurs, the first aid kit won’t be of any use. Further, even if the materials remain well-stocked, a designated individual should periodically check all the contents to ensure none of the medications have expired. Finally, some employers fail to account for the number of employees when initially purchasing a first aid kit. Depending on the size of your staff, it may be a good idea to obtain multiple kits, all of which should be stored in prominent, easy to find locations throughout the office.

Safety Manual

All offices should maintain a comprehensive safety manual to educate employees on safe workplace behavior. Rather than using a generic handbook containing basic workplace safety tips, companies should customize their manuals to address the realities of their specific offices. For example, if you have dangerous equipment on site, provide instructions on proper operating procedures. In addition, these manuals must include instructions on the protocol for dealing with an accident or emergency.

Safety Displays

Prominently displayed signs, posters, and warnings promote a safe atmosphere in the office. Most importantly, any inherently dangerous areas or equipment need bold, conspicuous signage to prevent accidents. In certain workplaces where employees have physical contact with clients or customers, displays in the restroom can help remind everyone to practice proper hygiene. Exit signs and diagrams showing emergency evacuation routes are also important. In addition, because tragedy can strike in even the safest of workplaces, displays showing CPR techniques could save a life.

Inclement Weather Kit

Even if you don’t live in an area where natural disasters are common, maintaining supplies in preparation for a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or flood is a wise practice. First, store nonperishable food and an adequate supply of water in an easily accessible location in the office. Also, in case of a power outage, make sure you have access to news reports via a battery operated radio or television.

Fire Prevention

Many modern buildings include extensive sprinkler systems, which provide a great deal of protection against office fires. However, regardless of whether your building is equipped with sprinklers, all offices should have an adequate number of fire extinguishers. In addition, as set forth above, employers must clearly communicate evacuation procedures early and often to all employees.

Handy Tools

While generally not regarded as safety items, certain convenient tools provide protection against workplace accidents and injuries. For example, when employees have to move heavy items around the office, they should have access to hand trucks or a dolly to avoid back strains or other injuries. Employers should survey their offices and their employees’ activities therein to determine what other tools could lighten their staffs’ load, both figuratively and literally.

Jay Acker leads a production team at safetyservicescompany.com that creates safety training materials. SSC offers contractor certification assistance for ISNetworld®, PICS®, and other contractor verification servicers.