Safe Office Space: Photo Source

As a small business owner, you’re bound to always have a lot on your mind. But safety should always be at the forefront of anything that you do. Here are just a few areas you need to focus on to make sure that your office space is as safe as possible for anyone spending time withing it!

Fire Procedures

Fire can be extremely destructive. But as long as all of the people involved in a fire incident are safe and sound, pretty much everything else can be replaced. So, have a thorough fire procedure in place. First things first, you should have smoke alarms. Make sure you carry out fire alarm maintenance on these on a regular basis. This will ensure that they are always working and can alert people if there’s a problem. There’s no use in having an alarm that isn’t working.

Next, make sure that all exits are clearly labelled. Glow in the dark fire exit signs are the best option, as they can still be seen in case of power cuts or outages. Have all of the necessary extinguishers within easy reach. Also, ensure that all of your staff members are fully aware of their location and how and when to use them. Arrange a meeting point so that everyone can be accounted for upon evacuation.

Ergonomics

A large amount of work nowadays is undertaken in the office. Whether your staff are dealing with customer queries and complaints, developing new products, updating your company’s social media feeds, or arranging deliveries, they are likely to spend a whole lot of time sitting behind their desks.

Now, this might seem like an extremely safe space. But bear in mind that every year thousands of workers are diagnosed with chronic conditions such as repetitive strain injury. This is where ergonomics have come into play. Ergonomics are the study of people’s efficiency in the working area. Various areas have been identified as potentially hazardous to the average worker. As a result, specific furniture and equipment have been developed to counteract issues. Invest in these, as not only will they keep your staff safe and sound, but they can also help to increase productivity as a result!

Lifting Procedures

There are several occasions when your staff members may find themselves having to lift goods or wares. Whether they’re transporting them to and from the stockroom or office, you need to ensure that they know the correct protocol when it comes to lifting and carrying items. Firstly, if an item is heavy, specialist equipment should be used. However, if the goods are light enough, the worker should bend their knees, keep their back straight and walk in straight lines.

Potential problems lie everywhere. So, be rigorous and ensure that precautions are taken to help guarantee everyone’s safety and well-being. Not only will this prevent you from getting into trouble with the law, but it could potentially save someone’s life! Remember that with the benefits of authority come great responsibilities. It’s entirely up to you to ensure that everything is safe and sound for people when they’re in the realms of your business.