Providing A Safe Workplace For Your Employees
Running a business often involves taking charge of a team of people. If you’re an employer, you don’t just need to focus on the figures and impress your customers. You also have a responsibility to ensure that your employees work in a safe, secure setting. If you’re not au fait with the latest health and safety regulations, you run the risk of being held liable for injuries and accidents.
Understanding your legal responsibilities
If you employ people to work for you, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your workplaces meet health and safety standards. You should make sure that areas are safe, you should undertake regular risk assessments, and you should provide your staff with suitable equipment and training to minimize the risk of incidents. If you don’t meet the necessary criteria, there’s every chance that you could be held responsible for accidents that occur on your watch. And this extends to your fleet on the road. If you don’t maintain vehicles or train drivers properly, you might be held accountable and have to deal with a car accident attorney. You should have policies and procedures in place to ensure that your business complies with the latest safety measures, and these guidelines should be reviewed continually.
The implications of non-compliance
Accidents happen, and often, there is no way of preventing them. If an employee sustains an injury at work, and they were to blame, for example, they failed to use the safety equipment provided, you would not be liable for that accident. However, if a member of your team suffers an injury, and the accident occurs as a result of failing to adhere to safety regulations, they could pursue a compensation claim. If you provided faulty or ineffective equipment, or you failed to respond to a hazard that had already been reported, for example, you would be deemed negligent and you may hear from a personal injury attorney or even a wrongful death lawyer if the employee lost their life. In addition to potential risks to employee safety, health, and well-being, failing to comply with regulations could also impact your business reputation.
Improving your safety record
Even if you already have robust safety measures in place, there’s always room for improvement. Review safety guidelines on a regular basis, make sure any incidents or hazards are reported and addressed swiftly, and take time to talk to your employees about any concerns they have. Use signs and posters to highlight potential dangers, invest in the appropriate safety equipment and technology, and don’t underestimate the value and importance of staff training. If you’re asking employees to operate heavy machinery or undertake tasks, such as lifting patients in a health clinic, they should have the necessary training to complete these jobs in the safest way possible. It’s also advisable to read the accident book. Take a look at incidents that have arisen in the past, and look for trends. If the same kinds of accidents are happening over and over again, take steps to nullify related threats and hazards.
If you’re an employer, it’s vital that you understand the importance of health and safety in the workplace and the impact of failing to comply with rules and regulations.
