Business owners should take precautions to prevent accidents at work as any resulting fallout from an employee or client getting injured ultimately falls on your shoulders. As a business owner, it is your duty to keep employees and customers safe. Unfortunately, accidents can still happen in your work despite your efforts to take precautions, and if you have complications, medical expenses, repairs and more the costs can add up quickly.
Injuries to slip and fall are a big part of business injuries, but they are the tip of the iceberg. Many incidents, including chemical spills, equipment-related accidents or another individual harming an employee or guest, are subject to premise liability. The detection and removal of threats and the regular checking of your workplace are essential to prevent these mistakes.
So, some measures to protect you can take to protect your employees, clients and business are explained below.
Alert customers to dangers
If your business contains inherent risks such as certain some sporting activities, the operation of heavy machinery or the use of tools, for example, you can ask people to sign exemptions or post warning signs of innate risks.
However, be aware that laws may vary in terms of the exemption and whether or not they can be applied. It is also important to note that risky projects are likely to have higher insurance premiums for small businesses. So, be sure to alert people to the possible dangers that are posed in that area ahead of time.
Get insurance coverage
Claims for incidents of business liability can be expensive. Having general liability insurance can cover a client who is injured at your premises or your workplace for medical expenses. It can also provide legal protection if the customer decides to sue. This protection may also be paid for repairing or replacing customer property accidentally damaged by you.
Provide Any Protection Needed
If you are a business that deals with, for example, chemicals or building equipment then it is your responsibility as an employer to provide the necessary safety equipment required by your employees or any visiting clients etc. This could be anything from hard hats and safety glasses on a building site to hazmat suits and respiratory equipment where necessary if there are chemicals or fumes involved. For example, if you work in research laboratories that are used to conduct tests and research on hazardous chemicals, you must ensure that well ventilated, safe work environments are provided and equipment like fume cupboards are also at hand; companies like ISG customise cabinets to your exact specification, so tailor-made solutions can ensure maximum safety.
Inspect the premises regularly
The best way to prevent accidents or physical harm is to periodically check the workplace for potential risks. Inspection should be scheduled at regular intervals, for example, weekly or monthly, but you can also perform inspections on occasions to see how the job usually looks without being ready. For fire safety, you could arrange for a professional to come in to inspect and complete expert fire strategy reports to see where there could be extra tweaks and improvements to ensure optimum fire safety for all.
Also, be sure to maintain accurate records of all inspections, maintenance and inquiries into incidents. Maintaining records can help you track repeated accidents and identify areas with the highest risk potential.
Maintain equipment and tools
Your company’s resources and equipment can become defective or breakdown without regular maintenance, threatening customers and employees. Clean and test your equipment regularly to ensure safe operations and good working conditions. You can do this in house or by partnering with an experienced third-party contractor. For instance, if your company makes regular use of equipment that, if left to become damaged, has a potential fire risk, it may be worth investing in expert infrared thermography, a type of imaging which will indicate if any machinery is on its way out and posing a risk. You can then put this collected information to use to make informed decisions and repair any damage or replace tools that pose a large danger to your employees or premises.
So, taking into consideration the points made above, is your business safe for your employees and clients at this present moment? If not, it may time to take some of these points into action.
