The Basics Of Health And Safety In The Workplace

When it comes to health and safety in the workplace, it can seem like there is a lot to get your head around. However, despite this being a complex and extremely important topic, it’s not necessarily as difficult to suss out as you might think. In this blog, we go back to basics to help you make sure your workspace is a safe, healthy and pleasant place for both you and your employees. Create a safe, comfortable environment First and foremost, you’ll need to ensure your office is safe and comfortable. Since it’s likely your workforce will be on the job for the majority of the day, it’s important that their surroundings are up-to-scratch. So, to help you create a suitable office, you should make sure it features the following: Good lighting A well-lit workspace is an absolute must. Poor quality lighting could seriously affect your employees’ moods and wellbeing, which in turn could have an impact on their ability to perform well. An office that is too bright or too dim could also cause physical problems, such as eyestrain, headaches and fatigue, so it’s important to pay attention to your lighting levels. To avoid issues like this, you should make sure you provide sufficient light at all workstations. To give your workers added control over brightness levels, you could consider providing employees with individual desk lamps to supplement your overhead light. Reasonable temperature It’s also important to make sure your workspace is at a reasonable temperature. Having your office too hot or too cold may leave some of your employees feeling unhappy, so it’s crucial that you try to set the temperature at a level that suits everyone. Although there isn’t a law that states a minimum or maximum temperature, it’s thought that the ideal setting in a workplace should be at least 16C. In an office environment, you may find that a slightly higher temperature is more suitable. Ventilation Making sure your office is well ventilated is essential. Ideally, you should have an effective ventilation system in place, or ensure that the space has a supply of clean, fresh air being drawn in from outside. Allowing air to enter and circulate freely in the space should help prevent your workers from spreading infectious illnesses, therefore reducing the number of employee absences. Comfortable workstations Especially if your workers are required to sit for long periods of time in front of a computer, comfortable workstations are a must. Ideally, each of your staff members should have their own individual desk accompanied by an adjustable and supportive chair. The setup of the space is important too. For example, computer screens should be at eye level and positioned about an arm’s length away, while the keyboard and mouse should be placed in close proximity so that the user can move their hand from one to the other with ease. Clear walkways Did you know that, according to the Health and Safety Executive, the majority of trips in the workplace are caused by obstructed walkways? Your workers should be able to move around your office without putting their wellbeing in any danger, so it’s paramount that you keep passageways clear at all times. To help enforce this, you could adopt a ‘see it, sort it’ attitude. If any of your staff see an obstructed walkway, you could encourage them to either fix the problem themselves or report the issue for someone of seniority to address. It’s also important to make sure you have an effective cleaning regime in place. Tidy wires You should also ensure that all computer cables, telephone wires and any other trailing cords are tidied away. Fortunately, there are a number of useful accessories you could use to help you organise any unruly wires. For example, you could group a number of wires together with plastic ties or fix a cable tray to the underside of each workstation. You could even invest in desks with integral cable management systems, such as models with inbuilt wire ports. Provide sufficient welfare facilities The wellbeing and happiness of your workers is crucial, so it’s important that you provide them with the basic amenities that will make them feel content and comfortable at work. For example, you will need to have working toilets and hand basins, in addition to soap and towels or hand dryers. You should also make sure your personnel have access to safe, clean drinking water and a place where they can eat meals and rest, like a kitchen or breakout area. Ideally, your workers should also have somewhere to keep their belongings, such as coats, bags and clothing if they are required to wear a special uniform. In this instance, your members of staff should also have use of a private area where they can get changed. Put suitable first aid arrangements in place Having suitable first aid arrangements in place is extremely important. In the event that an employee falls ill or is injured, you will need to have a process in place to ensure they’re looked after and receive the immediate attention they might need. Even in an office environment, an accident can occur or an illness can strike at any time, so it’s crucial that you’re fully prepared. As a minimum requirement, your workplace should have a suitably stocked first aid box, as well as an appointed person to take charge. You may decide that you need a qualified first-aider. In this case, you could select a member of staff to undergo approved training to gain a certification in first aid. Although there is much more to health and safety in the workplace, the points in this blog should help you understand the basics and how you can turn your office into a happy, healthy and safe environment for everyone to enjoy.

March 6, 2017 | View: 397 | Categories: ROOT