It doesn’t matter whether you work in an office, a factory or a laboratory, to name a few workplaces; there is always the risk of injury. That said, it’s important that you create a safe environment for yourself and your employees, and safety equipment is one the best ways to do this.
Your place of work need to have the correct safety measures in place and that you have a supply of safety equipment ready for your staff. But, regardless of the availability of the supply, your employees need to be able to use it. That said, depending on the level of safety equipment you require, you may also need to train your staff to ensure everyone uses it properly and remains safe on site.
But how to know which safety equipment that’s required? First thing first, you need to know what kind of hazards that your staff is exposed to.
Different hazards in the workplace
Your workplace could have any number of hazards, whether it’s a simple office layout or something a little riskier. There are particular kinds of hazards that you may need to protect your staff from, including physical hazards. This could mean ladders, spillages, moving parts of equipment and such that could potentially cause injury.
If you work with chemicals, you will have to be aware of possible fumes, gasoline, flammable materials and perhaps even carbon monoxide. Ergonomic hazards could also cause problems; if you work in an environment that requires frequent lifting or you work in poor lighting conditions, you could be at risk of injury to yourself or others.
So how do you protect yourself and your staff accordingly? While you may not need to buy every piece of safety equipment under the sun, it’s important that you assess carefully what risks you could avoid with specific protective equipment.
Correct safety equipment
Providing protective equipment for your staff can reduce the risk of injury in the workplace, but how do you know what you’ll need? Here are just a few different types of equipment that are worth investing in.
1. Protective clothing
This can be one of the most important parts of safety equipment for your staff. Whether you provide a stock of disposable coveralls or overshoes to protect clothing from getting spoiled in the workplace.
Depending on the environment you work in, safety glasses could be a huge part of your daily uniform. If you work with chemicals or machinery, everyone will need to make sure they are wearing safety glasses of some kind. Ear protection may also be crucial if you work amongst loud machines or in an environment such as a building site, to avoid damage from drills and other equipment.
High visibility jackets could also be vital; if you work in low light or near busy roads this could be essential to your safety at work!
2. First aid supplies
If your workplace resembles something a little less risky such as an office, you may only require the likes of a first aid kid, should anyone injure themselves on a smaller scale. It’s always handy to have bandages, plasters and sterile wipes, to name a few.
3. Warning signs & posters
If you are undertaking some cleaning work, or there is a wet or hazardous area in your place of work, it’s helpful to have signs to warn other colleagues that the area isn’t 100% safe at the moment.
Wet floor signs or other similar cautions could be incredibly useful in reducing the risk of an injury!
Takeaway
If you’re not sure of what you should do, please consult with safety consultant on what to do when disasters happen, and which equipment should your business invest in. If you’re looking for the perfect set of safety equipment for your place of work, contact System Hygiene.