Safety in the workplace improves productivity and prevents expensive legal liabilities. You want your employees to feel that they work in a safe environment while also meeting crucial federal regulation standards. Accidents can happen at any time and it’s important you come prepared with the following must-have safety equipment.
1. Eye and Face Protection
Whether you work in a chemistry lab or in an office that uses chemicals for cleaning, emergency eyewash equipment allows employees to act fast if their eyes become exposed to damaging substances. To avoid this scenario as often as possible, make sure to equip employees with goggles, safety glasses, surgical masks and protective hats. For outdoor work, make sure employees always wear sunscreen and sunglasses to prevent UV ray damage.
2. Forklifts and Dolly Carts
Heavy lifting is a common cause of workplace injuries. You’ll want to make sure the more strenuous tasks required in the workplace can be done efficiently and with limited risk. Forklifts are excellent tools for transporting and storing heavy boxes at various height levels. For smaller lifting projects, dolly carts can be an inexpensive solution for reducing heavy lifting and maximizing efficiency.
3. Emergency Exits
This one might not technically be a piece of equipment, but your workplace should be designed to facilitate emergency exits in case of fire, flood, burglary or any other dangerous situation. Be sure to have well-lit exit signs to ensure their visibility during an emergency. Keep the workplace organized to avoid blocking potential exits. Be sure to have an emergency preparedness program so employees know what to do in case of an emergency.
4. Updated Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System
More than an environmental concern, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system ensures your workplace is a comfortable and safe environment. Look for advanced systems that help filter out potential airborne contaminants which affect the health of employees as well as the quality of your products. Temperature can also have an effect on this quality so you’ll want to make sure this is well-regulated at all times.
5. Step Ladders
Even relatively small facilities will likely have to store some equipment in high places. As a business owner, you’ll need to make sure that this equipment is easily accessible to all your employees in order to avoid dangerous climbing and reaching. Make sure you have step ladders located as close as possible to the areas most frequently utilized. Encourage employees to use step ladders in pairs. Make sure both the ladder and their shoes are free of slippery substances before climbing.
It’s not enough for employers to store all of the equipment available for employees– you have to make sure employees know exactly how to practice safety precautions. In your employee training programs, address safety issues to ensure your employees know the rules before they get overwhelmed with work. Regularly review the rules with current employees and conduct regular emergency drills so everyone knows exactly how to respond in an emergency situation.