Benefits That Come from Implementing A Smoke-Free Workplace Policy

Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

In the early days, smoking used to be commonplace in areas that it is strictly prohibited nowadays. Offices, hospitals and even airplanes. Were not spared of this common, everyday habit. Today, this has changed. People are getting increasingly knowledgeable and aware of the negative impacts tobacco products have on one’s health. More and more people are quitting smoking or are not committing to it at all. Same goes for office space and any other enclosed spaces. Employees are expressing their annoyance and dissatisfaction with tobacco emissions. Ones that never have, nor were going to smoke are particularly vocal about the negative effects of second-hand smoke. Which is understandable, since this group of people used to be forced to inhale someone else’s smoke. All of that has changed but the employers were faced with a dilemma. How does one promote a healthy working environment while offering a space for more passionate smokers? Here are some of the benefits a smoke-free working environment offers to our employee and the collective in general.Continue reading

How to Keep Safe & Well at Work

Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

Health and safety should be at the forefront of every business’ priorities. Not only are they legally obligated to offer their employees a safe working environment; improving the company culture can boost their workforce and help increase employee retention for years to come. You need to take advantage of all the benefits that are offered to you because it is only when both you and your employer prioritize your safety and wellness can you truly thrive in the working environment. To help you love your job, start by following these steps.

Listen and Follow to All Safety Guidelines

If there are safety rules and guidelines at your workplace, it is important that you follow them and that you do your part to maintaining the overall safety at your workplace. If it your job to check the state of the machinery on a certain day, and you don’t do so for whatever reason, you could be liable if any injuries occurred on that day. Do your part to keep your workspace an enjoyable and safe environment for everyone.Continue reading

How to Ensure Your Employees Remain Safe at Work

helmet and construction equipment with building and crane against dusky sky use for construction business theme

Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

In all types of workplaces, there are various types of equipment and machinery that is used to carry out necessary tasks. As all work machinery and equipment has the potential to cause damage and harm, it is important that all employees are fully aware of its correct and proper use and how to avoid accidents occurring in the workplace. All employees in a workplace should be responsible for ensuring that the equipment remains safe to use, reporting any faults accordingly, and making sure that nobody is at risk of harm from faulty or damaged machinery or equipment.

How to Make Sure That Work Equipment is Safe

Work equipment is any equipment used at work, such as forklift trucks, vehicle hoists, lifting slings, hand tools, vans and other vehicles, and display screen equipment such as computers. Some workplaces may also use equipment such as respiratory protective equipment and personal protective equipment. If you have control over any such work equipment, it is your legal duty to ensure that it is safe to use at all times. In order to do so, a number of measures can be taken including regular equipment checks and tests, carrying out risk assessments, following the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance and use, and establishing and ensuring that a system in place for reporting any equipment faults. You can buy safety equipment from autobodynow.com.

How to Deal with Faulty Equipment

If you discover any work equipment or machinery that is faulty or damaged, you should immediately label it unsafe for use, and report it according to your workplace’s specific guidelines. Any broken machinery or equipment should be repaired as soon as possible and tested for safety before any further use. For example, a truck bed liner that is in need of replacement should be replaced as soon as possible, and the truck should be out of use until this is carried out.

Should Employees be Trained?

Legally, any work equipment should only be used by employees who have received adequate training and are authorized to do so. Allowing untrained or unauthorized employees to use work equipment can be dangerous, and could result in accidents leading to insurance claims or worse. Depending on the equipment being used, different levels and types of training will be required. For example, equipment such as forklift trucks or vans will often require employees to have passed a driving test, whereas more basic equipment such as personal protection equipment or display screen equipment will only require employees to undergo some basic training. It is also recommended that employees who use work equipment are enrolled in regular refresher training to ensure that they stay on top of how to use the equipment and the various risks involved with doing so. Any changes to equipment also require employees to be retrained in its use.

How do you keep your employees safe at work? Which work equipment and machinery are they required to use? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments section below.