The state and cleanliness of the workplace and the health of your new hires and existing employees should be at the forefront of anyone who owns a business’s mind.
The best way for HR and bosses, in general, to set their employees up for success in 2021 is to make sure the workplace is safe for not only new hires but existing employees as well. Under OSHA law, the employer has a responsibility to the employee to provide them with a healthy, safe workspace. In this blog, you can find a few tips for making your workplace healthier and safer for your employees.
Do Background Checks on New Hires
While most employers already do background checks on their new hires, it doesn’t hurt to stress the importance, especially in today’s chaotic world. Background checks not only help you ferret out any criminal activity, but they also help you to protect your existing workers from harm, should you hire someone who is dangerous.
Train Your Staff to Make the Workplace Safer
It’s hard to have a safe workplace if your employees aren’t trained in workplace safety. Every staff member, whether they’re an existing employee, a new hire, part-time, or full-time needs to participate in workplace safety training. The last thing you want is to have OSHA come down on your business for accidents that could have been prevented. Also, having your staff certified in CPR and First Aid plays a big role in a workplace. Employees can provide medical help and even save lives in case of emergencies.
Follow all COVID-19 Pandemic Guidelines and Precautions
No article on employee safety in the workplace would be complete in 2021 without adding the mandate to follow all COVID-19 pandemic guidelines and precautions that have been set out by the CDC. It’s extremely important that you follow all safety precautions, such as checking temperatures before the day begins as employees arrive for work, wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, and disinfecting constantly. Whether it’s a new hire or an existing employee, one person can infect your whole business, so be careful and follow the rules.
Provide the Proper Safety Equipment
If your business is an industrial site, a restaurant, or any business that has equipment that can be dangerous, then you need to provide the proper safety equipment for your employees. Protective headgear, gloves, aprons, and other equipment can go a long way towards keeping your employees safe, and your business accident-free in 2021.
Make Safety as Fun as Possible
While there isn’t a whole lot that can be done to make learning about safety fun, it doesn’t have to be completely humdrum and boring. Use the workplace digital signage to remind employees of safety first rules in a fun way. Send out quizzes, trivia, and other little games for the employees to do, and offer a prize for the one that gets them all right. Making safety fun is a great way to refresh your employees’ minds, and keep the information fresh as well. While safety is no game, making it fun for your employees to learn certainly can’t hurt if it will help them stay healthy and happy.
These are just a few of the best tips for making the workplace safe for your new hires, your existing employees, and you as well. Remember, workplace safety should be your top concern if you want your employees to be happy, healthy, and safe working in your business and staying employed by you for many, many years to come.
