It is easy to get caught up in planning end of the year celebrations at your business that you don't give a second thought to potential health and safety risks. It is particularly important for companies to be aware of these risks, as a small oversight can quickly lead to an accident. The good news is that there are a few simple strategies that you can follow to boost the safety of everyone at the workplace events:
- Establish clear, written policies. Typically businesses have multiple policies that overlap for social work functions including policies for social media, alcohol, drugs and workplace respect. If you do not already have policies in place for these aspects of your company, it is never too late to establish them. Make all of the policies clear- put them into writing and make them readily available.
- Provide training for and send out reminders about company policies. If you have brand new policies and/or your staff has not gone through policy training in a while it is best practice to require a training session before any end of the year celebrations. Don't leave everything until the last minute and simply hope for the best. It is especially important for managers to get trained as they are often expected to monitor functions for policy compliance. To guarantee smooth events make sure that the managers understand their role at functions.
- Be aware of Fair Work Commission (FWC) laws. As of 1st January 2014, employees have the right to lodge bullying complaints with the FWC. These complaints can lead to consequences for businesses as well as individuals. For serious incidents, the matter may also be sent to a health and safety regulator who can further investigate the situation and potentially enforce additional consequences.
- Supply First-aid Items. An individual should be appointed to take charge of first-aid and to manage and inform personnel on first-aid arrangements. Ideally, you should make provisions for emergency first-aid education in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), so someone is always present to help in case of a severe injury.
- Observe Comfort and Cleanliness. Besides providing basics amenities like clean working toilets, drinking water, and adequate lighting, implement an ergonomic plan to decrease the possibilities of injuries like repetitive strain injury (RSI). Also, avoid ordering cheap quality chairs and other types of furniture to prevent back problems in your employees.
- Clearly Exhibit Safety Information. Observe appropriate laws and regulations by distinctly displaying safety signs for visitors and staff, like emergency exits routes, or vehicle crossing warnings. Also, be sure to provide information on the placement of the first-aid tools.
- Ensure Risk Assessment. After considering all the potential hazards in the workplace, businesses must carry out an assessment of health and safety risks. It is mandatory to maintain and document your risk assessment and the corresponding steps you will take to mitigate accidents.
- Promptly Address Risky Situations. Appropriate measures should be taken to control workplace accidents by managing preventable risks like slippery floor surfaces, bad lighting, and trailing cables. Minimizing risk is often easy, so act promptly to mop up spillages, fix broken steps, and encourage workers to inform management about maintenance issues immediately.
Chiropractors can play an important role in serving companies who are dealing with health and safety risks. Safer environments allow workers to complete duties as they were intended improving productivity. Chiropractic physicians can help employers in evolving special plans to ensure their employees are protected and lessen work-related injury and sickness.
Katella Chiropractic and Laser Center is a premier chiropractic wellness center in Orange County California, and has been successfully treating patients with sports injuries, arthritic joints, neuropathic pain syndromes, and back and neck pain using spinal adjustments, chiropractic massages and more.
