Now work from home guidance has been lifted and life is slowly returning to normal, businesses will be excited about welcoming their employees back to the office, warehouse, site, shop or wherever they trade.
Employee health and safety should not be overlooked in the rush to return to normal. Keeping employees safe and well should be a priority for every business, especially after the struggles of the last year.
Why is employee health safety important?
There are several reasons why employee health and safety is important. Beyond being UK law to keep your employees safe and well at work, there are other implication to consider too.
Legal implications
Following stringent work and site safety guidelines will protect your business as well as employees.
If you don’t keep your employees safe and an accident happens, your business could be liable in a court of law for any compensation.
Hefty fines and forced closures could be enacted on your business if you don’t follow health and safety guidelines.
Moral implications
All businesses have a moral duty to keep their staff safe. As an employer, and as a human being, it should be your priority to focus on the welfare of the people who work for you.
Better staff retention
Employees that feel safe and protected at work are more likely to stay in their jobs. Therefore, following health and safety guidelines will help you retain staff.
In turn, this will give your company a good reputation as an employer of choice. Helping you attract the best talent around.
How to make your business a healthy and safe workplace?
Luckily, there are a few quick and simple ways to make your business a safe and healthy pace to work.
Correct safety equipment
Purchasing the correct safety equipment for your business is the first step to ensuring employee health and safety.
It is important to ensure all your equipment is maintained and cared for, so it can continue to protect your staff.
Employee training
Training your employees on how to do their jobs safely is vital. You should also train them on how to handle equipment properly too.
Communication is vital
It is important to build a culture of communication into your workplace, so that employees can raise any safety concerns with you.
This communication is vital to the culture of your business and will help employees feel safe and heard.
Consider mental health
Mental health concerns are also important considerations when thinking about employee health and safety.
It is important to support your staff when they raise issues such as burnout, stress and anxiety. Not dealing with these can negatively affect your business.
By taking employee health and safety seriously you will protect your staff, yourself and your business.