How to create a safe work environment

Creating a safe work environment is imperative for any engineering firm, no matter how small. When employees feel safe at work, they are more driven to help a company reach its goals. Here are some tips for creating such an environment:

Perform emergency drills. It is important for your business to have clearly labeled exits and to practice emergency safety drills at least once a year, or more often if you have employee turnover. Drills are an effective way to help employees know how to calmly handle any emergency.

Maintain the workplace. Regularly check the workplace to make sure there is nothing hazardous on the floor or outside. For example, make sure sidewalks are properly plowed and salted in the winter and rubber mats are near the doorways to prevent employee falls.

No heavy lifting. Make sure you have hand dollies and other equipment to move furniture or heavy boxes of paper, and leave those tasks to someone with the physical strength and training to lift without endangering their backs.

Policies and consequences. It is crucial for organizations and businesses to provide training for employees to prevent harassment or other negative behavior in the workplace. Policies need to be explicit, with consequences fully explained.

Create effective reporting methods. If an employee is harassed in any type of way, there should be a straightforward process to report the incident to human resources.This process should be explained in the employee handbook.