Maintaining a safe workplace isn’t just your responsibility by law, it’s also in your best interests as a business owner or manager. Accidents can put employees in harm’s way, disrupt operations, restrict productivity, lower morale, lead to costly legal repercussions and more.

By taking proactive steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of workplace accidents and protect your team. Here are the fundamentals.

Promote a safety culture

The foundation of an accident-free workplace lies in a strong safety culture. This means creating an environment where health and safety are prioritised at every level.

It should be a top-down approach, to begin with. You, as the leader, must set the tone by modelling safe behaviours and encouraging open communication about potential hazards. As expectations start to be established, employees are more likely to follow suit.

Regular safety meetings can be instrumental, giving workers a space to voice concerns or suggest improvements. This should also help to foster a sense of responsibility among staff.

Provide proper training

Employees must know how and why they should be doing a certain way. Proper training underpins health and safety in the workplace.

From the moment a new employee joins, ensure they receive thorough training on how to perform their job safely but also on the specific risks associated with their tasks. Wider knowledge of safety hazards around the business can also be useful and empowering.

Safety training should ultimately be ongoing and it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Refresher sessions, drills, updates on new policies and introductions to new equipment are essential to maintain standards across your organisation.

Conduct regular risk assessments

Identifying and addressing potential hazards before they cause accidents should be a priority. Risk assessments are essential for pinpointing risks and implementing corrective actions – these should happen regularly, across all areas of the workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides lots of valuable information on risk assessments if you’re not sure where to begin. Act promptly on the findings after each assessment by addressing hazards and making necessary adjustments.

Provide the appropriate PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be a major focus, particularly where employees are exposed to physical, chemical or biological hazards. As an employer, you legally must provide the appropriate safety gear and equipment for each role – it must also meet legal safety standards.

Educating employees on how to correctly use the PPE they’re given is equally important. It’s only effective if used properly, so regular checks and training are critical to ensure it offers maximum protection.