So you’ve decided to start your own business. You have put together a business plan and you are ready to make your first move and set up ready for your first day. But have you thought of everything? There is one important issue you need to make sure you have taken care of before you share your new venture with the public and even, any employees you may have.

Being Health and Safety Conscious in your Workplace.

Gone are the days of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. These days, you need to make sure you have considered all the risks associated with your business and taken this into account when it comes to inviting people, employees or customers alike onto your premises.

But what are the best ways to go about making sure you are up to code and following all relevant regulations and staying free from violations and the risk of claims against you should anything happen? Read on to find out how to make sure your company meets all of its health and safety regulations.

Risk Assessment.

Conducting a risk assessment of every part of your premises and any equipment you may have is essential before you open your business. Are your electrics up to code and any hazards minimised? Are you aware of what you need to put into action each and every day to make sure your employees and customers are safe when they come into work?

With over 3,414 employees losing their lives in workplace accidents between 2003 and 2016, it pays to make sure you can provide the best and safest working environment you can. If this is something you choose to do yourself, make sure you are knowledgeable about the regulations in your state and what requirements you need to meet. 

If you are unsure of your legal requirements in this area, make sure to check out government information which is readily available online so you are aware of what you need to put into practice.

Alternatively, you can contact a professional in this area to make sure you are up to code for all business health and safety matters. This will also come in useful for following guidelines when your business is up and running.

Insurance Premiums.

If your business isn’t meeting health and safety laws in your state, you can be sure this will affect your insurance premiums. So doing the risk assessment as we described above before taking out your business insurance is in your best interests. This will show your insurance provider you are doing everything you can to minimise risk or accidents resulting in fewer claims against your policy.

Every business that has customers on the premises and/or employees needs to make sure they care actively minimising any health and safety risks as well as being protected for any accidents too.

Staff Training is Essential.

This doesn’t mean just keeping yourself up to date with new rules and regulations regarding advances and changes to health and safety in the workplace, any employees you have must also be up to date too. Making health and safety training part something you do regularly will help you make sure you keep your standards high and any problems to a minimum.

Incorporate this into staff training for new and existing employees and consider making a staff member, if you have them, the go-to person for issues and concerns regarding workplace injuries or concerns. This will enable you to deal with any issues or potential issues efficiently as people will have a designated person to contact.

As well as this, if your employees need to use specialised equipment to do their job, making sure they have the correct and thorough training they need before they start the job can help you adhere to health and safety practices also.

Purchase the Correct Equipment.

Photo by Silvia Brazzoduro on Unsplash

This can mean different things to different businesses. For example, if you are in the construction trade, then making sure your employees have the correct protection for the job they are doing is paramount and an essential part of minimising any potential risks. 

Alongside correct and proficient training you can reduce the risk of any workplace accidents for employees and customers using your site too.

Making sure you take into account any limitations people have due to illnesses, disabilities and pregnancy and adapting to them, will also keep you ahead of the game when it comes to not only keeping employees happy but also making sure they are able to do their job properly. 

In conclusion, adhering to the laws when it comes to health and safety practises can not only protect you and your business but also your employees and customers too.