Hi there!
It’s another Wednesday and this one in particular is the last one in the “longest” month of the year. Lol!! Well, finally you can heave a sigh of relief that the month with a regular version, pro and pro max versions is winding up.
Last week, we talked about productivity while working from home; this new normal has been amplified as typical organizations that would normally work from office spaces now work from home because of the prevalence of the CoVid-19 with an even deadlier variant than the former. One of the common phrases that has been frequently used world over both formally and informally since last year has been “Stay Safe”. This goes to tell us that safety is everybody’s business and safety in any environment cannot be overemphasized especially in the work environment as we get to spend ample time of our lives in the places we work.
HSE is an acronym for Health, Safety and Environment which simply means practical steps organizations must put in place to ensure the well-being of everyone or prevention from harm. Like I earlier mentioned, Health and Safety in the workplace is everybody’s business. As simple as hand washing with soap and water, use of sanitizers, hygienic use of face masks and maintaining distance are, they are basic and necessary health protocols for this period. Any lag from one person is the exposure of everyone within the space to potential harm. HSE is taken more seriously in high risk or hazardous jobs like rig workers, construction sites, manufacturing factories among others as fire drills, emergency evacuation procedures are rehearsed every now and then but that does not rule out the possibility of emergencies of harm in service organizations. Besides, HSE is not restricted to emergencies alone, but general prevention of any kind of harm.
How then can we ensure safety in the workplace?
- Prioritize Improving Health and Safety in the Workplace: Employers and employees must identify hazardous place in the environment and employ measure to eliminate or diminish. Create a safety plan and keep in close range where everyone can see it. Have sessions to educate employees on the needs for safety and simple safety protocols. Have a first aid kit and make it accessible to all.
- Regular Checks: Create a routine check of all office equipment and tools to ensure safety for use and maintenance. Ensure employees follow the guidelines for ensuring safety in the workplace no matter the department.
- Keep an Open Dialogue: Engage in health and safety discussions with employees and encourage them to speak up in areas where they do not feel safe or equipment that have become faulty. Regular training on new health and safety measures should be had to be abreast with latest innovations.
- Investigate Accidents: Never let incidents of accidents slip by without proper investigations as this will prevent a reoccurrence and escalation of the incident. Ensure this is done, notwithstanding the severity of the incidence.
- Keep Records: Maintain a record of all investigations, incidences, inspections, first aid treatments and trainings. These actually help to keep track and note trends to avoid reoccurrence or totally elimination of the accident-prone equipment and fixing of the accident-prone zones.
Safety in the workplace cannot be handled with levity and in curtailing accidents and ensuring safety in the workplace, the ISO Standardizations of 9001:2015 (Quality Management System) and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) can be put in place to further ensure the safety of the workplace.
At 21Search, we can help you with all your standardization needs including those mentioned in this article. Send us an email today and we will gladly provide any assistance you need. Until I come your way again, stay safe, work smart and not just hard.
Lizzy.