Any workplace can pose risks – some more than others. Whether you are working in a mine, a construction site or at a desk in an office, there are still some basic health and safety principles that we should all be aware of.
This blog will provide a brief overview into how companies and employees can avoid certain health risks in their working environment, and what to do if you think that your workplace is unsafe.
Have a process
Sickness among employees in large companies is always going to be an issue. One collective risk for a business is the onset of contagious viruses spreading among coworkers. It’s important for companies to encourage working from home or taking sick days to prevent the spread of diseases and potentially creating a negative business impact.
Prepare to prevent injury
Company procedure has the power to prevent many dangers that could present themselves in the workplace. Workplace violence, although it sounds far flung, can present a danger to employees, and employers have the right to be able to reasonably protect workers from this. This usually is perpetrated by a non-employee, therefore building security can go a long way in this prevention.
Toxic events can also be a danger in some of the most seemingly safe environments, for example office buildings. Older office buildings may present the threat of asbestos, and carbon monoxide is always a low level threat. Therefore it is important for offices to always install carbon monoxide detectors.
If you are concerned about the safety of your workplace, it is important to remember that it is your legal right to work in a safe environment.
Source: INC, “9 Avoidable Workplace Health and Safety Hazards,” Josh Spiro, accessed Sep. 15, 2017