Safety and health in the workplace are essential, often not just to protect you and your employees but the public too. There are many things that could happen to cause an accident or injury to a person, and it’s important to assess these risks before anything can happen. Even in relatively safe workplaces, such as offices, there are things that could go wrong. To make your business safer, you should offer training to your staff. Some training courses might be industry specific while others are useful for a broad range of sectors. Have a look at just some of the ways you can train your staff to recognize and manage potential dangers.
First Aid
It’s a good idea always to have at least one person on site who is trained in basic first aid, no matter which industry you operate in. You should keep a first aid kit on hand in case of emergency, so that your trained staff member can administer treatment when it’s appropriate. They can also learn how to make someone comfortable or perform CPR while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
Fire Training
Any workplace contains a risk of fire, but some will have more fire hazards than others. It’s especially important for companies in some industries to have someone trained in fire emergencies, such as construction. Containing small fires is one of the most essential skills. What you learn in fire extinguisher training can prevent a small fire from developing into a full-blown disaster. But helping to evacuate everyone in an emergency is another part of training that plays a vital part.
Chemical Safety
In some workplaces, you are required to teach your staff how to handle hazardous substances. If your company works with chemicals or other material that can cause illness or injury if handled incorrectly, it’s essential that everyone knows the rules. You should have stringent policies in place to protect everyone. And any employee involved in working with these substances must have the appropriate training.
Food Safety
If your business sells food to the public, or perhaps has a canteen, food safety and hygiene are crucial. There are many guidelines for handling food and the preparation and cooking environment in a safe and clean manner. It’s important to prevent cross-contamination of bacteria, to prepare and cook food appropriately and to keep surfaces clean. Any member of staff working with food should have training in safety and hygiene.
General Compliance
If your staff needs something a little less specific, there is a range of topics they can cover on safety training courses. Many of them make your employees aware of hazards when performing certain activities. These range from traveling and working outside on a hot day to housekeeping and the importance of remaining alert. You can have a training program tailored to the needs of your business to make sure that all staff members are up to speed.
Keep your workplace and employees safe by training them in appropriate safety and health skills. The right training could prevent a disaster in the future.
