Looking to begin or improve your business safety program? There’s no need to overthink it. There are a few key components that make an employee safety training program particularly effective, by giving employees the tools they need to do their job safely and effectively.
Here are some of the must-have measures in your business’s safety training program.
Ergonomics
Do your employees feel claustrophobic in their office space? Are there only windows that don’t open in climate controlled conditions? Pay attention to the quality of your employees’ work environment.
While it’s true that the risks of injury while working in an office are much less then compared to physically demanding fields (such as construction or manufacturing), workplace injuries can be costly in workman’s compensation claims and loss of productivity.
Common ergonomic injuries include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sprain
- Strain
- Hernia
- Inflammation
Educate yourself and teach employees how to properly lift, sit, and move throughout their day to avoid these injuries.
Resources
Do not underestimate the importance of supporting employees in all of the challenges they face, both on and off the job. If your company has a mental health support policy, share it with them. Consider offering incentives for exercise or include employees in physical fundraising challenges. Employees will recognize as a caring company. Employees who feel valued are more productive for your businesses.
The bottom line is, if an employee feels at all unsafe in your business, you should provide the means for them to report this and receive the assistance that they need.
Equipment
Safe use of job-specific equipment is a must, even for those who are highly skilled with lost of experience. While there is nothing quite like on-the-job experience, some employees may not know the ins and outs of a particular piece of machinery. This component is fully dependent on the particular industry, but be certain to account for every piece of machinery or equipment your employees could come into contact with.
Even if you don’t think that certain employees will use specific pieces of equipment, it won’t hurt to give them a quick run-down on what the equipment is, what it does, and how to deactivate it in an emergency situation. A good safety program will go hand-in-hand with a safety evaluation, and address all of the possible issues brought about by the evaluation.
Tips for Executing a Training Plan
Safety training must take into consideration who is being trained. Information that is too broad and general is not effective, and most employees won’t respond well to a thick packet of reading material or a long, droning presentation. Customize your training to your business’s needs and your employees’ prior knowledge. Make sure to include interactive portions, as this will give your employees a chance to practice some of the more practical guidelines and will ensure that they don’t grow bored with the training.
Training should never be a one and done process. Every employee should be trained upon hiring, but it won’t do much good if that’s their only training and they encounter a safety incident two years later. Post reminders of safety polices in common areas (such as the break room), and hold regular refreshers.
Hold everyone from upper level managers and company owners to interns accountable to the same safety standards. Modeling safety from the top sets the tone for the company, and getting uper management involved will help to demonstrate to all other employees that this is important. Leading by example is key.
Lastly, with all of the new technology available, get creative with your training methods! Mobile and adaptive safety training would be the most useful, and would likely be more effective with your younger or more tech-savvy employees. Stay up to date with the latest technology resources to implement into your program.
Safety training is crucial, but unfortunately not all accidents can be prevented. Make sure you have a comprehensive Business Insurance package in place to keep your New Jersey business protected in the event of an unforeseen disaster.
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