Safety protocol is arguably the most important aspect of facility management. Without proper safety measures in place, your business cannot function properly at all. However, many facility managers prioritize safety only in name. In practicality, they do not make the safety of their employees a top concern in their communications or protocol.
In order to create a truly safe place to work, you must make it clear to employees that safety comes before productivity. This will not only improve your workplace culture but it will save your bottom line. Workplace injuries cost businesses over $170 billion each year. By making the safety of employees and customers a serious concern, you can make your business better in every way.
Below are a few ways in which you can improve safety communications at every level:
- Use the right language – Most safety protocols have a list of “Do Not…” actions, but very few focus on proper handling of equipment and safety procedures. This immediately turns your employees off to the idea of safety training. Instead, use positive language to ensure your employees the right thing to do, instead of all the wrong things.
- Be specific in your training – When you train employees on equipment use and general safety procedures such as fire escape, be very specific. Employees may be afraid to ask questions or not know which questions to ask, so you must be thorough when explaining all safety procedures.
- Use visuals and real scenarios in your training – Visual safety guides are greatly effective because they take half the time to understand and will stick better in the memory of your employees. Real-life scenarios of safety procedures, or examples of preventable onsite injuries of the past can help your employees understand the importance of the protocols.
- Require breaks after certain working times – Repetitive and overexertion injuries are some of the most common — and costly — injuries in commercial facilities. Many employers push employees for greater productivity, but it costs them in the long-term when these employees develop serious injuries. In order to combat this, make sure your employees take frequent breaks.
- Make training and education a cycle – You can’t simply train each employee on their first day and expect them to retain all the safety protocols at your facility. Annual, quarterly, or even monthly training is vital to ensure that when an accident or emergency occurs, everyone is prepared.
These simple safety measures will go a long way toward protecting your employees and your bottom line. For more information on facility safety and training, visit our resource center.
