3 Need-to-Know Tips from PPE Suppliers for Encouraging Employee Safety in 2020
Every year, thousands of workers get injured or sick on the job because of slips, trips, falls, burns or cuts, or workplace bugs. Most employees spend a lot of time and money on PPE from various suppliers to keep their workers protected from daily hazards, but what many forget about is basic hygiene. With 2020 predicted to be the year of good hygiene, here are three need-to-know tips from one of South Africa’s leading PPE suppliers.
- Create a Risk Management and Safety Programme
If your company does not already have a risk and safety programme, now is a great time to prepare one. Beyond the tragedy of human injury and loss, workplace accidents can be costly financially. To guarantee that your employees are protected against workplace accidents and contaminations, creating an employee safety programme is essential. Start by assessing all risks to the workplace, from accidental risk and electrical risk to contagion risk, and then make your workers aware of any steps necessary to mitigate these risks. The more you communicate with your managers and employees, the safer your environment will be for everyone.
- Train Your Employees Appropriately
Naturally, you cannot expect your employees to follow health and safety practices if you have not trained them appropriately. Like a fire drill, regularly hold safety sessions, particularly with new workers. Safety sessions should include emergency responses for accidents, as well as machine and PPE safety demonstrations to reduce the likelihood of an injury, especially when handling chemicals.
- Encourage Healthy Hygiene Practices
Understanding the importance of basic workplace hygiene and encouraging it in the workplace is a responsibility that every employee must undertake. Start by making hand sanitizers available to employees and encouraging sick employees to stay at home. You can build on a policy that allows certain employees to work from home, should their spouse or kids be ill. Employers should also ensure that telephones, keyboards, door handles, desks, and tables are cleaned every day, and regularly clean your building ventilation and office air conditioning.
While there are many practical steps employers can take to keep their workplace free of hazards and germs, the best way to prevent costly injuries and sick employees is to promote safe work practices, provide the necessary PPE, and keep an open line of communication with your workers. If you are interested in learning more about how to improve the safety and hygiene of your business, chat with South Africa’s leading PPE suppliers – Top 2 Toe.