Health and safety can be a dull subject, but it’s an absolute essential for any business owner. Unless you want to put your employees in danger and face potential lawsuits and compensation cases, you’re going to have to make sure that the workplace you provide your workers with is completely up to standard. There are a number of rules and regulations in place to ensure that every workplace is safe and sound for anyone spending time or operating within it. Familiarize yourself with these. Here are just a few areas you need to focus on:
Fire Safety
Fire poses a huge risk to any business. While the majority of businesses won’t experience any fire incidents in the entire time they operate, it’s still important that you have all of the precautionary equipment and protocol in place at all times.
Fire Protocol
Start by creating a fire protocol. All employees should know how to act and what to do in the event of a fire. You should ensure that everyone knows all fire exits available to them and that they also know basic safety information, such as not using the lift in case of fires.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms should be fitted in any commercial premises. This will detect fire in its early stages and give everyone notice to evacuate the building. There are various types of alarm out there, so opt for those that are wired into the mains electric and can function with batteries. This will ensure they have a backup power supply, so can keep everyone safe, even if the electric goes out.
Fire Exits
All commercial premises need fire exits and these should be clearly signposted. When buying your fire exit signs, choose those that glow in the dark, so they can still indicate exits even if the power cuts off.
Fire Extinguishers
There are various types of fire extinguishers you can invest in for your business. The most common tend to water, AFFF foam, carbon dioxide, ABC powder, water mist, and wet chemical extinguishers. Make sure you have all the ones necessary for your business and place them in easy to reach spots.
Fire Curtains
Invest in fire curtains from SG Specialties. These can prevent fire from spreading from one space to another in large, open spaces where there might not be walls and doors. They’re an important addition to warehouses and other similar commercial premises.
Fire Blankets
If your workplace has kitchens, fire blankets will be necessary. Make sure you have them within easy reach of any ovens, hobs, or other potential sources of fire.
Install CCTV
CCTV cameras are generally installed in commercial properties to prevent theft of stock and damage to the building. This is effective. But CCTV is also important for safety. Tensions can get high in different commercial spaces, but people are less likely to act aggressively when they know they’re being filmed.
These are just a few things you can do to make sure your commercial premises are safe for everyone spending time within them. You may want to consider implementing them into your business.
