Top 10 Office Safety Rules

Office Safety Guidelines

When the workforce commits to safety, the overall work environment develops a stronger and resilient safety culture. We’ve put together 10 general office safety guidelines below, to help workplaces follow through on safety:

  1. Conduct office walkthroughs

Organize a team or assign personnel to conduct regular office walkthroughs and observe safety protocols. Pay close attention to various environments in the workspace and observe employees’ working circumstances to identify possible risks or hazards (e.g., collisions and obstacles, poor lighting, and environmental toxins).

  1. Keep work areas neat and tidy

Employees should keep work areas uncluttered to prevent slips, trips, and falls. Cleaning and sanitizing as they go is also beneficial to keep the workplace free of harmful germs and viruses.

  1. Promote employee hygiene

Employee hygiene has become a very real office safety concern. To prevent the spread of harmful viruses between employees, it is crucial to have controls in place such as wearing masks, applying hand sanitizers, and observing proper hand-washing techniques.

  1. Dress appropriately

Depending on the nature of work, employees should carefully consider the most appropriate clothing to minimize common workplace injuries and accidents. This may include avoiding wearing dangling jewelry or ties and wearing closed-toe shoes. When and where necessary, personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn.

  1. Observe proper handling procedures

Proper lifting and bending techniques should be instilled in employees to prevent physical injuries. If an employee is not sure how to do this, it is better to ask for help from a supervisor or company safety officer.

  1. Avoid using tools or machinery you’re not trained for

While some tools may seem intuitive and easy to use, it’s always best to avoid using them without proper training. This is to ensure not only the safety of one individual but also the surrounding people.

  1. Fully close doors and cabinet drawers

Avoid leaving doors, and cabinet and desk drawers open. They can be a cause of collision and tripping. Encourage employees to close them after every use.

  1. Familiarize the workforce with emergency procedures

Run drills and training courses to guide employees on what to do when an emergency crisis occurs.

  1. Take breaks appropriately

Well-rested employees are able to maintain their focus and awareness of their surroundings and safety which is valuable to maintain safety in the work environment.

  1. Always report unsafe conditions

Have a system in place for reporting unsafe conditions. Empower your employees to speak up when something is amiss in the workplace and threatens their safety. A digital checklist makes a great tool for ensuring safety standards and measures are being implemented. It can also assist in performing site walkthroughs, inspections, risk assessments, or even reporting incidents.

Source: Safety Culture

For more information visit www.cisonsite.com or contact us at 866-298-1312.

Psychological safety in the workplace: The secret to happy & productive teams

8 tips for creating psychological safety in the workplace

  1. Encourage active listening

Active listening is all about really paying attention to what someone is saying, and showing that you’re interested in their ideas. This can be as simple as making eye contact, nodding your head, and asking follow-up questions. When people feel like they’re being heard, they’re more likely to speak up and contribute to the conversation.

  1. Lead by example

Leaders and managers have the power to set the tone for the entire organization. If you want to create a psychologically safe workplace, it’s important to lead by example. This means showing respect for your colleagues, avoiding negative or dismissive language, and encouraging everyone to contribute to the conversation.

  1. Provide opportunities for feedback

Feedback is a critical component of psychological safety. It gives people the chance to reflect on their behavior, learn from their mistakes, and grow as individuals. Encourage regular check-ins, performance evaluations, and open-door policies to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to provide and receive feedback in a supportive environment.

  1. Foster a culture of trust

Trust is the foundation of psychological safety. When people feel like they can trust their colleagues and leaders, they’re more likely to speak up and share their ideas. To build trust in your workplace, start by being transparent about your intentions and decisions, and by holding yourself accountable for your actions.

  1. Embrace diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are key drivers of psychological safety, as they help to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Encourage diversity of thought, background, and experience, and create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to collaborate and share their perspectives. Not sure where to start? Try including diversity in your internal communications. It goes a lot further than you’d think.

  1. Make time for fun

It’s important to remember that work shouldn’t be something that’s dreaded — it should be enjoyable. When people have fun at work, they’re more likely to feel connected to their colleagues and to feel invested in the success of the organization. Encourage your team to take breaks, have some fun, and build meaningful relationships with one another.

Try one of these 34 team-building ideas perfect for remote teams.

  1. Encourage open communication

Open communication is critical to creating a psychologically safe workplace. Encourage your team to speak up, share their ideas, and ask questions. When people feel like they can freely express their opinions, they’re more likely to contribute to the conversation, and to feel more engaged and invested in their work. One magic tool for facilitating open communication is video.

  1. Harness the power of video

Video communication is a powerful tool for creating psychological safety in your workplace — especially within remote and hybrid teams. Video provides a level of personal connection that’s difficult to replicate with just audio or text. It allows people to see each other’s expressions and body language, and to feel more connected to their colleagues, even when working remotely.

Source: https://biteable.com/blog/psychological-safety-in-the-workplace/

For more information visit www.cisonsite.com or contact us at 866-298-1312.

30 spring safety tips for the workplace

While the dangers of winter weather fade away, spring offers a whole new set of hazards to look out for. Increased rainfall brings structural issues and slip hazards with it. Whether you or your employees work in the office, the field, or the comfort of home, you can benefit from these spring safety tips in 2022.

Share them on your company social media site or use them at your next standup meeting. While these tips are seasonal, safety is not. Little reminders can go a long way in preventing injuries.

Spring safety tips for employees

Here are 15 safety tips that you can share with workers as spring kicks into gear:

 

  1. Check the weather before leaving the house. You may encounter several types of weather in one day.
  2. Wear non-slip shoes to prevent slipping on wet floors.
  3. Keep an umbrella in your car, just like you would keep an ice scraper during the winter.
  4. Check the air pressure in your tires frequently. Temperature fluctuations in the spring can mess with the balance of all four tires and increase your chance of an accident.
  5. Always wear protective gloves even if it’s hot outside.
  6. Apply sunscreen before working in the sun.
  7. Stay hydrated throughout your shift by always having a reusable water bottle handy.
  8. Make sure that your windshield wipers are in working condition before heading to work.
  9. Keep all your required PPE in your vehicle or bag so that you never forget to bring it with you.
  10. Don’t forget to use handrails when climbing stairs, especially if your shoes are wet.
  11. Clean your workstation regularly to eliminate trip hazards.
  12. Avoid walking through the grass and dirt when possible. This interferes with the traction on your shoes and can cause a slip.
  13. When using a ladder, make sure that your shoes are as dry as you can get them.
  14. Always have an extra layer of clothing with you in case the temperature drops during your shift.
  15. Let safety leaders know about any hazards you come across while working.

 

Spring safety tips for employers

Get your facility ready for weather changes with these safety tips. And consider doing thorough, in-depth audits of each zone within the building to find hazards. For each hazard, come up with an action item that you can implement and track as spring progresses.

 

  1. Check the gutters in your facility. All downspouts should be facing away from the building’s foundation and provide a steady water flow. If the flow is uneven, you may need to clear a clogged gutter.
  2. Put out non-slip mats at each entrance. Make sure that they are secured and cover high-traffic walking paths.
  3. Secure all windows that you do not want opened. As the temperature rises, employees are more likely to try and open nearby windows.
  4. Check the seals at all loading and unloading doors. Secure loose seals so the rain doesn’t seep in and create slip hazards.
  5. Conduct a spring clean and promptly dispose of unused/broken equipment.
  6. Audit your warm weather PPE levels. Make sure you have the right gear for workers who will be outside.
  7. Review emergency plans for inclement weather. Check that all signage is up to date and that employees know what to do.
  8. Secure any outdoor items to make sure they won’t blow away in the wind.
  9. Trim overgrown branches that could cause a hazard in high winds. Tree limbs can cause structural damage to windows, the roof, siding, and more.
  10. Add fresh paint to your site’s parking lot, ensuring that all markings are easy to see. Pay special attention to crosswalks, intersections, and handicap spaces.
  11. Spray for common pests prior to increases in heat and rainfall.
  12. Audit building sidewalks for new cracks and trip hazards that have formed since the winter months.
  13. Ensure that heaters and/or fans are plugged in someplace that doesn’t create a trip hazard.
  14. Provide face masks to any workers who are dusting as part of your spring-cleaning protocol.
  15. Review your site’s 5S for any items that may have been relocated for the colder months. Move and mark any items that are moved for spring.

Source: https://www.fldata.com/spring-safety-tips

For more information visit www.cisonsite.com or contact us at 866-298-1312.