The Importance of a Safe and Effective Workplace

Featured article by Calvin Paige, Independent Technology Author

Having a safe and effective workplace is great for every business. No matter whether you’re in construction or in an office, the workspace needs to be somewhere your employees enjoy being in and one that they feel safe being in. Having a safe workspace means adhering to the rules and regulations and always putting safety measures as a priority. Having an effective workspace means having one that your employees like being in – meaning it looks great, is comfortable, and has simple amenities like a fridge and microwave so that they can eat properly. There are so many benefits to having a safe and effective workplace – here are three of the biggest reasons you should prioritize your workspace today:

1. It’s the Law

The first and most obvious reason for ensuring that your workspace is safe is because it is the law. Having an unsafe workspace – and worse, being negligent about the unsafe aspects – is grounds for criminal and liability charges. If someone were to die, for instance, because of your negligence, you could be facing time in jail. Protect yourself by protecting your workers.

2. A Safer Workplace Makes for More Comfortable Workers

If workers feel unsafe, they won’t be productive. Feeling unsafe means anything from working with broken equipment to being harassed (either emotionally or sexually). To make your workspace a safe and functional place to be, have a high standard of protocols. For instance, if your conveyor is broken, have a system where your employees can place a request for a replacement part from Fluent Conveyors that will be approved by you by the end of the day. Until the equipment is fixed, reduce or stop production.

Similarly, have your employees sign and agree to an anti-harassment policy. This policy should outline what you define as sexual or emotional harassment and what the consequences of this behavior will be. Further, you should be open to hear about any updates or suggestions to your policy. The point is to have a safe workspace for everyone to operate in without being ridiculed or assaulted.

3. A Happy Workplace Makes for a Happy Employee

The best way to make your employees enjoy working for you is to make it so that they enjoy being where they are when they are working. For many employers, this means having a clean, brightly lit workspace where workers can feel calm. It also means adding amenities to the break room. For instance, having a nice couch or chairs to lounge in, a table to eat at, and kitchen appliances to make or prepare their lunches in, will go a long way. Not only should you give your employees a place to truly take a break and relax (which promotes productivity) you should also encourage them to eat healthy.

A happy employee is one that is loyal. When your employees feel safe and comfortable, they can better focus on the work at hand. The more you value the employees, the better they will work and the more they will be invested in to the company’s success.