Employee safety is more important than ever. Unfortunately, planning and preparing for workplace threats has to be top of mind for many business owners. Here are 4 areas on which company leaders can focus to keep your most valuable assets, your people, safe and prepared for emergencies.
1. Security
Does your office have a security system? Do you need one? It is very important to evaluate the needs of your business security offering. Assess your building, find the areas that are most vulnerable, and strengthen those areas. Security can come in many different forms, such as cameras, keyed entry, and passwords. Find the combination of solutions that work best for you.
The goal is to be proactive. Ensuring that your building is secure will keep your employees at ease.
2. Awareness
Situational awareness is extremely important when providing a safe workplace. Situational awareness is less of a skill and more of a mindset and can be practiced daily to prevent dangerous situations.
Most employees have a general understanding of the people entering their business and should trust their instincts when signs of danger are present and seek help. Trusting your instincts, while cumbersome, can stop a serious situation from developing.
3. Planning
No matter what type of danger your employees face, earthquakes, flooding, tornados, or an intruder, it is important to be prepared. Have an emergency plan in place and communicate it to your employees. Every employee should know where to go, who to contact, and how to access the work systems remotely when an emergency situation takes place.
Create a team within various areas to start brainstorming and identify the various potential threats to your business. Pinpoint which areas are high risk and plan accordingly.
4. Communicate
Make sure you have the ability to communicate to authorities, employees, and the public when a crisis takes place. Communicate immediately to your employees and remain calm. Be sure to have instructions ready for employees on how to respond to the emergency situation.
There is not a perfect plan for every event. The main goal is to stay proactive to keep employees safe and informed. For more information on helping your company leaders create a safer workplace, please contact Nextep’s HR team.
Get training for a safer workplace!
Nextep’s online training library has thousands of courses for leaders and employees in English and Spanish, including:
- Preventing workplace violence
- Bullying at work
- Active shooter training
- Diffusing hostility
- Guns at work
- Preventing harassment at work
Contact our HR department to learn more about our affordable, comprehensive training library.
