Safety in the Workplace

According to the United States Department of Labor’s 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average employed American spends 7.5 hours at work during the week. That means the average person spends approximately half of his/her waking hours at the workplace. This statistic may not shock you but if your business is not prepared for an emergency you could be at risk for injury during those 7.5 hours each and every day.

We all take great care in making sure that our homes are safe and prepared for emergencies and possible weather disasters, but what about when we are on the job? Have you ever stopped to think what you would do if a tornado, hurricane or even a fire afflicted your office? What if someone fell when trying to reach a high shelf and was injured?Would you know what to do?

It is important for your office to have an emergency plan and instruct every employee to keep themselves safe in the event of a disaster. You also want to make sure that your office has a full First Aid Kit. A First Aid Kit goes beyond bandaging paper cuts; it could help save your own or the life of one of your co-workers in an emergency.

At your next office meeting have an emergency plan discussion. Know where you stand and what steps you must make to ensure the safety of every employee. You can learn more about these steps and other checklists for your workplace emergency preparedness here.

Finally, here is an entertaining video of what NOT to do to prepare for an emergency at your office.