Everyday Tips on Mitigating Risk in the Workplace

It is helpful to remain up to date on all the changing regulations in your workplace for keeping safe-standards. There may be regulations you didn’t know about, or required forms your office has to use for any workplace injuries! There could even be required disclosures on surveillance cameras, “floor wet” signs, and more! I advise you to check on your State & Local laws, OSHA requirements for the current year, and your insurance company on any important information you may need to know.

I’d like to provide you with a few tips on mitigating risk in the workplace – in addition to what your insurance and other workplace regulations may enforce.

Housekeeping Cleaning Checklist

Include items on a Housekeeping Cleaning Checklist that need to be tended to by the cleaning company or employee to make sure everything in your business is cleaned like it should be according to OSHA guidelines and office preferences. Make sure to include a frequency for the requirement (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.), and a place for someone to initial & date when the task has been completed. Tracking when, who, and what was cleaned keeps a standardized process that helps to ensure the workplace remains clean.

Care for Ice, Slips & Trips

Make sure that if you are in a location where cold temperatures may bring a danger to your parking lot or property, make sure to keep a bag of salt (and a scoop to help you!) for ice & inclement weather and orange cones to block off any black ice or dangerous areas of the walkway.

You will also want to invest in a “Wet Floor” sign and a quick spill clean up set (for any bodily fluids and other toxic or non-toxic spills) to keep on hand in a easy to access location for these emergencies.

Make sure that any cords are covered and there are no safety hazards blocking walkways to limit the possible trips and stumbles.

Exit Signs & Fire Extinguishers

You will want to check with the Fire Department and OSHA regulations for how many well lit exit signs and well maintained fire extinguishers you need, what type you need, and how often the fire extinguishers may need to be serviced to make sure they work properly. You don’t want these to expire or malfunction!

Proper Disclaimers

You will most likely need to post a current Labor Law poster, OSHA requirements, Fair Housing or Equal Opportunity disclaimer, and any other disclaimers your business needs to make. Perhaps an “under surveillance” disclaimer, proper signs for enforcing towing or “no parking,” and any notice on public restrooms as applicable.

Injury, Illness & First Aid

OSHA or your Insurance provider may have a specific form (and a length of time to keep that form on file) for your workplace to report any work related illness or injury. If you hire Independent Contractors, you may still choose to use these forms and keep on record for the required length of time, you would simply want to itemize on the forms though that person is a 1099 contractor, NOT employee.

You also need at least 1 easily accessible first aid kit for use in case of an emergency. You’d be surprised how many times this can come in handy – even in non-emergency situations.

Maintaining a clean & safe working environment is a major component of running a successful business. If the working space is not kept up to acceptable standards, it cannot provide your staff with a healthy work environment.

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