The new year is a great time to reevaluate your progress and set goals for the future. As you start setting resolutions for 2020, don’t forget to think of ways to improve your business and make safety a priority. From personal protective equipment to safety training, setting workplace safety goals is a great way to start.

Developing Safe Work Environments

No matter what industry you work in, safety hazards are always present. From equipment handling to interacting with toxic gases, there is an array of different health concerns at every worksite. This year, protect your employees by resolving to make workplace safety and health goals for your business.

1. Recognize safety hazards

If you have a new business or if your safety standards need to be updated, it’s important to start with analyzing your facility. While there are general safety concerns to address, there are also dangers that are specific to you. Make an analysis of any work-related injuries and use historical data to determine where your employees could potentially be harmed.

In the unfortunate case that there is an injury or illness, perform an incident investigation to ensure that it won’t happen again. By interviewing your employees and finding out what led to the mishap, your safety and health standards can be changed to minimize future issues.

2. Create and maintain safety programs

Once you’re able to determine which safety hazards are present, it’s crucial to create a safety program personalized for your company. In addition to what is required in the Occupational Safety and Health standards, your plan should include specific instructions for your equipment and working procedures.

Whether you’re a small business or large treatment plant, maintaining your safety program is key. Schedule regular training sessions to make sure employees are informed. Provide resources to communicate the safety standards for future reference. Creating safety guidelines is important, but ensuring that your workers understand the process is crucial to minimizing hazards on your job site.

3. Install safety detection systems

For many facilities where natural gas is present, many safety hazards are unseen by the naked eye. To protect your employees and warehouse equipment, install a safety detection system to monitor the exposure levels. There are a number of systems available to detect harmful chemical levels that can be installed directly on a piece of equipment or within your entire warehouse.

Pro Tip: Invest in a wireless alarm station to extend the range of your safety detection system throughout your job site.

Securing Your Employees’ Safety and Health

No matter what may have transpired in 2019, the start of a new year welcomes a fresh start and room to achieve your goals. There shouldn’t be any excuse for the lack of safe work practices. To protect your employees and secure their health, it’s important to make a plan and maintain it on a regular basis.

What kind of safety issues does your business face? Share with us on social media!