Making your office safer will guarantee employee productivity and safety. When your workforce knows you do the most to make the office environment safe and secure, they can rest assured that their safety is catered to. They can focus on their work and never need to worry about their safety being compromised.
While the usual office safety advice remains obvious – installing CCTV cameras and alarms – it is good to know unique ways to make the office safer. Today, we will explore the unique and unspoken methods that will help you enhance your office’s safety.
Employee ID badges
Investing in employee ID badges is sure to make your building safer. Employees using identification badges will guarantee that everyone entering the building is safe and liable to do so. Not allowing anyone to enter without an ID badge will help you maintain control and guarantee that you put your office at little risk.
These badges should be carried with employees at all times. Even if someone wishes to grab a coffee, they must have it to reenter the building. Then, you can guarantee maximum control and safety.
Fingerprint or ID scanning
Implementing fingerprint or ID scanning is a great move for identifying access. While the flash of a card can be enough to secure the premises and only allow specific people in, these features can further heighten your office’s security.
Fingerprint scanning is wise for government or economic offices. This will help security take full control of guests. ID scanning is an extra step to the ID badges. These can be scanned on an automatic entry system to allow people to enter once they are accepted.
Train your employees on safety protocols
Another way to improve office security is by thoroughly training your employees on safety protocols. When your staff are well trained and aware of safety issues, they will act accordingly and know what to do if a crisis occurs.
While you might wish to take full control of your office’s safety, you might not always be present to take charge. Hence, employees must know how to act to maintain the safety of the building and themselves.
Clearly label warnings and hazards
While an office might not sound like a hazardous place, some dangers will remain. For example, a wet floor or broken window can pose safety risks.
These must be clearly labeled so anyone inside the office can remain aware and safe. If you forget to label hazards and an incident occurs, your business will be at a huge risk. The safety and well-being of staff and clients should label warnings and hazards to maximize office safety clearly.
Consider employee’s eye health
Office workers likely spend a lot of time on screens. Focusing on the screen all day isn’t good for eye health, so it is good of you to consider employees’ eye health.
What should you do? The best thing to do is encourage regular breaks. The 20-20-20 rule effectively reduces eye strain headaches and improves eye health. This involves asking employees to look away from their screens every 20 minutes. They should stare at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds, which will help reset their eyes and reduce strain.
Encourage employees to move around
Again, office workers who spend the majority of their day sitting down can benefit from regular movement. Encouraging employees to move around every hour or when they need a break will help them stay healthy and avoid back pain.
It isn’t healthy to sit down all day. It can increase back, neck, and shoulder tension, which can lead to other health complications. Asking employees to move around the office or get outside on their lunch break will help them remain healthy. You could go the extra mile and offer free exercise classes. These could be at a studio in your office building or externally. This will help employees improve their fitness, which can reduce the impact of their sitting-down role.
Consider changing your office’s interior design
Incorporating natural elements into the office setting is known as biophilic design, and its benefits extend beyond aesthetics to include safety and well-being. Natural light improves mood and eases eye strain, while plants purify the air by raising oxygen levels and removing pollutants.
A workplace that incorporates nature into the workspace can be safer, more comfortable, and more productive by lowering stress. Plus, it can help employees maintain better focus throughout the day. A well-designed and appealing office is bound to minimize distractions and help them concentrate on the task in front of them. When they do focus, it can help them work their set hours (avoid overworking) and make enough time for movement and the 20-20-20 eye routine.
Create a quiet space for mental health
Mental health is as important as physical health. Caring more for your employees’ mental health will enable you to create a safer and happier office.
Mental wellness is a frequently neglected component of workplace safety. Establishing a dedicated area for silent reflection where staff members can take a brief break and avoid burnout can help manage stress. This area might have cozy chairs, dim lighting, and soothing accents like soothing music or ambient noises. Providing a space for relaxation can help staff recharge, improve focus, and reduce stress-related events.
Move around employee’s workstations
Because office work involves repetitive tasks like typing and using a mouse, repetitive strain injuries, or RSIs, are frequent. Think of switching up workstation positioning to lower the danger.
This could involve varying the monitor’s height, rearranging the keyboard and mouse, or moving from a sitting to a standing workstation. Frequent rotation ensures that no single muscle group is overused, which helps prevent the development of RSIs.
It’s not always necessary to make large investments or showy gestures to increase workplace safety. Often, the subtle, distinctive techniques are the ones that have the largest impact. These little adjustments can have a big impact on general safety and well-being, making your office a haven of productivity and wellness rather than just a place to work.
