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The Importance of Safety Maintenance and Insurance When Starting a Business

The Importance of Safety Maintenance and Insurance When Starting a Business

Health and safety is one of the most important things you’ll need to consider as a business owner. Whether you’re working in a small team or have a large workforce that spans several departments, the safety and wellbeing of those people is paramount.

No matter if you have procedures and policies in place already or they need revisiting, here are some of the top things you’ll need to consider where health and safety is concerned.

Providing the Right Equipment for the Job

There’s not only training to think about – you’ll also have to provide the right equipment for those who work for you. No matter which department they operate in, they’re likely to come into contact with some kind of danger throughout their working life. Whether that’s running regular training courses and exercises to ensure your employees know what to do in certain situations, or providing them with the right protective equipment, there’s plenty to think about.  

Electrical Safety

If your staff are working around electricals, there are certain pieces of equipment they’ll need to protect themselves. Remember, electricity can kill or severely injure people and cause damage to your property and equipment. There are simple precautions you can take when working with or near electricity and electrical equipment that will reduce the risk of injury to you, your employees and others around you.

Fire Safety

In general, most fires are preventable. As a business who is responsible for their workplace and buildings, you can avoid them by taking responsibility and adopting the right procedures. You’ll need to carry out a fire safety risk assessment and keep it up-to-date. This is similar to a health and safety risk assessment and should be carried out regularly. To help prevent fires, your assessment should pin point where and what could cause a fire to start, for example any sources of ignition and who might be at risk.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is one of the top causes of workplace injuries. These include work-related musculoskeletal disorders such as pain and injuries to arms, legs and joints, as well as repetitive strain injuries. If you don’t already, running regular manual handling training can help to prevent numerous injuries and accidents. Should it not be possible to avoid employees handling heavy loads, your business should explore ways that it can work to mitigate the risks.

Working at Heights

If your employees are working at heights, special precautions need to be taken to protect their health and safety. Unfortunately, it still remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries at work, so it’s crucial that health and safety is at the forefront of your businesses mind. Whether you already have the appropriate equipment or need to invest in more safety harnesses and other gear, all of this will work towards reducing the risks faced by your employees.

How can your Insurance Be Affected?

It’s important to remember that not only will having the correct health and safety procedures protect your employees but it can also reduce your premiums, as well as the cost of accidents that might not be covered by your insurance.

Whether they’re working from heights, with electricity or around hazardous equipment, there’s no reason why your business shouldn’t be protecting its employees.

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