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How to Make Your New Office Safe for Employees



For many employers, the safety of your labor force is only considered important if you are in the construction or in the manufacturing industry, where people have to manage giant equipment. Industries need to start understanding that employees want to be reassured that they will be safe in all senses of that word. This means both physically and otherwise.

An employee should be able to feel that their office is not just built well but harbors an environment where they are able to express their opinions safely. It does not matter what the size of your operations are or how many different types of departments work under you. The safety of your employees should be one of the top priorities of running a business.

Here are some of the top ways you can do that.

Evaluate Where the Problem Areas Lie

The first step in making your office more safe and secure is by analyzing where the problem areas in your office really are. Think about how the area is built, and where most likely will people hurt themselves. After this, it helps if you make a list of all the safety procedures that need reviewing. It is very important that your managers get the necessary and constructive input from your workers. This is more efficient and helps cover areas or things that you may have missed. Therefore, always work from the bottom instead of implementing procedures from top down.

Because your employees spend time in an area more than you. Even if it is their first day at a workplace, they know that they are going to be spending most of their time in this place and are likely to examine it keeping in mind everything they will use and space they will venture on a daily basis.

One very important place that most business owners overlook is their emergency protocols. If the place you bought or rented for an office space does not have an evacuation plan, make one. The truth is that many safety plans in office buildings have been outdated for a while. If you have never had to go through an emergency situation before, you are probably not even going to think about this. Therefore, the people who work for you have no idea how to act or where to go in an emergency evacuation. This is why it is so important that you consider holding a yearly review of all safety protocols and equipment in place with your staff.

Secure all Equipment

Currently, the most common ways employees get injured in the workplace is because of equipment. Offices need to list and update the most basic equipment that ensure safety. These include fire alarms, fire extinguishers, gloves, first aid kit, warning signs for wet floors, back braces for those who lift heavy items, ladders or step stools so that your employees can place and reach for things placed on higher shelves.

Furniture can also cause injuries. Sometimes, handles of cabinets may hurt you if they have a nail or some piece sticking out. It may injure you while opening it. Office movers of Florida can set up the furniture in your office safely.

The best way to go about ensuring office safety is to get rid of the cause of these hazards. After all, prevention is better than treating later. The office equipment should help in avoiding the escalation of minor issues.

Train Your Staff

No matter what program you are introducing, training is extremely vital in order to make sure that the people who work for you are on the same page as you. Without this, all the hard work that you have put into making the place safer may not work, if for example, your staff does not know how to work a fire extinguisher.
These tips will help employees stay safe even at home. It’s important to keep your house clean but it’s important to keep your office clean as well.

It works if you hold a brief meeting regarding this topic once a month. It is necessary that the program you have drafted for this training progresses by offering more thorough instructions as time passes on.

These training meetings should also have test runs done to see how your employees act in an emergency, or when another colleague needs assistance. The best part about this is that your employees will not spend precious minutes wondering what they need to do to get to safety, ensuring that things run smoothly and in a productive manner.

Always Review

There is always room for improvement. Here safety programs are no exception. Managers and business owners will always commit to a consistent pattern and review all safety and emergency plans. This should take place at least once a year, owing also to the fact that most safety equipment require to be updated in 12 months’ time.
You should not stop yourself from constantly addressing and at the same time redefining the needs of your company, as they may evolve or change. A good idea would be to get bulletin boards and suggestion boxes which assist the management is staying on top of environmental hazards and impending shortages in equipment.

 Author Bio:
James Crook is a passionate technology and lifestyle blogger. He loves to get engaged with the readers who are seeking for home, lifestyle, and tech-related information on the internet. Currently associated with NYC moving company All Around Moving which specializes in arranging and assembling services of professional and skilled local movers locally in New York City as well as areas in New Jersey, Connecticut and the Miami Dale area in South Florida for their blog operations. Follow @jamescrook911 for more updates.
General Safety Issues

RELOCATING: LOAD SAFETY (GUEST POST)

 Securing each and every load during a relocation may sometimes seem excessive, and even a waste of time, especially if you think the load is too big to move about much or too small to do any damage if it does! But in reality any load can slip and slide, and relying on friction alone can be hugely detrimental, not just to the load and the driver of the transport vehicle, but to all other road users and pedestrians too. 

Any load can be subjected to sudden breaking, a tight corner, or abrupt change of direction which can force the load to move about inside the vehicle. At best, this could cause damage to the load, and at worst cause the vehicle to tip or the driver to lose control. 

Drivers of commercial vehicles are considered to have one of the riskiest occupations in the UK, and this applies to removals drivers. But it’s important to remember that nearly all accidents involving unbalanced loads and overturned transport vehicles can be avoided with correct and safe loading.

That’s why the incorrect or unsafe loading of a vehicle has been deemed a serious offence under the Road Traffic Act 1991, in order to protect everyone involved, from the people that load and unload the vehicle and the driver to other road users and pedestrians. This has resulted in about 4000 prosecutions every year for unsafe loads. 

The Health and Safety executive have recommended the Department of Transport’s Code of Practice as guidance to safe loading. The ‘Safety of Loads on Vehicles’ (3rd Edition) covers a wide variety of goods transportation issues, such as dangerous good, palletised goods and ferry operations, which are unlikely to be relevant to a simple home removals company, but many aspects are still applicable to the moving industry. 

Risk Assessments 

The Code of Practice emphasises the importance of a risk assessment, or a basic safety checklist to ensure that every risk is considered and guarded against. A basic safety checklist should be completed before every move and should be carried out by fully trained staff to ensure it is done legally and sufficiently. 

Principles of Load Safety 

The principles of load safety are fairly simple. The load should be: 

Restrained – tied firmly down to the bed of the vehicle

Contained – so it can’t shift about inside the vehicle 

A vehicle changing direction, such as at a roundabout or corner, or breaking, will cause any load to shift if it is not properly secured. As such, all loads should be restrained to hold sufficient weight in any direction. 

It’s also essential that the vehicle used to transport the load has adequate strength to carry the required weight. 

The arrangement of the load is vital to its safety and there are a few guidelines that will always be relevant to loading:

  • The load should always be evenly spread in the vehicle
  • Larger, heavier items should be at the bottom, with lighter, smaller items at the top
  • Heavier items should also be nearer the middle, to spread the weight evenly
  • Adequate load securing equipment should be used at all time, including clamps, steel wire, chains, webbing harnesses, sheets and ropes

Clockwork Removals

The team at Clockwork Removals London take load safety very seriously, so you can be sure that all of your belongings will be transported securely and arrive at your new home or commercial property in perfect condition. For any more information about how we secure your belongings during transit, contact us today!

Our thanks to Ian Humphries for these transportation tips!

Ergonomics, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

AVOIDING INJURIES DURING THE MOVE (GUEST POST)

Tips to Stay Safe When You Are Moving

How to Stay Safe and Fit As you Move?

Moving to another location can get exciting when you think about meeting new people and settling down in a totally different place. However, the stress involved in planning the move, packing and unpacking can take a toll on your health. Apart from the stress involved in moving, there is every possibility of suffering from minor and severe injuries.

Injuries are common due to lifting, loading and unloading items during the moving process. It is therefore important to consider certain safety tips prior to the big move in order to avoid injuries and have a smooth move. Keeping yourself safe during the move requires great attention. Here are a few safety tips to help you take care of yourself during the moving process.

Avoid Back Injury

Most of the injuries occur when you lift heavy items. You can hurt your back when lifting heavy items. In order to avoid back injury, you need to make use of legs for lifting items instead of your back. The best way to lift heavy items is by squatting down, grasping the item and lifting it with your legs, exerting pressure on leg muscles.

Distribute weight of boxes equally by packing items in various boxes, instead of dumping all items in one single box. This will make lifting boxes much easier.

Carry Filtered Water Bottles

A strenuous exercise like moving that involves lifting, packing and unloading heavy items dehydrates the body. In order to keep the body hydrated, it is vital to drink plenty of water during the moving process. Carry filtered water in a bottle in case the new place does not have water turned on.

Check Out for Risky Walkway Areas

Check out the areas around your home, particularly for bumpy sidewalks and dangerous walkway areas. There is every possibility of getting injured when loading items due to the risky walkway areas in your home. Ensure that the steps leading to your home are clearly seen and it is not slippery. The best way to avoid slippery areas is by placing mats on them, so that you don’t walk on such areas.

Besides, this there are other things you must duly consider for a safe move. These include poles, tree branches and pillars that can be a major obstruction during the moving process. It is imperative to get rid of these obstacles completely by removing them or marking the area with bright colored tiles.   

In order to move special items, you must hire professional movers. Moving items like refrigerator, TV set, furniture and other large appliances require the help of professional movers.

Don’t forget to keep a safety aid kit with you when moving. This will help you treat minor injuries during the move. Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged and it has all numbers of people to be contacted during emergency in case you are seriously injured. I hope these safety tips will help you avoid injuries and allow you to have an enjoyable moving experience.  

Author Bio:

 Rony Mikal is a blogger and freelance writer. He writes extensively on topics related to environmental issues, business, moving, household removals and storage and removal services London. Apart from writing, Rony takes keen interest in traveling and photography. He is an avid traveler and spends quality time with family and friends.

http://www.aussieremovals.com

 http://www.ward-thomas.co.uk

 

 

 

Back Safety, Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing, Weather Protection

WORKING WITH SANDBAGS IS HARD WORK

The Mighty Mississippi is on the move!  Many persons in areas along the Mississippi River have already seen their homes flooded over the past several days.  Friday, Memphis authorities urged citizens to leave their homes that are located in low-lying areas.  The Mississippi is expected to crest by late today (Monday), or early Tuesday morning in the Memphis area.  The Mississippi crested at 48’7” in 1937.  Floods from northern Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico may cause heavy damage to farmlands, as well as homes.  In Arkansas, Interstate 40 closed this weekend because of rising waters of the White River.  This latest threat brings to mind the time when persons in the heart of the Delta were victims of the Great Flood of April 21, 1927 – the great Mississippi broke through a levee, crushing homes, destroying sharecroppers’ farms, trapping thousands on their rooftops for days, and hundreds of people died.

We know we are probably “preaching to the choir,” about filling, moving and placing sandbags in getting ready for floods, because that part of the work may already be done by now.  However, we want to pass on some safety tips for this physically demanding work.  Repetitious lifting and carrying heavy loads, and working in awkward positions can cause back and other injuries.  For those who will be doing this work, please follow this advice from OSHA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: 

General rules:

  • Three-person teams work best: bagger: holds open and closes sandbags; shoveler: shovels sand into sandbags. (use a short handled, #2 rounded point shovel with straight shaft and D grip, bagger scoop or funnel to fill sandbags; and mover: carries and places sandbags.
  • Do not overfill sandbags – fill them ½ to 2/3 full.  Overfilled bags can leave gaps in levees.
  • Keep the load in front of and close to body, both when filling, and later carrying.
  • Do not reach out, bend over or twist when lifting.
  • Lift with legs, not back.
  • Take frequent rest breaks.
  • Alternate positions every 20 to 30 minutes.
  • If using automated filling, put the bag on a support (pallet) to reduce the stress on hands, shoulders, and lower back.
  • Fold the bag opening closed; tie only if necessary.
  • Use pallets when available when moving them to staging area.
  • A brigade team should be used when passing bags to areas that are further away.  The line should be staggered and workers should face each other to avoid twisting and turning.
  • Never throw sandbags, as this stresses the shoulders and back.
  • Straddle drop point with the bag between your ankles as you place it. 

Working around floodwater is hazardous because of debris and bacteria in the water.  Please heed these general safety and health warnings:

  • Wear gloves to protect hands from chemically-treated sandbags and contaminants in sand and floodwater.
  • Do not touch your eyes and mouth.
  • Wash your hands and face before eating or drinking.
  • Wear safety glasses, especially on dry and windy days, and when working with automated equipment.
  • Waterproof gear is necessary when working in floodwater or rain.
  • Use protective clothing if exposed to polluted floodwater.
  • Wear reflective clothing when working at night.
  • Use a personal floatation device when working near floodwater.
  • Wear work boots (waterproofed if working in floodwater.)
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Keep several first-aid kits handy. 

Tomorrow we will share more information regarding other safety measures that should be taken when working in flooded areas.  We appreciate all those who work in rescue and recovery following natural disasters, such as floods and tornadoes.  They should take every precaution to stay healthy and safe, as many hazardous situations exist.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

TAKING THAT BIG STEP – COLLEGE!

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Thousands of students will soon start moving to the college of their choice, and there will be many things on their minds.  We have a few tips that will help make the move into that apartment or dorm room a little easier and safer:

  • Plan ahead.  Organize your move and take only the things you really need.
  • Get help:  most parents and friends will be happy to help you with your move, and any extra hands will get you settled in sooner.
  • Know how to lift properly, and don’t pack boxes too heavy.  Avoid back injuries.  No one wants to start new classes with a bad back, let alone miss all the campus activities!
  • Wear comfortable shoes.  It may sound funny, but when you get older, you will understand!
  • Don’t forget to take important records.  Having your medical information is important.
  • Take old phone numbers so you can still get in touch with folks back home.
  • If you are on medication, ask your physician to transfer your prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice.
  • Visit the city of your school early if possible, in order to familiarize yourself to new surroundings.
  • Be sure to pack a Survival Kit!  Non-perishable food, paper plates, bottled water, a few towels, linens, and pen and paper to list things you forgot, will come in handy until you have time to purchase groceries, and other items you need.
  • Remember to take a tool kit with the basics: hammer, nails, screwdriver, etc.  Pack flashlights, one for your room and one for your car.

One last thing, be sure to use the “Buddy System” when walking on campus at night.  Stay safe, and have a wonderful school year!