ARE YOU THINKING SAFETY FIRST?

BY SHARRON RICHARDSON, VP BROKER SERVICES

Many of us have had to make significant adjustments to adapt in 2020 and going to work likely looks much different than it did at the beginning of the year. And though a pandemic is an extreme example, its presence has underscored the importance of something that is often relegated to the to-do later list.

Creating an office Health and Safety Team is often a Q2 activity: important but not urgent, until it is.

Because many of us spend a good deal of time at our workplace with our colleagues, and because health emergencies don’t just occur on personal time, it’s important to remember that health and safety in the workplace, whether there’s a pandemic or not, is something to address. Consider the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shared that 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2018, and that there were 900,380 injuries or illnesses that caused a worker to miss at least one day of work within private industry that same year. It becomes apparent that businesses need to be prepared in order to mitigate health and safety emergencies in the workplace. Check with your state, provincial, and/or local municipal workplace safety organizations. They’ll cite the necessary regulations and standards you need to implement based on your workplace size and type of business. If you don’t meet the minimum requirements to adhere to regulatory policy, you might consider putting together a Health and Safety Team on your own.

Working in tandem with your human resources and operations personnel, the team's mandate is to keep your workplace a safe and healthy environment. This could include simple actions such as posting a bulletin board in a common area with timely tips or sharing a regular safety e-bulletin. It may involve a budget in order for certain equipment to be brought in-house and for personnel to become certified in standard and emergency first aid, CPR, and automated external defibrillator (AED) use.

So, who should be considered as a member of this team? Regulations may require a first aid-certified individual always onsite during open hours. Employees with an interest in health and first aid are a good choice. Someone with a calm, take-charge demeanor would also fit the bill. This team need not be large; depending on your office size just two or three members might be adequate, dependent upon regulations. Once a team is in place, it’s not static though. Workplace regulations do change, and often certifications must be maintained. The Health and Safety team must engage in practice sessions, retain skills, and be prepared. It means the team will need to stay abreast of health and safety challenges in your marketplace and advise and adjust as necessary. The team may be tasked with researching and making recommendations on how to reconfigure an office space to ensure maximum safety for all. They may also recommend edits to the office policies and procedures manual when necessary. Business owners ensure furniture and equipment is well cared for, and office spaces must have adequate exits and safety protocols in place for insurance purposes, but the health and safety of your people is even more critical. If you haven’t already, there’s no better time to create a team designed to address this very important, and often overlooked, part of your business.