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As an owner, you like to think you’re providing a safe environment for your employees to operate in and work from, but are you really doing everything you should be? Here’s a checklist of things you should use to ensure that your working environment is as safe as you can make it, and don’t worry, none of the items on this list are going to cost you an arm and a leg. These are all fairly straightforward items. Not terribly glamorous, but absolutely essential.<\/p>\n
Comings And Goings<\/strong><\/p>\n This subset includes the hallways, stair cases, and exits to your building. At a minimum, you want to ensure such things as:<\/p>\n * Exit doors need to swing in the direction of travel. They also need to have \u201cpanic hardware\u201d attached, and these doors need to be in good working order so that they don’t stick or hesitate when a worker tries to use them. This is probably the most basic, but most pivotal thing you can do to help increase overall safety.<\/p>\n * All corridors, including those that don’t lead directly to exits, need to be clear of clutter and obstructions.<\/p>\n * People need to be able to move quickly and easily through the width and breadth of your building.<\/p>\n * Stair handrails need to be in place on both sides, and in good condition.<\/p>\n * If you have emergency lighting installed, it needs to be in good working order and tested at least twice a year.<\/p>\n Fire Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n Of course, we hope you never have need of this, but if you do, you’ll be glad you checked these items.<\/p>\n * Fire Extinguishers need to be readily accessible and in working order. They need to be tested periodically to ensure this. Your staff need to understand how to use them \u2013 the local fire department are usually happy to give a demonstration.<\/p>\n * Hand in hand with the above, if you’ve got a smoke detection and\/or sprinkler system for fire suppression, these need to be tested and inspected periodically to make sure they’re in working order as well.<\/p>\n * Emergency evacuation routes need to be posted, and everybody who works for you needs to be able to tell you where they are.<\/p>\n