10 Tips to Protect Employees’ Physical Safety at Your Startup

Are you working to get your startup off the ground?

When it comes to designing the right office for your startup, it’s easy to find yourself focused on the aesthetics of the room. You might consider what paint color will best suit the space or whether or not it’s worthwhile to implement new flooring.

In addition to these considerations, it’s also incredibly important to focus your attention on the notion of safety. This means creating a space for your employees that doesn’t just look great but also one that functions as a safe work environment.

If you’re getting ready to set up shop for your startup, you’re going to want to read this. We’re outlining ten physical safety tips on how to keep your employees as safe as can be.

1. Ergonomics

First things first, let’s consider the ergonomics of your workplace.

One of the most important means of setting up an ergonomic office has to do with the seating and the desks. In selecting these objects, be sure to consider options that are designed with ergonomics in mind.

Not only is this going to make your employees more comfortable and productive, but it will also improve the health of their back, shoulders, and wrists.

When we consider that back pain is among the top ten reasons for medical visits, it’s easy to see why setting your back up for success is so important.

In order to prevent back pain, you might want to invest in standing desks so that your employees don’t have to sit for prolonged periods of time.

When your body is aligned, it can support a greater percentage of body weight instead of having to depend on soft tissues to compensate, which is why you may also recommend Protalus shoe inserts to your employees.

2. Smoke Alarms

Just like a residential home, every office will need to have smoke alarms.

These alarms will automatically warn you of any signs of smoke. This is the absolute best way to keep yourself and your employees safe in the event of a possible fire.

These should be installed on each level of your office as well as in the hallways.

3. Fire Exits

Does your office have enough fire exits for the square footage as well as the occupancy load?

It’s also important to consider that there are many stipulations in creating a legal exit. For example, exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points. Without meeting such criteria, your exit isn’t going to be considered legal.

You’ll also need to make each and every employee aware of where the fire exits are located.

4. Physical Space

How much square footage does your office require?

When it comes to choosing an office layout, you want to consider how many employees will be coming in every day. Remember, every commercial building is going to be ruled by an occupancy limit.

If you cram too many employees into a small space, this is going to be a fire hazard and an environment more prone to injury.

5. Ground Tread

What kind of flooring are your employees going to be treading on?

While it might sound silly, it’s incredibly important to focus your attention on safe materials for flooring. For example, many offices opt for carpeting as it’s the most anti-slip material possible. Although impressive, options such as marble and tile can be incredibly slippery and are more prone to causing injury.

You’ll also want to consider anti-slip technology on stairs, hallways and in other high traffic areas.

6. Lighting

Remember, each and every space within your workspace requires ample lighting.

In addition to your main office, it’s equally important to ensure that your hallways and your bathrooms have adequate lighting. It’s also crucial for any outdoor areas such as parking or your main entrance to be well-lit.

In today’s day and age, you can get smart bulbs that can be controlled by your phone or function with artificial intelligence. This makes it easy to program outdoors lights to come on at night.

7. Clutter

At the end of the day, it’s crucial to avoid building clutter within the workplace.

Not only is this displeasing aesthetically, but clutter actually contributes to an unsafe work environment. Let’s face it, a messy environment is all the more likely to result in an unnecessary accident.

To best prevent such accidents, ensure that floors are cleaned regularly, paper clutter is neatly organized and personal belongings such as coats, bags, and shoes put away.

8. Locking Systems

So, what about your locking system?

Within your office, it’s essential to note that all doors and windows have the ability to lock. If a problem were to arise, you want to rest assured that you can keep your employees as safe as possible with locks.

9. Carbon Monoxide Detector

In addition to a smoke alarm, you’re also going to want to install a carbon monoxide detector.

Carbon monoxide is incredibly dangerous because it’s nearly impossible to detect without a detector. Once it hits your lungs, it begins to starve your body of oxygen which can be lethal.

The best way to avoid this from happening in the first place is to install a carbon monoxide detector in your workplace. Like you smoke alarm, it will send a signal when carbon monoxide is detected within a confined space.

10. Regular Inspections

Last but not least, it’s critical to schedule regular inspections for your office.

This will entail a professional physically visiting your office on a routine basis. With this, they will inspect the facility to ensure that everything is functioning well and to code.

Of course, this is going to make certain that your office is as safe as possible. But, it’s also going to help prevent any difficulties should an accident take place with one of your employees. In proving that you have your office routinely inspected, you’re better able to protect yourself.

Click here for more information on wrongful death and how your office can best avoid this.

Promoting Physical Safety in the Workplace

So, you’re looking to create a safe and awesome office for your startup?

Let’s face it, physical safety is often something we take for granted in a workplace setting. As employees, we naturally presume that our workspace is designed with our happiness and our safety in mind.

But, when you’re the one in charge of the design, this responsibility falls to you. This means that you have to do everything you can to create an environment for employees that is going to keep them physically safe. In failing to do so, you’re putting both yourself and your employees in a dangerous position.

Fortunately, promoting physical safety in the workplace doesn’t have to be so time-consuming or expensive. In fact, all it takes is a little extra patience and precaution. With these tips, you can look forward to creating a happy and safe environment for your startup.

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