Even if you don't believe it, people think that small businesses care more about making money than helping people. With so many plans and so few resources, it can be easy to ignore safety at work. Employers in the private sector say that there were 2.6 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses at work in 2021.
Safety rules for small businesses shouldn't have to be hard to follow at all. To help you get started, we've put together some important tips that will help you make sure your workplace is safer and reduce the chances of accidents and injuries.
Let's get started.
1. Know the safety rules for small business owners and follow them.
SMBs and startups have to follow a different set of rules than big companies. Small company owners may find safety guidelines in a guidebook under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Getting to know OSHA's small business safety standards is a good way to start making sure your workplace is safe. Since the organization sometimes changes its rules and policies, it's important to keep up with the changes in OSHA regulations. Once you know what safety means at work, it will be easier to take the steps you need to.Here are a few of the recent policy changes that OSHA has made.
a) Proposed Rule on Keeping Records
On March 30, 2022, OSHA released an NPRM that changed how many businesses in the United States report injuries and illnesses. The NPRM says that companies with 100 or more employees in certain industries must send OSHA information from their OSHA Forms 300, 301, and 300A every year. This information must be sent online.b) The proposed rule for HazCom
On February 16, 2021, OSHA released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to update the HazCom Standard. The NPRM suggests major changes to the requirements for small shipped containers, the categories for combustible gases, aerosols, and desensitized explosives, the transportation requirements for "bulk shipments," and so on.c) Silica Update
The crystalline silica standard for mechanical power presses, medical removal, lockout/tagout, and industrial truck design will be changed as part of OSHA's planned silica update.d) Lockout-Tagout (LOTO) Revision
OSHA says that lockout/tagout, electrical hazards, and machine guarding are the main reasons why people get hurt in the industry. The Spring Regulatory Agenda shows that OSHA has been getting ready to change the LOTO standard through rulemaking. The agenda says that the update for an NPRM will be released in March 2023.2. Set up safety rules and make sure they are followed
The next step is for your company to set up safety policies and procedures. Many companies have safety handbooks that workers can look at when they aren't sure what to do.But having these things and following them are two different things. You should also make sure that your employees understand and follow the rules. Employers should always remind their employees how important it is to follow safety rules. Also, OSHA rules say that the staff must follow the rules and regulations set by the employer.
3. Plan a small business safety audit for the workplace
Once you and your employees know exactly what safety rules your business needs to follow, you can start your safety audit within the company. Check workplaces for health, safety, and fire hazards to make sure they meet high standards. Your audits should check the maintenance, performance, and use of all of your heavy machines and equipment. Once the survey is done, it should be checked to see if it complies with building and fire codes and if there are any unsafe hazards.4. Safety gear should be a must
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for keeping your employees safe and protecting them from any threats. Employers should make sure that their workers have access to and know how to use the right safety gear, such as earplugs, hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves.For small businesses to have a stronger safety culture, it's best not to underestimate potentially dangerous situations. Even though wearing safety gear can keep you safe while working in dangerous places, ignoring small accidents can sometimes lead to serious injuries.
5. Handling dangerous things with care
When they are not stored, handled, or thrown away correctly, dangerous materials can pose a high risk. ILO says that around 650,000 people die every year because of dangerous substances alone.Always put warning signs on dangerous substances and keep them in safe, separate places to reduce the risk of exposure and accidents. Most importantly, make sure that the people who work with these materials know how to use and apply them. Prepare emergency plans ahead of time to deal with spills or releases that happen by accident.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you follow these effective security tips for small businesses, you can reduce the chance of accidents. All you have to do is make sure your workers have the right tools, information, and place to work to be safe.Take note of the places where accidents are more likely to happen. According to what OSHA has said, the top ones are:
Electrical: having more extension cords than you need, the risk of tripping over an extension cord, etc.
Poor cleaning—Wires and machines left out in the open, stuff blocking emergency exits, etc.
Working at heights with little or no use of fall protection gear
Lockout/tagout—Complacency, hurrying to finish work, not knowing how equipment works, etc.
Forklifts: less training, taking "shortcuts," not paying attention, etc.
Confined Spaces—an unsafe environment, accidents, etc.
Chemicals, like chemicals with wrong labels, chemicals that have expired, disposables, etc.
Also, here are a few more tips to help keep your company safe:
- Don't wait for things to happen to you.
- Think about preventing problems instead of trying to fix them.
- Read a lot of free resources and make sure your staff has access to them to make sure the workplace is safe.
- Make sure your workers know how important it is to "be safe."
