When graduates join a company for the first time, it’s likely that most of the attention will go towards salary and career progression. Many graduates research the company culture beforehand in an effort to make a positive first impression. Workplace safety tends to be treated as something less interesting that happens in the background, especially if, as a graduate, you are joining an office-based environment that is deemed low risk on the surface.
Nevertheless, the UK Health and Safety Executive continues to report hundreds of thousands of workplace injuries every year, and some of these do occur in an office. Some injuries are caused by simple and preventable incidents such as slips, trips and falls.
The office work carries its own risks. This is one reason for workplace safety awareness, even as an employee.
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Company Handbooks and Training Materials
No matter how tempting it is to rush through onboarding training sessions, some of these may relate to important health and safety points. Additionally, the company handbook also contains information that can be highly relevant in the event of an emergency.
What can you learn from these? They can highlight essential information regarding:
- Emergency evacuation procedures
- Reporting systems
- First-aid
- Fire safety guidance
These details can be a game-changer when you are faced with a real emergency, as being able to respond calmly can not just save time but also lives.
Seeking Additional Safety Training
Unlikely basic workplace safety training, which is mandatory, additional safety and first-aid knowledge can be extremely useful, both in professional and personal situations.
Some businesses offer support for additional training. In fact, it is in the business interest to support employees who are interested in becoming qualified First Aiders. Being able to respond confidently during medical emergencies before professional assistance can arrive is a highly valuable skill.
Similarly, you may also want to explore further dire safety training, such as learning how to use a fire extinguisher. Ultimately, having direct access to fire extinguishers that you don’t know how to use properly renders the full fire prevention equipment useless.
Understanding Workplace Safety Standards Compliance
Employees are not responsible for ensuring their business meets safety standards. Regular features audit and servicing is planned throughout the year to ensure that businesses are equipped to respond to emergencies.
However, employees who are on-site every day are more likely to notice small problems that develop between audit appointments. Ultimately, even commercial fire safety systems, such as fire doors installed via experts like ocd-firemanagement.com, still rely on regular observation to remain effective between maintenance dates.
Every anomaly should be reported to the relevant office management team or person, such as:
- Signs of damage on fire doors
- Worn exit signs
- Blocked emergency exits
- Broken extinguishers
- Faulty smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector
A minor issue can have dramatic consequences in an emergency situation.
It is unfair to let the responsibility of workplace safety fall entirely on employees. Employers and site managers are in charge of implementing the right solutions and making resources available to the team. However, shared awareness of workplace safety can help establish a strong safety culture across the office.
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