Anyone involved in the design or running of an office will need to know what they need to do to make it as safe as possible. That is important for those in charge, for everyone working there, and for anyone who might visit as well. There are of course a lot of laws around office safety, and these should be followed to the letter. There are also many other considerations you might want to think about too. In this post, we are going to look at just what a safe office looks like, so you can hope to replicate this in your own office and enjoy the results.
Covid-Secure
Covid is still very much a concern for a lot of people – not just those who might be prone to illness, but everyone else as well. As such, the modern office still very much needs to be as covid-secure as possible, as this is something that still poses a threat to everyone’s health in various ways. Covid security means there is a culture of hand-washing and mask-wearing (whether this is enforced or not) and good practice around social distancing. With these in place, the office is going to be much more covid-friendly, and everyone will be safer.
Clear Floors
A safe office is also one which has clear floors, as this means that people are much less likely to slip, trip or fall. If there are lots of items strewn over the floor, then that is going to lead to a lot of injuries, and an employer might even find themselves being contacted by accident compensation solicitors. To avoid that fate, make sure that the floors are kept clear, and that there is no chance of anyone tripping over anything, especially when they are taking care as they move around the office.
Obvious Fire Exits
There also needs to be very clear and overt fire escapes, so that nobody can be in any doubt as to where to go when a fire breaks out.
Fire safety is all about preventing fires, but also making it so that everyone could survive easily if there is a fire. One of the most important things to achieve is having fire exits that people can easily find in a hurry. If your fire exits are not currently obvious enough, consider making them more so. You’ll certainly need to do that before your next audit, but you shouldn’t wait til then – do it now.
Accessibility For All
Everyone needs to be able to get in and out at all times, and this is not just a fire safety thing. There are all sorts of incidents when being able to get out without impediment is vital. There are many measures that you can put in place to ensure this. All fire doors should be able to open at any time, without the use of a key card or key of any kind. The more accessible the office is, the safer everyone is, so think about that.