7 small business safety management tips
Small businesses can face many of the same safety challenges as large corporations, but their limited budgets and smaller workforces often make it more difficult to tackle these issues. Despite their size, small businesses must meet almost all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements and provide their workers with adequate safety training, protective equipment, and ongoing support.
To keep your workers safe in a small business setting, consider these seven tips:
1. Create a safety program
Develop an environment, health, and safety (EHS) program with its own policies, procedures, and budget. By dedicating time and resources to your employees’ safety, you comply with OSHA guidelines while boosting your bottom line.
2. Conduct a thorough worksite analysis
Identify and eliminate unsafe conditions by following OSHA’s recommendations, some of which include:
- Researching common hazards
- Creating safety teams
- Encouraging employees to report workplace hazards
3. Provide dedicated safety training
Conduct specialized safety training to ensure all employees understand the policies, procedures, and purpose of your safety program. Encourage employees to actively participate by spotting new hazards, providing feedback, and reporting incidents.
4. Lead by example
It’s not just employees who should play active roles. Leadership, including superiors and senior management, must actively participate in safety initiatives to foster a safety-minded culture. Be involved in training sessions and worksite analyses.
5. Go above and beyond
Depending on your industry and location, consider taking extra measures beyond OSHA’s guidelines. This can include creating special authorizations for hazardous jobs, holding emergency preparedness drills, and providing additional training and support to employees learning new operations.
6. Take advantage of OSHA’s resources
Did you know that OSHA offers complimentary voluntary compliance programs? Not only are they free, but leveraging their consultation services is also confidential and won’t result in citations or penalties!
7. Keep policies and procedures up to date
Maintain up-to-date policies and procedures in a centralized location for easy access and compliance. Consider using an electronic management system, such as our Policies and Procedures Management tool, to efficiently store, update, and retrieve safety documentation.
By implementing these tips, small businesses can effectively prioritize and maintain a safe working environment for their employees while meeting regulatory requirements.
