A report by IndustriALL reveals that between May 2020 and July 2020, India recorded 30 industrial accidents that claimed the lives of 75 workers, according to The Hindu. Under his ambitious campaign dubbed Atmanirbhar Bharat, PM Modi has taken several initiatives to boost the economy and enhance public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the commerce and industry department, new reforms to improve safety in industrial premises have been implemented recently.
The new industrial safety regulations in storage facilities, petroleum installation, and cylinder filling stations aim to enhance public safety and create an ecosystem for local and international investors. As people reopen their businesses in a post-pandemic era, maintaining safety in the workplace is a top priority. Because of this, business owners are required to understand the legal side of workplace health and safety to ensure their premises are free of hazards that may cause illness or fatal accidents. Below are a few tips for maintaining workplace health and safety.
Get Legal Counsel
Understanding workplace health and safety laws can be daunting if you lack legal skills and knowledge. Therefore, consult an attorney to guide you through the legalities of maintaining health and safety within your organization. A lawyer will also help you understand your legal rights and responsibilities. For instance, let’s say you don’t have money to hire an attorney to help you win a claim filed by employees after an accident. A legal expert will advise you to consider the services of a contingency lawyer. These lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay them after winning a case in court.
Identify And Control Hazards
As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to create a safe and healthy work environment. With this in mind, take time to evaluate your workplace surroundings and determine the kind of risks your employees encounter. Look out for common hazards in the workplace, such as fires, slips, trips and falls, caught in between machinery, and chemical exposure. Next, decide if you can eliminate the potential hazards. If not, control the dangers to prevent accidents. For example, use machine guards to protect employees from being caught in between heavy equipment.
Invest In Safety Training
Training employees on proper safety protocols is key to ensuring your work premise is healthy and safe. So, make it a habit to provide safety training programs in your company. As a general rule of thumb, essential safety awareness like reporting hazards, handling hazardous materials, preventing fires, and responding to emergencies should be top on your priority list.
Maintaining a healthy and safe work environment is a legal obligation every employer must comply with. To achieve the best outcomes, make sure you understand workplace health and safety laws. Also, identify and control safety risks, offer safety training, and provide personal protective equipment.
