Sadly, we live in a world where bad things happen in the workplace. From disasters to thieves, your staff and your stock are constantly at risk. Of course, for many small and local businesses, these risks are minimised, but the threat remains nonetheless. As a leader or manager, you are responsible for staff safety and, as a result, you have to plan for every eventuality. Here are some things you have to consider:
Teach Awareness: To counteract thieves, many companies now monitor behaviour more closely and openly challenge those who are acting suspiciously. By teaching your employees what signs to look out for (both from customers and other employees), you can switch the odds back in the favour of your company, making is less of a target. If you see anything or catch anyone, be sure to be public about it and file a report. Your business will soon be off limits for many.
Plan, Plan, Plan: If there is a crisis, do your employees know what to do? If there is a crisis, such as a fire or flood, then it is vital that your employees know what to do. Due to this, you need to plan. Put together a formal briefing document and an action plan and distribute it to staff. From here, incorporate it into inductions for new staff members and hold refreshers regularly; it could make all the difference.
Identify Leaders Within Teams: If you’ve got a large volume of staff, then it is worth having leaders or captains. By delegating the responsibility, you make workplace security a team effort. From taking registers during a fire drill to monitoring instances of shoplifting, their small contributions can make a big difference, and lift the weight off your shoulders.
Practice the Drill: There’s no point having a plan if you don’t practice it. After all, how will you know that it works? Practice the plan at least once a quarter and then debrief with all staff after to perfect it and improve on the results. This way, if the worst case scenario becomes a reality, your customers will feel confident they are safe.
Make Sure Equipment is Ready: Finally, make sure all of your equipment is up-to-date and ready. Carry out regular checks on CCTV cameras, smoke alarms and security alarms to make sure your staff are safe. Technology changes and evolves constantly, and smoke alarms and systems easily become out of date. If ventilation is an issue, contact a specialist like Rocburn who can help ensure your staff are safe. One simple call could make all the difference.
So, there we have it, five simple ways you can make sure your staff members are safe if there is an emergency.
