There are countless articles out there to help you to devise a plan for security when it comes to your data and IT in the office. What there isn’t enough of, is how to keep your actual office as safe as possible. The risks of workplace injury aren’t the only dangers out there, especially in the world that we live in that has too many incidents of terrorism. People don’t come to work to be put at risk, and as an employer it’s up to you to ensure that people can feel safe in the office that they are working in. Employees should be able to come to work and feel confident that they are in a good space to air any opinions and know that you are taking good care of them.
The safety of your staff should be your top priority. You may not be able to do much more than hire a cracking IT team to manage your data security, but you can ensure that there are enough measures in place that if something was to go wrong in the office, you can protect your staff effectively. A big part of safety in the workplace is accountability, with everyone taking part in training in health and safety to know what to do to look after each other. So, how can you ensure that your office is safe for the people inside it?
Clean Up. A cluttered and messy office is not a safe one. Sure, it’s safe from terrorists, but it won’t be safe from fire. Fire loves trailing wires and loose paper, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t put things in place that keep the whole office a calm and tidy place to work. Ingrain a ‘tidy desk’ policy at the end of each day and give everyone else the chance to make their space as tidy as possible.
Security After Hours. Not everyone does overtime, but for those that do, they need to know that they are safe in the office. Installing security doors with timers that will lock the office between certain hours in the day can go a long way to help this. You can have the senior staff equipped with codes or keys to unlock the doors, but otherwise you need to have secure windows and doors to ensure no break ins or issues for those working late.
Upgrade Often. Poor lighting, outdated equipment and furniture that is not ergonomically sound are all issues in the office that your staff can do without. Caring for the physical wellbeing of your staff is so important, and you should ensure that your senior management staff keep on top of the training of their teams. If everyone is aware of emergency procedures and how the fire and flood safety equipment work, then everyone can get involved to keep each other safe.
Office safety is important for happy and whole employees who feel comfortable coming into the office every day. Take the time to invest in safety, you won’t regret it.
