No one likes to be “the rules guy,” but this is certainly essential to running any kind of outfit. For instance, if you don’t have a rule that a buddy system is supposed to be used in your manufacturing areas, then a potential injury or safety hazard affecting one person may leave them without support.
But rules are only as good as those you can enforce, as we often see play out in international politics. For this reason, implementing a stringent set of accountability and disciplinary measures, to both educate and to punish within reason, can ensure those rules are followed.
Of course, this might not feel like the best way to go about things, but it really is. It’s better to be unpopular than to put people’s safety or the capable functioning of your business at risk. Moreover, if you educate staff appropriately, they will understand why you need to enforce the rules. A kitchen member might not enjoy cleaning out the fridges every few days, but they know why they have to do it if properly informed and trained.
So, what rules are essential to have within any premises? Consider that, below:
A Certain Number Of First Aiders Per Team
Emergencies happen even if you’re quite careful about safety, and so having trained first aiders on hand can potentially be the last line of defense to save a life or reduce the harm of those affected by an incident. Depending on the size of your team or workplace, it’s important to ensure a set number of employees are trained and certified in first aid.
These individuals should be clearly identified, so everyone knows who to approach if an issue arises, especially in the midst of an emergency. Keep up to date on those refresher courses too, because they help keep such individuals' skills sharp and ensure they’re prepared for various situations. Of course, a salary boost for those trained in first aid can incentivize this.
Even if your workplace seems low-risk, accidents can happen anywhere, so never take it for granted.
Always Wearing ID’s & Lanyards
Wearing IDs or lanyards might seem like a small thing, but it’s an easy way to maintain security and professionalism, making certain that those who are present should be present. It also helps staff identify one another, especially in larger teams or when you have different departments mingling (and not everyone knows each other), which ensures visitors or contractors can easily connect.
This rule also contributes to safety. For instance, in an emergency, being able to quickly identify who’s who can save valuable time. You can use these ID cards as keycards too which should help you gate access through the building. Just make sure to use a reliable card printing service to ensure the best quality and longevity.
Checking Into & Out Of The Building Correctly
Keeping track of who’s on the premises at any given time is very necessary, not only for security reasons, but if there needs to be an evacuation, too. If you don’t know who is on site, then a fire might mean the fire service sends people in to check if no one is inside, and that can put them at risk. If you have a clear check in and out system, as aided by the cards we mentioned, then you can see the listings exactly.
This system doesn’t need to be overly complicated. Even a straightforward sign-in sheet can work well, but you need to make sure that staff understand their responsibilities for coming and going and why it’s so important. It’s also important to implement accountability for those that don’t - they could be putting others at risk. The real goal here is to create a habit so that no one slips through the cracks unnoticed.
The Obligation To Report
Staff members should also be considered examples of good candor. That means encouraging employees to report issues, like it’s a safety concern, a maintenance problem, or even a spilled drink in a walkway that could lead to a slip issue. This helps keep the workplace safe and also allows a small issue to impact the least amount of people possible, or prevent it from becoming a bigger problem. If you create that culture with training and reporting pathways, you’ll have helped the safety of those you manage through and through. Remember that no one should feel like they’re “being difficult” for pointing out problems.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily set rules to keep people safe, and make sure they’re easy to follow in line with that.
