We’ve all got responsibilities to keep our workplaces safe. But some types of workplace are inherently more potentially dangerous than others.
A workshop is one of those with more potential dangers around.
A workshop can be a dangerous place, especially where appropriate safety precautions haven’t been taken. If you’re a hobbyist, this is a big concern for your own personal safety. But it’s even more pressing if you’re running a workshop as part of a business, since you’ll have legal responsibilities to think about.
Why does safety matter in a workshop?
The average workshop is stocked with all manner of rotating, reciprocating sharp objects. Drills, saw-blades, and router bits can all inflict serious injury if used incorrectly. Then there are chronic threats like dust particulates and noise, which will deal damage over time.
If an employee is injured on the job, then they’ll be unable to come into work. This will mean a loss in productivity. Moreover, you’ll lose out on all the experience and expertise they’ve gathered over the years.
But that’s not your only concern. You might also find yourself having to pay compensation, if you’re deemed to have failed in your duty of care toward the employee in question.
So, what can you do to minimise risk and enhance safety in your workshop? Let’s take a look.
NEVER Shortcut the Training
The most important piece of safety equipment in your workshop is the human brain. It’s a piece of equipment that, when supplied with the necessary knowledge, has the potential to prevent countless accidents.
Provide your workers with regular training and make sure that they know how to use all of the equipment they’re being asked to use properly. Maintain a culture of safety, and don’t allow anyone to cut corners.
Stay Organised
Where a workspace is chaotic and messy, there will be a greater risk of accidents to employees.
You might think of a worker unwittingly tripping over a trailing cable while operating a circular saw. But general clutter can be stress-inducing in more subtle ways, too.
Deal with it by storing tools safely away in their toolboxes when they aren’t being used. This has the benefit of promoting the longevity of the tools in question: blades which rattle around and knock into things will go blunt much quicker than those which are kept in a neat little row.
Stay on Top of Maintenance
You’ll need to make sure that all of your equipment is being looked after. This means checking it periodically, and, where necessary, doing a little bit of sharpening and lubrication.
You should have a process in place for inspection. Make sure that it’s done at regular intervals, without fail.
Ensuring your equipment is maintained properly and not left to become damaged, worn or dangerous, is one of your legal requirements as an employer.
Log Any Incidents
Even in the safest workspace, it’s always possible that you’ll suffer the occasional mishap. What matters is that these instances are properly documented. This will allow you to learn from them when you come to perform your next risk assessment. It might also provide evidence that you need when you come to defend yourself from legal action.
Take Advice
Particularly where your legal requirements are concerned, it’s always worth getting expert advice to ensure you’re compliant.
Nobody should be put at risk in the workplace, and ensuring you’re compliant with all of your Health and Safety responsibilities as an employer should be a top priority.