Here Is How Small Businesses Can Raise Workplace Safety Compliance

workplace safety compliance

The pandemic has devastated the economy of all the countries. While large businesses have the means to make affordable strategies and infrastructure to adjust to the sudden shift in the business environment and customer behaviour, on the other hand, it becomes difficult for small businesses to make the change suddenly with meagre capital and workforce.

As businesses are opening up post-pandemic lockdown, the significant challenge for small businesses is to face pandemic-related compliance along with other routine compliances. Most of the employees are also reluctant to join the office due to COVID-19. And that’s why it is the business leaders’ responsibility to make sure of COVID-19-safe workplace and develop compliance reports for reference objectives.

Five strategies that would help you in raising the pandemic workplace compliances. 

Make sure contactless check-in and check-out at the workplace.

Though there is no certainty on how the transmission occurs of a novel coronavirus from one person to another, it has been proven that touching the surfaces could increase the chances of infection. Nonetheless, there are multiple touch-points crucial to conduct the day-to-day operations in the modern workplace, and the first begins with attendance systems, the data related to which is garnered via biometrics machines. 

Currently, businesses having online registration of company should ensure contactless check-in and check-out systems to break the chain of transmission from one employee to another. It can be done by automating the process of hour-tracking and integrating the tool into the attendance system.

This must be applied to all the places and for all the persons coming to the workplace. Also, make sure that whosoever is coming should wear personal protective gear, masks and gloves.

Self-screening tools for the employee.

Taking advantage of digital tools, small business owners can allow the employees to screen their thermal temperature and health and other flu and cold symptoms. All the collected data from the tool has to be recorded to the centralised data system. The respective team managers have to be alerted in case of any potential dangers. Regular self-assessment can help employers and employees recognize the red flags earlier crucial to limit the spread of novel coronavirus infections.

Suppose you have a field service team that often visits the COVID hotspot. In that case, you should make sure that they are frequently evaluated and given with day-to-day training on how to restrict themselves from the exposure of infection in the crisis situation. The regular survey can help to make the office environment safe.

Staggered scheduling.

Allowing staggered scheduling is useful in limiting group gatherings. Small business owners should make a list of all the check-points, beginning from entry in building to exit point during the closing hours, including the use of the coffee, elevator, and water-drinking places, parking lots and so forth.

Based on the checklist and employees, teams should be granted a specific time slot to enter and disembark the premises, use the elevator and parking areas, and other facilities in the office. Also, keep track of every employee activity in office premises and budge them if they are not abiding by the stated rules or protocols. Every employee has to be granted a time slot to visit the frequently-used areas to avoid any kind of crowd formation. 

Set up cleaning and disinfection protocols.

Regular cleaning and disinfection of mostly touched surfaces are one of the suggestive health directives. To reopen business and manage the operation positively, small business owners should set up a cleaning and disinfecting protocols to make sure end-to-end hygiene. It must include;

– Committing safety every time.

– Washing of hands frequently at least for 20 seconds.

– Clean surfaces like windows, tables, floors, and so forth frequently.

– Wear disposable gloves, aprons, and face masks to safeguard personal clothing while disinfecting and cleaning.

– Track and record every cleaning and disinfecting activity for analysis objectives.

General compliance report and inspection.

The small businesses are already struggling to manage several compliances concerning tax and employee wages, which seems to be an added layer to the misery. But nothing can be done right now as the virus is still here to stay; that’s why it becomes crucial to ensure a robust HR management in pandemic that follow the safety protocols sternly. Business owners can take advantage of digital tools to keep a record of all the inspections conducted and the inspection outcome. When monitoring, tracking, and recording the employees’ activities are being performed with digital tools, the process becomes smooth and speedy.

In conclusion.

It is the responsibility of the leaders in these challenging times to provide a safe working environment to their employees, which can be done by the compliances as mentioned above. 

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