Keep Your Startup Safe

As a new business owner, you are already well-versed in the laws, rules and regulations surrounding business taxes and employee rights, and just about every other subject related to owning a business. But, did you remember safety? It should be one of the most important considerations in your day-to-day operations because just one customer or employee on-the-job injury can spell the end of your business, and put you in debt for years to come.

Even if you think you have a handle on workplace safety, you owe it to yourself to take a second look. After all, as a new business owner, you are firmly and permanently planted on a learning curve, and that includes issues of safety. Here are a few tips to help you make your workplace even safer that will also help protect your bottom line.

OSHA Consultation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is a governmental entity with which every business owner should be familiar. They regulate all federal workplace safety mandates, and, as such, OSHA is the go-to source for any questions related to the topic of federal workplace safety laws. So, it stands to reason that they would offer an On-site Consultation Program wherein an OSHA representative will meet with the business owner at the business site to offer confidential advice and help them to improve or even establish a workplace illness and injury prevention program. In 2012, representatives from the program visited about 30,000 businesses to assess and advise owners on safety matters. If you are at a loss for how to set up a business safety plan, contact OSHA.

State Plans

While every state falls under OSHA’s jurisdiction, many states also have their own safety plans in place. Check with your state to ensure that your safety measures meet their individual standards, as they may be higher than those prescribed by OSHA. Some states, including Montana, Wisconsin, and Alabama, among others, don’t have OSHA-approved state plans in place, but businesses in those states are still required to follow the guidelines established by OSHA.

Just because a state doesn’t have an OSHA-approved safety plan in place, however, doesn’t mean there are no additional local laws you must consider. Individual states have the right to regulate areas that are not directly covered by OSHA. If your business is located in Alabama, for instance, and you have questions regarding workplace safety as related to your liability as the business owner, contact a reputable local legal firm, such as the Belt Law Firm, for answers. You can get more specific answers related to your state’s workplace safety laws.

Inside, Outside and on the Road

Obviously, safety is best tackled from a perspective that’s focused on prevention, rather than waiting until something happens and correcting it after the fact. To that end, maintaining both the inside and outside of your business should be of prime importance, and you must make it an ongoing effort. Here are a couple of tips related to common safety scenarios:

Accessible Areas: Restrooms, entrances, exits, eating areas, hallways, and any other location where people walk, must be checked daily for hazards, including loose flooring (carpeting, tile) and ceiling fixtures, as well as holes in the driveway and emergency exit doors that are blocked from the outside or inside. Also, if there are any walking surfaces that are uneven and can’t be fixed, such as slopes or stairs, paint them a bright color (yellow is most common) and keep the area well-lit, especially at night. Post signs if paint isn’t an option.

Driving Dangers: Any company vehicles must also be diligently maintained. The last thing you need is to receive a call from a Montgomery car accidents attorney because the brakes failed on your company car, causing a collision. It goes without saying that you should only allow licensed and insured drivers behind the wheel of your company vehicle. Anything that happens with the car is your responsibility, regardless of the vehicle’s location.

OSHA has a long list of employer responsibilities related to workplace safety. It’s your job as a new business owner to familiarize yourself with them, and to create and implement a safety plan using both federal and state guidelines. When you put safety first you are protecting not only your employees and customers, but you’re also protecting your businesses bottom line.