Amp up workplace safety with these helpful hints.
Employees are safer – and more productive – in a healthy workplace. There are several steps businesses can take to promote a safe and healthy workplace environment, including: 
- Stop the spread of germs
- Establish a workplace culture that supports safety
- Promote education and training
- Encourage healthy behaviors and establish healthy policies
Keep reading to learn more about these four steps to promote a safe and healthy workplace.
Stop the spread of germs
According to the CDC (and common sense), the best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure to COVID-19 and other viruses. Follow these hygiene-focused workplace safety steps at the office and home:
- Wash your hands often or, if hand soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Stay at least 6 feet away from other people outside of your home
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover around others
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow (and then immediately wash your hands)
- Clean and disinfect surfaces you frequently touch, including desks, phones, keyboards, and doorknobs
We stock a variety of virus-fighting products and essential office supplies to protect against COVID-19 and other viruses.
Establish a workplace culture that supports safety
Everyone is responsible for promoting a safe and healthy workplace, including human resources, facilities and operations departments – and you! Here are a few ways you, your employer, and colleagues can contribute to improving and maintaining workplace safety:
- Stock up on protective gear, such as first-aid kits, face masks and shields, HEPA filters, nitrile gloves, and non-contact infrared digital thermometers – read more about the office products you need when reopening your company after COVID-19 shutdowns
- Follow OSHA guidelines to eliminate hazards that can contribute to injuries, illness, and fatalities
- Remove contaminants in the air with a professional-grade air purifier
- Establish capacity limits at your office and set up workstations, conference rooms, waiting rooms, and other gathering spaces to allow for six feet of social distancing
When it comes to workplace safety tips to prevent injuries, improve ergonomics and arrange environments and systems that reduce discomfort and increase productivity. For example, situate your computer workstation at a certain height so that your legs touch the floor, your wrists are supported, and you aren’t craning your neck. Many ergonomic office supplies can help, including standing desk stations, footrests, chairs, and telephone shoulder rests.
Promote education and training
Comprehensive workplace training is key to preventing illness and injury at work. Safety should always be top of mind, so everyone knows what to do in an emergency and day-to-day. Training could include in-person or online courses and certifications, or regular meetings, emails, and intranet posts about workplace safety. Safety labels and signs are another inexpensive and effective way to communicate hazard warnings and proper procedures.
Specific training is available to businesses to encourage healthy behaviors and help prevent potentially fatal incidents, such as driving while sleep-deprived or while using a cell phone, workplace violence, and falls. Policy changes might also help lower the risk of these dangerous situations.
Encourage healthy behaviors and establish health-promoting policies
There are many other ways employers can promote a safe and healthy workplace. These range from simple activities, such as stretch breaks, stress reduction tips, and group meditation, to more robust initiatives, like constructing fitness facilities or making sure healthy food and beverage options are available in vending machines and cafeterias.
Some companies launch larger-scale health programs to address multiple risk factors and health conditions that can impact workplace safety. The CDC recommends a comprehensive approach that includes health assessment, in-depth program planning, implementation, and evaluation. This approach might lead to safe and healthy policies and perks, ranging from a tobacco-free campus to fitness rewards.
You can count on us to deliver everything you need to promote a safe and healthy workplace. Shop for office supplies online or call our local customer concierge to set up your business account at (608) 310-4300 today.