Workplace Safety Bulletin Board Ideas
In any workplace, safety hazards can endanger the comfort and security of your employees. To make your staff more aware of potential safety issues, you can create bulletin boards that illustrate the problem and the solution. Under Occupational Safety & Health Administration regulations, you must post posters informing employees of their rights and responsibilities and you may have to display other notices and hazard warnings, depending on your business. Using bulletin boards in common gathering areas may be one way to make these notices more visible to your employees.
No matter what industry or type of workplace, slips, trips and falls can be serious hazards. Anything from a leaking water cooler to a rogue computer cable can cause a serious injury to your employees. Keep your employees aware by making a bulletin board that showcases the common danger areas in your facilities. Look for such issues as a sink that causes condensation on a tile floor, areas with dim lighting, uneven floors or unexpected changes in level, or places that cables cross or move from their rightful place. Use pictures, when possible, and consider placing miniature bulletin boards near the problem spots to draw further attention.
Stress can be a safety issue for workers, whether physical, mental or a combination. To help your employees understand the effects of stress on their health and workplace performance, make a bulletin board that illustrates the different ways stress can happen. You might address getting enough sleep, taking breaks to prevent eye strain, using ergonomic pads for their wrists and setting up their work spaces for maximum comfort. If your company offers programs like gym memberships, flex time or counseling, include them as resources to help workers deal with stress.
When you place multiple people in an enclosed space, germs travel quickly. A bulletin board that reminds employees to take care of their health, practice proper hygiene and avoid the spread of illness can help you reduce the number of sick days, which, in turn, can avoid lost productivity. On the board, talk about best practices for a sick employee: wash your hands more frequently, use antibacterial gel, have a supply of tissues and stay home, if you are sick.
Many industries, particularly those that use heavy equipment, experience associated safety hazards specific to that particular business operation. For a useful bulletin board, detail one or more of the safety issues that may not be well-known to everyone in the company. This can be particularly effective in keeping office staff safe when they are on the shop floor. Common issues to consider include the unexpected movement of equipment, keeping a safe distance from machinery, proper clothing and protective gear and the correct handling of chemicals. Include pictures and diagrams on your bulletin board to cement the concept in the minds of your staff.