4 simple changes that’ll make your staff feel safer at work
A recent survey reveals that one in 3 workers don’t feel safe in their workplace (Gallup, 2021) so how can you make workers feel they are protected through their working hours. Here are five simple things that will make a difference…
- Lighting and access points
Make sure the car park, main approaches and entrances are all well-lit. Research shows the likelihood of being attacked is very low, but that doesn’t help workers feel safe once the nights start drawing in and a work entrance and exit is dark and surrounded by shadowy areas. Take a look at what the entrances look like after dark and make sure any shrubs or areas where bins etc are stored are arranged so that the pathways from exit to car park or main road are clear and well lit.
- Consider CCTV
Studies reveal that CCTV acts as a deterrent against crime, and it also makes employees feel safer. The more obvious the camera the better in this respect. Modern wireless systems can be installed even in remote locations where staff may feel more vulnerable.
- Staff training
Especially useful for ‘frontline’ staff is training that can give confidence in being able to handle angry customers and to know exactly what to do and have support available if things get out of hand. You can start by offering simple and often free training resource, such as this video from Mindtools on how to handle and angry customer: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/unhappy-customers.htm
Also ensure that staff are given a clear plan of how to seek help and who will act to provide security support should a situation escalate.
For example, staff can keep an eye out for clues such as clenched fists, tense body language, heavy breathing and a flushed face as possible signs that a customer might be growing frustrated. More obvious signs like a raised voice or getting within an employees’ personal space can demonstrate an escalating situation and it may be that at this point you train staff to press pause and ask the customer to wait a moment while the staff member seeks help.
If your staff are likely to encounter aggression, it’s important to have good training. You can find an online course and helpful information at this link:
- Share emergency planning and the safety measures you are taking
It might feel as though sharing scary emails about potential disasters might be anything but reassuring, but if you make it clear to staff that you have carried out good risk assessments and plans this reassures your team as well as helping to reduce risks. For situations such as fire, flood or powercut, for example, share the emergency plan of what to do in ways where they can easily access it at any time. If you have a security team who regularly checks fire alarms and equipment, or does 24 hour monitoring for you, it can be helpful to share this news with your staff, demonstrating that you are investing in their safety and security.
Our team are here to offer help and advice on security and fire alarm systems, CCTV and monitoring, and can suggest more ways that your particular business can help to keep staff and customers safe. Call us on 01726 65636 or email security@waldons.co.uk.
