Top Tips for Nigeria CEO's on avoiding workplace injury

Keeping employees and customers safe should be a top priority for businesses all across Nigeria.

If your business wants to improve its safety standards, there are a few pointers to remember.

With workplace wellbeing in mind, here are a handful of ways to avoid injuries at your business:

Workplace injuries in Nigeria

Although your business puts the safety of its employees and customers first, accidents at the workplace can still happen though there had not being any study regarding the statistics of all workplace injuries in Nigeria, if there are it should show a startling revelation that make you wonder if there are any proviso to prevent same in the first place.

From the media it is evident that majority of the workplace injury resides with the Nigeria construction industry and a little from the manufacturing sector, the types of injury ranges from equipment related to repetitive motion, however falls and electrical is another major causatives in workplace injury in Nigeria and this also happen to the employees and the customers alike in most instances.

More than 35% of workplace injuries are due to slip and fall accidents. With numbers like this, it's more important than ever to make sure your business practices safety.

Ensure pathways are clear

As the following article looks at, the number one way your business can prevent personal injury, specifically falls, is by making sure all walkways are clear.

From wires and extension cords to uneven floor mats and fallen merchandise, clearing pathways and walkways is of the utmost importance.

During the rainy season, make sure all pathways and sidewalks around your property are cleaned up.

Providing safe walkways in rainy season will help your business prevent slip and fall accidents with employees and customers.

Properly train employees

If your employees use heavy machinery or anything that could cause bodily harm, then it's your business's responsibility to conduct employee training.

Whether it's a crane, Power drill, or fax machine, properly teaching your employees how to use workplace equipment will ensure their safety and the safety of those around them.

Regularly conduct safety checks

Having rules in place is one thing, but making sure those rules are followed is something else entirely.

Conducting regular safety checks and making sure all office equipment and facilities are in working order will help your business maintain a safe work environment.

Likewise, you should encourage your employees to report any unsafe work conditions to their department heads immediately.

Safety is a team effort in the workplace

Safety at the workplace is a team effort, especially for larger businesses with more extensive office spaces.

Have safety protocol in place

When an accident does occur, your business should have safety protocol in place.

If the accident results in a medical emergency, contacting medical personnel should be at the top of the safety protocol list.

However, for minor injuries, your business should have to protocols in place one for employees and one for customers.

There are different steps and insurance requirements when a customer is injured as opposed to an employee. By having the right protocol on hand, your business can handle situations safely and accurately.

When it comes to workplace safety, your business and all businesses in Nigeria should keep the tips above in mind.

Nneka Ukaejiofo

Strategist and content administrator