It’s no secret that the working world can be a dangerous place. Every day, employees face the risk of injury or even death on the job. While some risks are simply unavoidable, there are steps that employers can take to help protect their employees and minimize these dangers.
For instance, drug testing in Phoenix has been adopted by many employers there to protect employees from harm and themselves from possible legal situations that may otherwise result.
Here are three ways to help keep your employees safe during the working day:
Screening and background checks
One of the best ways to protect your employees is to screen all applicants thoroughly before hiring them. This includes running criminal background checks and drug tests. You should also verify that an applicant has the necessary qualifications and experience for the job. By taking these precautions, you can help ensure that dangerous or unfit individuals are not hired in the first place.
Background checks are also used to ensure performance. Not only can drug taking hamper performance but so too can an inability to do the job because of a lack of knowledge or the experience claimed by the individual. The answer is to check that the educational qualifications of applicants are correct and have not been fabricated in any way. This may impact a person’s ability to do the job. Where education is lacking, aptitude tests can be given because life skills learned can be transferrable to the work situation.
Screening of every kind is vital to finding the right employee, with a large part of it about protecting everyone. Existing employees deserve this and to have confidence that those working beside them are not likely to prove a danger. This would put someone on edge and start to hamper their performance. One bad egg can soon end up a whole box should peer pressure and unwanted influences come into play.
Drug testing
Drug testing can be an effective way to deter employees from using drugs and alcohol on the job. It can also help you identify employees who may already have a problem with substance abuse. If you do choose to drug test your employees, be sure to have a clear policy in place that outlines when and how testing will be conducted.
The kind of drug tests carried out on an employee will often be determined by how intrusive the employer feels they can be and by their budget. There is the thought that employees need to be engaged with the process of drug testing rather than be put off by it.
The types of drugs tests conducted by employers include:
- Urine drug test
- Hair drug test
- Saliva drug test
- Blood drug test
All the above can be done on the premises by someone who has gone through the appropriate Oral Fluid Collector Training, as an example, and then later tested in a lab. The results that come back can then be acted on.
Safety training
Employees should be properly trained in how to safely perform their job duties. This training should cover topics like proper lifting techniques, use of safety equipment, and identification of potential hazards. By ensuring that your employees are properly trained, you can help reduce the risk of on-the-job accidents and injuries.
Safety training should not just be by way of induction but be provided regularly to keep it in the minds of employees. This will then protect that individual and all those around them from harm. How much training is necessary will depend on the type of work and should be geared to this. It does cost money but is well worth it to keep everyone safe and working to the maximum yet comfortable levels of productivity.
By taking these steps, you can help create a safer working environment for your employees. However, it’s important to remember that no amount of safety measures can eliminate the risk of accidents or injuries. Therefore, it’s also important to have proper insurance coverage in place to protect your business in case of an accident or injury.