MightyRecruiterIf you’re just getting into the business realm, welcome aboard, and get ready to protect your enterprise to potential risks and losses. To develop an effective risk management program, you’ll need to understand your enterprise’s unique liabilities and risks. However, here’s a checklist to get you started.
1. Maintain floors and stairs. A large part of minimizing your business risks is simply providing a safe work environment for your employees. Even if you don’t work in an industry that typically has workers’ compensation claims, small things like ragged carpet, stairs without rails or incomplete floor tiles can increase your liability exposure.
2. Maintain your elevators and escalators. Obviously, you don’t want your workers or clients to get stuck in elevators and escalators. Plus, it can be incredibly inconvenient when they aren’t in service. Conduct regular maintenance and check ups.
3. Maintain your electrical systems. If you have exposed wiring anywhere, that is an unnecessary risk, and it should be addressed as soon as possible. Make sure your electrical work is serviceable and safely housed.
4. Install an alarm system. Your alarm system should be able to detect a fire and a break-in.
5. Create a system to minimize or remove slipping and falling hazards. As an example, you’ve probably seen those wet floor signs janitorial professionals use after they’ve mopped an area. Small actions like this can help you minimize your business risks.
6. Isolate hazardous products. If possible, have a special storage area for flammable or otherwise hazardous materials. You should also implement handling procedures for these items.
7. Install high-quality locks and security measures on company property. You don’t need to turn your operating facilities into fortresses, but do make sure you provide adequate protection for you, your employees and your clients.
8. Install a safe. Your business may have valuables or important documents that shouldn’t be disturbed except for a select few management members or employees. As such, use a secure safe to store important records or valuable items.
9. Install quality lighting. Believe it or not, having good lighting in your facility can minimize the risk of theft. Keep your building well lit, and when the lights go out, stay on top of maintenance.
10. Consider a security service. There is a broad range of security services that can meet your needs. You can start with a simple alarm system or even contract a company to provide security personnel.
11. Only let employees with strong driving records drive. Whether you have a delivery service or you’re taking your team out for a company dinner, don’t take the risk of allowing those with poor driving histories get behind the wheel.
12. Consider driver’s training. If your business relies on the use of motor vehicles, you may benefit from providing a driver’s training course as part of employee orientation.
13. Provide ongoing safety training. As technology changes and the market learns more about existing technologies, safety procedures will need to be updated to cover newly identified risks. Ongoing training will keep your staff up to date on any changes and remind them of existing best practices.
14. Require and provide protective gear. Especially if your industry has a higher risk of worker’s compensation claims, you should require relevant professionals to wear appropriate protective gear. Additionally, if the gear is expensive, you might also like to pay for all or some of the cost.
15. Create an OSHA checklist. OSHA dictates many current safety standards, so understand what legal components apply to your business. Make a checklist and use it to update your policies. Also, update the checklist with any changes in OSHA policies.
Target and account for any unique liabilities you may have, and you’ll be on your way to minimizing your business risks and losses.
Legal Disclaimer
The content on our website is only meant to provide general information and is not legal advice. We make our best efforts to make sure the information is accurate, but we cannot guarantee it. Do not rely on the content as legal advice. For assistance with legal problems or for a legal inquiry please contact you attorney.