Safety in the workplace should be a top priority for everyone involved. As a staffing agency, Coople is responsible for raising awareness of occupational safety. To reduce the risk of accidents, preventive measures need to be put in place to ensure that both companies and their employees are informed about possible dangers and necessary codes of conduct.
During the first three months of a job, new workers face a 50% higher risk of accidents than long-term employees do. This can be due to a lack of practice, distraction, overestimation, information overload or lack of instructions, stress, nervousness, probationary pressure, and lack of integration.
Clearly defined safety rules can save lives. Therefore, it's extremely important that both you as a hiring manager and your employees are aware of proper safety procedures and behaviours before the start of a job. Specific rules apply depending on the nature of the job (location and environment, work equipment, etc.), but some basic principles should be followed in any situation.
The following rule is particularly important:
Stop in the event of danger - Eliminate danger - Continue working
Safety is a priority
Often, hiring managers need flexible workers at very short notice. Even if the matter is urgent, it's still important that you give new employees enough time to familiarise themselves and, depending on the task, to give them step-by-step instructions, check their qualifications and abilities, and empathise with each person. If you treat and integrate temporary staff in the same way as permanent employees, you'll find that they perform better and with fewer mishaps.
What you should pay attention to before hiring Cooplers
Have you defined and written down all work instructions and rules for health and safety in your company?
Have you organised all the necessary protective equipment and working materials for employees in advance?
Is the maintenance (inspection, servicing, and repair) of buildings, facilities, as well as work and protective equipment regulated and properly documented?
Are safety data sheets and operating instructions for potentially hazardous materials (e.g. chemical substances) and other special hazards available?
Do employees who need special knowledge to carry out their work safely (e.g. work with special hazards) have the appropriate training?
Are regulations in place for solitary workplaces?
All employees must be briefed in the workplace before they start a job. You should provide the following information and materials:
What you should provide to employees before they start a job:
A list of potential hazards and relevant safety rules
Required protective equipment and safe working materials (these must be made available to employees free of charge).
Your own safety rules
Every company should clearly define relevant vital safety rules and implement them into their procedures. In addition to standard safety instructions, you can tailor a list of vital rules to your company and jobs.
Check the current state of your business
Is your company well-prepared and up to date on all things occupational safety? Take a self-assessment here.