Employers have various legal obligations they need to adhere to each day, which can range from OSHA regulations to tax requirements. Running a company can ultimately be a minefield for legal breaches and health risks, which could severely impact your business.
If you want to deal with multiple challenges throughout your company’s lifespan effectively, learn more about the following three onsite problems that pose a risk to your employees.
- Occupational Safety and Health Risks
Federal law entitles every US employee to work in a safe environment each day. It is, therefore, a business owner’s responsibility to remove potential safety hazards that could impact a worker’s health and wellbeing.
For example, if you run a construction firm, you could eliminate slips, trips and falls by removing debris and unnecessary material onsite. To do so, you may need to rent or buy transfer trucks to collect and dispose of any potentially hazardous materials.
- Intoxicated Employees
Inebriated employees are not only a danger to themselves, but they can also impact the health and safety of everyone on site, especially if they are required to operate heavy machinery, such as a forklift truck, excavator, or drive a company vehicle.
Common signs an employee has been drinking can include:
- A loss of balance
- Slurred speech
- Co-ordination issues
- Irrational behavior
- The smell of alcohol on their breath
If you suspect an employee has been drinking, you must talk to them in a non-confrontational, calm manner regarding the issue. If they are intoxicated, you should refer them to an employee assistance program.
You can also prevent staff from driving a company vehicle by introducing an ignition interlock device. Every staff member that sits behind the wheel will need to provide a three-second breath sample to unlock an ignition. It promotes road safety and can prevent accidents.
- A Lack of Training
As mentioned, employers have a legal requirement to provide their team with a safe environment. That’s why it is imperative to ensure your members of staff have the appropriate health and safety training for a role, which can minimize the chances of a health and safety issue in the workplace.
Sadly, if an employee has not received the necessary training, they could operate heavy machinery that could lead to a fatal or non-fatal injury. Protect your staff at all costs and ensure your business is never liable for compensation by investing your company’s time and money into OSHA and on-the-job training.
Conclusion
Running a company is not without its challenges, as business owners will have multiple responsibilities they will need to juggle each day. Yet, few aspects of your business are more important than your employees’ health and wellbeing.
For this reason, you must aim to create a safe working environment for everyone, tackle individual issues head-on, and provide your team with the appropriate training for their job role.
Business Resources:
FAQ – Federal Tax ID Numbers EIN & FEIN Guide
Generate New Business Ideas for your Next Startup – Business Idea Generator
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