This is a contributed post.
When you began your business endeavours, you were fresh and excited – full of enthusiasm and ideas. You and your team put together a great workplace to be proud of. However, as time passes, sometimes complacency sneaks in regarding the brick-and-mortar workplace. You are all focused on the work at hand and pushing forward toward success that the infrastructure gets put on the back burner. Well, no more. Take these tips to heart and begin updating key components within your office space to make it better and safer for everyone starting today. Here are the office building updates you should consider.
Reassess the Fire Safety Protocols
Safety should never be left to the last minute. That is especially true when it comes to fire safety. As part of your business plan and safety inspection checklist, you certainly already have fire safety rules in place. While you may think you are diligently following all necessary legal fire safety regulations, sometimes, the best practices and guidelines change over time. If you are not actively following this information, you may not be in compliance. Furthermore, your staff may be at risk.
Do your part and hire a professional team to conduct thorough fire risk assessments on your business properties. This should include office buildings, warehouses, outbuildings, and car parks, if applicable. Their comprehensive review is worth the peace of mind as they will assess your current tools and practices before making suggestions on how to become more compliant and keep everyone safe. In addition, they offer fire safety training, which is always recommended. After all, when people know what to do in an emergency situation, they tend to panic less and become more empowered and confident to deal with whatever comes their way while staying safe.
Ensure Your Workplace is Accessible for Everyone
As part of your office building update plan, take a look at the accessibility options for entry to and from the building, navigating throughout the office space, and using essential areas such as the restrooms, etc. Determine if all of these places are wheelchair or disability friendly. These efforts are not only essential actions to take to ensure your business is compliant with local accessibility laws but also to ensure better access for everyone, from employees to clients and customers who enter your business property.
This is another area of updating in which hiring a professional will pay off. Someone well-versed in the current laws regarding disability access will understand what you need to do to make your workplace easily accessible. They will look at everything from the doors and walkways and make suggestions on the placement of light switches, hand washing stations, and anything else which might be taken for granted on a daily basis that someone in a wheelchair or with another form of disability may have difficulty using or navigating with ease.
Watch this short video that highlights disability awareness and accessibility at work.
Start updating your office building for the benefit of everyone who graces your office threshold. While it is essential to keep your building up-to-date regarding the best safety practices, it is also crucial for everyone’s overall well-being to be mindful and compliant regarding access for everyone who does business with your company.