Taking care of customers should be the first concern of every employee. Unfortunately, most do not realize that sometimes one client is being neglected in the care of the other. Creating a solid solution to take care of both, only requires a willingness to learn.
Internal Customers
When employers mention customer safety, it is the internal clients that tend to take a back seat in most industries. Internal customers or clients are the employees of that particular company. Most of the time the only things to be found in an office related to health and safety are outdated Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS) binders and maybe a minuscule first aid kit. Therefore, if the smallest incident occurred, there would be nothing to tell staff what to do until help arrived.
It is up to upper management to ensure that employees are trained on proper safety procedures and know what to do in emergencies. Otherwise, there could be legal ramifications and lives could be put at risk.
Preventative Measures
Recruiting current staff to be a part of a safety team is the first step to take. There should be at least one person on every shift who is responsible for documenting any incidents that happen during that time. Not only that, they can act as confidential personnel for reporting unsafe company practices. Furthermore, they can also be responsible for making sure first aid kits are stocked with items from reputable companies such as Old South Trading Co. Essential elements such as gloves, masks, and thermometers are readily accessible online.
Updating MSDS worksheets is important to protect employees from cleaning supplies and other items found in maintenance areas and around the building. While most staff members will not come into contact with cleaning supplies they can be exposed to a variety of irritants such as air fresheners used in offices.
External Customers
Well-trained safety staff will also be on the lookout for anything that might hurt outside clients as well. Keep in mind that the term external customer also extends to visiting employees from other offices.
For instance, safety personnel in a fast food restaurant will look for issues such as wet floors, broken furniture, grease spots in parking lots, etc. Guarding against harm to external customers is a major concern to any business. Not only is it expensive, but it exposes practices that should be changed.
The case of a prominent fast-food chain that was held accountable when a cup of coffee seriously burnt a patron sounded frivolous; until she won. The courtroom decision resulted in restaurant-wide changes.
Building a safety team will not only protect your internal and external customers but adds value to the workspace. Internal customers know that your company values them enough to help ensure their safety. Moreover, your external ones know that they will be taken care of if an incident occurs.
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