Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, some buildings were left unused, or used by fewer people. But now that the worst of the pandemic is hopefully over and some level of normality returns, more people are returning to buildings such as offices and places of work.
As you do so, it is important that you observe good safety practice. Here are six tips to help keep your building safe for 2022 and beyond.
1 – Yearly PAT tests
It is absolutely essential that you keep up with your legal requirements for maintaining a safe working environment. These requirements are in place for a reason – and they allow you to maintain a high standard of safety at all times.
PAT testing is a great example of this. Regularly checking electrical appliances and equipment for safety helps to protect those around your business and also ensures that you stay fully compliant with legislation, as well as for awarding bodies and for insurance purposes.
2 – Invest in quality facilities management
Perhaps the best way to ensure safety in your building is to ensure that things are running as they should. Too many building managers take the approach of fixing issues when they become a problem. But this isn’t the smart way to work.
It’s a better idea to invest in high-quality facilities management. Doing so helps to reduce costs, improve efficiency and keep the building in line with environmental and compliance standards – and it also helps to ensure that everything runs safely and doesn’t needlessly endanger staff.
3 – Avoid DIY wire repairs
Wires do naturally fray over time which can be unsightly and eventually cause electrical equipment to stop working. There are horror stories of businesses attempting to fix their faulty wires with sticky tape, and this should be avoided as this kind of tape is not designed to be used on wires and can result in a fire.
Even when using specifically designed electrical tape it is important to remember that this fix should only be temporary. Wires that are not in excellent condition should be repaired by a professional, or replaced as soon as possible.
4 – Report device issues as soon as possible
If you find that there is an issue with any kind of electrical device that you use at work you should report it immediately. What make seem like a small and innocuous issue can turn out to be a significant problem.
Things can change very quickly and if you don’t have a record of minor faults being noticed it could cause issues with compliance.
5 – Ensure exits aren’t blocked
You might find that junk accumulates in open spaces, especially if you haven’t been using the building as normal for the last couple of years. Unfortunately, it is the case that there is usually a good reason that these spaces have been kept empty.
It is often true that these areas are important for fire exits. Blocking a fire exit is a health and safety issue; you need to make sure the emergency routes out of the building are kept clear. Blocked exits can lead to people panicking during an emergency situation, which is the last thing you want to happen.
6 – Keep a clean desk
It is good practice to keep a desk nice and clean to make sure that you know where any key documents are, but it can also be a safety issue too. Leaving drinks or food around your desk can lead to leaks and spillages that can damage electrical equipment.
At BSE FM, we specialise in hard and soft facilities management and we would be happy to help you with any facilities issues you have. Get in contact with us today for more information or if you would like a quote for facilities management services.