Workplace Health and Safety Tips for 2023

The past couple of years have been about adaptation. Adapting to new rules, new medical advice, new ways of working – there’s been a lot to take in. And as the way we work changes, so should the health and safety advice that we give to those in the workplace. This brings us neatly onto the topic of this month’s article: workplace health and safety tips for 2023.

Let’s dive in.

Addressing both mental and physical wellbeing

Mental health has taken the forefront over the past few years, particularly when it comes to the workplace. People have started to become more open about the way they feel and the stress they’re under, which has led to a new understanding of how people should be treated. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), between 2021 and 2022, 914,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, anxiety or depression.

In light of this, any workplace safety tips that we give should take into account mental wellbeing. Try to be aware of how people in your office are feeling and pay close attention to non-verbal signals that people give. It’s not always easy to assess how someone is feeling based on the information they provide us, but we have to do our best. You could also consider assigning a mental health advocate who would be able to lend an ear to people who want to talk.

Adapting to hybrid working

One of the upshots of the pandemic is that hybrid working is now commonplace throughout the UK, and offices just aren’t getting used as much as they were previously. This means that workers need to be extremely careful when it comes to things like overloaded plug sockets and flammable items near radiators, as there won’t be as many people around to notice them and take action. 

Limiting the amount of electrical equipment that you keep in the office full stop is a sure-fire way to keep related accidents to a minimum. This means only keeping essential kitchen items, and limiting the number of desktop PCs that stay in the office full time.

Encourage regular breaks and rest

In days gone by, workers were encouraged to spend as much of their available time working as possible in order to maximise productivity, but today we know this just doesn’t work. In office settings, this can lead to issues such as fatigue, stress and depression, and in hazardous working environments, this can be a matter of life and death. According to HSE, between 2021 and 2022, 123 workers were killed in workplace accidents. While this figure is far smaller than it has been in previous years, it still demonstrates that we need to improve.

Allowing your employees to have regular breaks means that they will be restored, focused and ready to take on the task at hand safely.

Looking ahead

Who is responsible for health and safety in the workplace? Everyone. In order to create a truly safe working environment for your employees in 2023, you need to foster a culture of health and safety where everyone shares the responsibility. Whether it’s spotting hazards or letting employees know you’re there to talk, sharing the load is the way forward.

Health & Safety Training is the leading professional training provider in the North East and beyond. Whether you’re looking to specialise in a particular piece of plant machinery or you want your employees to brush up on their knowledge regarding health and safety in the workplace, you can be sure that we’ll have the right courses for you. Interested? All you have to do is give us a call!