Christmas is over for another year, and January is looming. Any businesses that have been shut over the Christmas break may well be starting to open up again, restrictions allowing, and if yours is one of them there are some precautions you’ll need to take to ensure that the workplace is ready for your team once more. If the office, building, or warehouse has been left empty for a week or more with no one checking in, making a few observations before you officially welcome your employees back is a good idea. Read on to find out more.
Photo by Dan Gold on UnsplashCheck For Security Breaches
Although the festive period is meant to be a happy, fun time, many opportunists use it to wreak havoc, including breaking into unoccupied buildings and stealing what they can. Yet it’s not just physical security breaches that need to be checked for; quiet periods also mean it’s an ideal time for cybercriminals to attack.
Before your team is due to go back to work, ensure that the premises are safe and secure. Has anywhere been broken into? Is it dangerous to go back to? Ideally, you will have had security measures in place such as CCTV and an alarm system, but even so, it’s wise to check things out.
As for cybercrime, this is something that you can check on every day, and if you do so it will be easier to minimise any damage done. Log into your online banking each day to check your accounts, for example, and look through your emails to ensure nothing has been sent without your say-so. You can also run virus checks across your network to be doubly sure.
Carry Out A Risk Assessment
While the building is empty, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to carry out an in-depth risk assessment. This means looking for any hazards or dangers within the building that could cause injury or an accident. Check every part of the building, including any paths and parking areas that are your responsibility, and ensure that all hazards are either noted down or removed.
When your team comes back to work, spend some time going through the risk assessment and explaining any hazards they may need to deal with. Providing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) is important if it is required. If need be, a health and safety consultant can be brought in to assist with this assessment and to carry out training. Beginning a new year on the right path, particularly when it comes to safety, is a great way to set the tone for the months to come.
The Roof
The roof of your building is an area that can often be forgotten about since it’s not easily seen, but it is important to check it over nonetheless, and it needs to be added to your to-do list before you reopen your business after the Christmas break. Roofs can become damaged fairly easily, especially in bad weather, and even a dip in temperature can cause structural problems. Checking the roof for leaks, holes, or other damage and having any issues you find fixed quickly could save you a lot of trouble in the future.
If you are unable to get to the roof yourself, don’t put yourself in any danger. You can hire a roofing company to do the work for you, and they will be able to give you a full report of any problems that you might have.
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© Copyright 2020 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
