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Violence in the workplace has risen to become apart of the top 5 reasons for workplace deaths. It has become alarming that violence in the workplace is as common as it is, clearly it needs to be better controlled by employers and expressed to employees how important it is not to use or receive violence. It is required that businesses regularly conduct a hazard analysis, have security measures in place, enforce company policies and have written programs which protect employees from workplace violence. Here are our 6 top tips for controlling violence in the workplace. Review, or include, your violence prevention/harassment policies regularly (e.g. per quarter or annually). These will be apart of your general health and safety assessments. Encourage employees to report, document and investigate anything which could breach violence prevention rules. Have a workplace assessment and employee questionnaire to identify any gaps or worries which should be included in the violence prevention policy. Review your visitor access protocol as this is often what leads to violence in the workplace. Perhaps investing in a concierge security guard would be best practice for your business as they are able to combine the role of a receptionist and a security guard into one. Review previous incidents to see where the implemented policies went wrong. This could highlight gaps in the current guidelines. Make sure your new employees are fully educated on your violence prevention plan and strategy as everyone should be constantly aware of their duties to creating a safe workplace. Winns Services can provide a Concierge suited to your business and its needs, helping to prevent any unexpected damage to your workplace or employees. We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the security services offered at WINNS or would like a quote, don't hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

All businesses need security measures in place to keep employees, properties and goods safe and secure. Proper security will prevent and deter anyone from entering without permission, this could save the company time and money having to fix or replace anything. Security will always be something for businesses to invest in as there will always be threats and risks to a company. Windows & Doors - Make it good practice for all windows and doors to be checked they are locked before leaving and closing the workplace. In the morning, also check they are still locked. If they are not then you know someone may have entered the premises illegally. A combination door lock is ideal as you can only access if you know the passcode which should be kept confidential to employees only. Security System - An alarm that contacts the police and a single individual of the company if triggered are useful so that the extent of the break-in may be reduced or the burglar be caught. CCTV is another good security system to have as you are able to gather evidence and a better sense of safety for employees. Lighting - Appropriate lighting both indoors and outdoors can act as a deterrent to break-ins as it will appear that there are still people on premises. Lighting will also help staff feel safer in the environment, especially when arriving early or leaving late. Passwords - All computers and technology being password protected may deter people from stealing the items as they cannot be entered. Security cables will also make it harder for items to be removed, another deterrent. The security of these items does not only physically protect them, but protect all their contents which could be crucial to business productivity. Security education - Educating employees and visitors of your security measures in the workplace can maintain a safe environment. Every company will have different policies in place, therefore, it isn't a ‘one size fits all’ approach. All new employees must be taught the specific guidelines and current employees must be updated as and when the policy is updated. Regular teaching of the security measures will also keep them fresh in staff’s minds. Outside - Other parts of the workplace such as the car park and lobby must have security measures in place to keep them safe and secure as they are still technically a part of the workplace. The workplace has an obligation to provide a safe working environment, therefore efficient security is necessary. WINNS Services has been established for over two decades providing cleaning and security services to clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the security services offered at WINNS or would like a quote, don't hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

Did you know a type of fire detection has been around since 1658? However, this was far from the systems that we have today. They were simply men who would walk the streets on the lookout for fires. They carried buckets, ladders and a bell to warn if a fire had occurred. Although there are now a variety of systems to choose from, all ultimately do the same thing- warn people if there is a fire.

Safety should be at the forefront of your business’ mind. Within ‘safety’ there are electrical hazards which you should be aware of. Although not the most common of workplace accidents, it is highly important you should know areas of electrical risk as 1 in 13 electric caused injuries result in death. Other hazards include shock and burns, electrical fires or electrical explosions. The severity of the injury will depend on the level of voltage, amount of body resistance to the flow, the path the electrical current takes through the body and the amount of time the current flows through the body. The hazards are often linked to where and how the electrical item is used. Carry on reading to know 5 ‘shocking’ electrical hazards which you should be aware of in your workplace. 1. Faulty wiring - Check all wires, plugs, extension leads, junction boxes, receptacles etc are in full working order and are not frayed, damaged or exposed. To make sure all are safe, it is good practice to hire an external agency to check your workplace’s electrics. 2. Poor training - All employees should be given information on all electrical related hazards in the workplace, including prevention methods and what to do in case of an emergency. Inadequate information and control mean the use of electrical items becomes unsafe. 3. Incorrectly replaced fuses - If fuses do not correctly fit into the fuse holder they could cause an equipment malfunction. Also, if the fuse holder is corroded it will cause the fuse not to fit and can create resistance or overheating. 4. Water and electricity - An example of a pair which should never go together. It is the impurities such as minerals and dust found in water which reacts with electricity causing further reactions. Avoid electricity being near any water at all costs. 5. Overloaded or damaged plugs, sockets or cables - Overloaded or damaged plugs could exceed the maximum current rating for that extension lead. This could cause the plug to overheat and possibly cause a fire or electric shock. WINNS Services specialises in protecting health and safety rights and keeping the workforce safe. Having been established for over two decades, we pride ourselves on exceeding client expectations. To ask any questions about our services, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

Fire is still as much of a threat today than it was 100 years ago. Although security and safety are often at the forefront of every business’ mind, fire detection may still not be as commonly thought of. All fire officials will tell you how important a few seconds is to save lives, as well as minimal property damage. Although safety measures will be in place to try and prevent fire in the workplace, it is important to have a system in place to warn people if a fire is caused. GOV.UK says that it is required for a business to have a fire detection and warning alarm system in the workplace. It is a necessary outline in the fire safety risk assessment. Businesses must also make sure that the mechanism is properly installed in order for it to work properly. When installing the system, make sure to consider the placement. The placement determines how successful the device is at detecting fire, as well as being effectively visible and audible of its warning. It is important to know that the proper placement will depend on the type of device and the layout of the building. The piece of equipment must also be placed at a safe distance from any lights, air conditioning vents, radiators and ceiling fans as these could cause inaccurate fire detection. Fire detection systems must be tested weekly in order to know if the alarm is consistently working. If it is not regularly tested, this could cause an emergency to be undetected. The device should also be properly serviced, the frequency of the service will depend on the size and capacity of the device- although usually, this is every 12 months. Although a business may have an appropriate fire safety risk assessment in place, it is crucial that you communicate that everyone takes instant action as soon as the alert is sounded. The system is there to detect a fire quickly so those inside the premises can leave the building swiftly- any delay can result in injury, damage and even loss of lives. Here at WINNS Services, we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the fire detection services offered at WINNS or would like a quote, please do not hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

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