Every employer has a duty of care to their employees. That means they have an obligation to provide welfare facilities for staff, including free and safe drinking water and having somewhere to rest and eat meals. Fail to provide these basics and you could not only face compensation claims and fines, but your business would miss out on four mighty benefits.
Work culture specialists OfficeVibeHub argues that businesses with a breakout space will achieve:
- Higher levels of productivity
- More collaboration
- Increased creativity
- A reduction in stress among workers.
Don’t miss out! Here, we’ll show you how to create a breakout area and look at multiple examples of staff room signs which encourage workplace safety.
Clearly Mark the Space’s Purpose
Employees can enjoy a breakout space during a well-earned rest within their daily work routine. It’s usually separate from the general areas where customers and clients are or dirty or noisy work is undertaken. Whatever your workplace’s layout, knowing there’s a designated location to unwind and restore their energy helps these workers achieve the four benefits outlined above. But it’s vital that the public know that this area is for staff use only.
The solution is simple. Display one of our engraved “staff room” signs on all doors leading into the breakout space. Suitable for use indoors, it can be created with black or white print on seven different coloured backgrounds (in three sizes).
Provide Safe Food Preparation Areas
To help employees top up their energy levels with refreshments, you will need to stock the break room space with kitchen appliances. Possible equipment includes toasters, microwaves, a coffee machine, a kettle complete with tea, coffee, sugar, and milk, as well as somewhere suitable for your employees to store their meals and snacks. Providing cutlery, plates, and bowls will be appreciated, while washing-up liquid and sponges ensure the space remains hygienic.
In terms of safety signs, we would recommend displaying the following to encourage better kitchen etiquette:
With this guidance, colleagues are less likely to become unwell or slip on spilt liquids left by others.
It’s also important to indicate which tap provides clean drinking water. Label Source’s staff room signs include drinking water and caution hot water notices. We also sell safety labels to help reduce workplace accidents by raising awareness of potential hazards.
Plan for Emergencies
Whilst you should provide a safe food preparation area for your team(s), these facilities can pose a series of hidden dangers if care is not taken. Given the risk of accidents involving sharp knives and heat sources when preparing food and drinks, your employees need to know what to do in an emergency.
Ensure that your protective equipment and exit points are visible with high-quality signage. For example, staff room signs can tell employees where to find help in emergency situations by informing them of:
This is where our safety signs can save lives and help treat/prevent injuries in breakout areas.
Emphasise Your Site’s Policies
Not only will many of the signs mentioned in this guide be mandatory or highly recommended, they’ll also create an environment fit for physical and mental wellness. This will again create increased employee happiness and productivity.
For example, not only must workplaces display no smoking signs to create a more pleasant breakroom environment, it’s paramount for operational safety across industries. It also reminds everyone that the law forbids smoking in enclosed and substantially enclosed buildings.
Your staff may also feel fatigued from the ever-increasing demands of the modern workplace. From feeling time-poor to overwhelmed, this wellbeing needs to be supported. Displaying a stress management guide can help your team members prevent, identify, and treat the symptoms of stress. Creating a calming space with helpful information could potentially reduce the number of employee sick days taken.
Meet Your Health and Safety Obligations
Did you know that displaying a health and safety law notice in the workplace is a legal requirement? That’s why we’d encourage placing one or more of these durable plastic signs in the breakout space, where people have time to read them.
It’s available for different workplaces, as the following versions show:
- English language (2 sizes)
- Welsh language
- Northern Ireland version
- Oil and gas rigs.
Create a Safe Staff Room with Label Source
You can depend on Label Source to find the correct staff room sign for your premises. Browse online today or get in touch to learn more.
