5 Different Ways Property Managers Can Improve Safety

As a property manager, you are responsible for handling a range of issues on a daily basis, such as fixing mechanical issues, maintaining the building, and addressing tenant issues. Since risk management is a crucial part of your job, it is important to have a well-developed plan to minimize damage, inconvenience, and injuries, and create a better working and living environment for employees and tenants.

While some disruptions may be foreseeable, others may come as a surprise. That’s why it is essential to prioritize safety in your building. When an incident occurs, you will be prepared to respond quickly, inform those affected, and take steps to resolve the situation.

Managing all the different risks in the property requires a collaborative effort. As the property manager, you should work with your staff and tenants to minimize disruption and create a safer and more peaceful environment for everyone. 

With the above information in mind, here are five ways for property managers to reduce workplace risks and keep things running smoothly.

1. Recognize the hazards

Being proactive about risk management is key to preventing incidents from occurring. One way to do this is to carefully identify and address hazards on your property. It is the responsibility of both the employer and employee to identify and report potential workplace hazards. 

Begin by developing a procedure for reporting health and safety risks, and create a team to address these risks before they escalate into harmful incidents. You should consider all scenarios and implement early advisory notifications for emerging threats to get ahead of the problem. When you have plans and policies in place, they can help you respond more efficiently and effectively.

Make sure to also develop relationships with first responders, local authorities, and government officials who can help you mitigate risks and handle emergencies. It is part of a property manager’s responsibility to cooperate and assist first responders as needed. They can help by providing valuable information and direction, and addressing any concerns that may arise due to an emergency.

2. Smart environmental design

Your physical environment can have a major impact on safety. To prevent accidents, make sure all common areas are well-lit, and that evacuation routes and access points are clear.

An established mass notification system can help you communicate important information, such as emergency procedures and evacuation routes, to all employees and tenants well in advance. This way, they will know what to do in an emergency.

Similarly, in the event of a threatening situation, your property staff will have the necessary knowledge to warn other employees and tenants in real-time and execute safe evacuation protocols.

We also advise investing in a security system and placing cameras to monitor the property and mitigate risks. 

3. Provide lone worker support

Property managers may consider implementing a buddy system in high-rise buildings with security staff or superintendents. Under this system, staff members can let each other know where they will be going and check in at agreed-upon intervals. This way, if something happens, the other staff members will know to check on their buddy and ensure their safety.

4. Regular staff training

Having plans and policies in place is important, but it is also crucial to put this knowledge into practice. Regular training for your staff can help ensure that everyone is prepared for worst-case scenarios and knows how to respond in an emergency.

To practice and test your preparedness, consider scheduling periodic fire drills, testing your alarm system, and sending test alerts and notifications. This will help maintenance workers, cleaning crews, and administrative staff understand what to do during a threat or emergency so that they are prepared when the real situation arises.

5. Learn from past incidents and emergencies

An important way to prevent incidents from happening again is to learn from past events and use that knowledge to inform future actions. To do this, consider providing hazard awareness training for your team, monitoring risks on an ongoing basis, and conducting regular reviews to assess how risks have changed over time and how they can be better managed.

Remember to work with your staff to ensure they have the right tools and are up to date on how to respond to different situations. Just because you have completed a risk assessment once does not mean you are set for the future. You should continuously review and update your risk management strategies as appropriate.

Don’t Take the Risk: Ensure Safety Through Engineering

HITE Engineering provides professional engineering services to property managers, condominium corporations, municipalities, and commercial, institutional, and industrial clients. From fall arrest systems and anchor inspections to maintaining building equipment and structures, we are here to help keep you, your employees, and your tenants safe.

Our team of experienced engineers and technical staff have extensive knowledge and experience with all forms of management tools and courses. As your industry safety specialists, we offer comprehensive and practical solutions to ensure you achieve the highest level of safety and compliance. 

To learn more about our professional safety services, please call HITE Engineering at 1-289-724-0522 or contact us here.