In order to operate effectively, your people need to be safe. This is a self-evident truth that, unfortunately, not all business owners give the proper respect and dues. That being said, those that do set the example, and there’s no reason why your own firm can’t entirely limit damage, harm or risk affecting your people or the people you influence via your platform.
This often cuts to the heart of our values and how we manage our business to begin with. For example, when considering safety in our business premises, it’s wise to consider our options diligently. Not only do we hope for a functional, suitable, and sizeable commercial space, but somewhere we can operate peacefully for the long term.
If you’re in the market to purchase your own building instead of solely renting serviced offices, you may wish to consider what safety faults or warnings are worth paying attention to. In this post, we’ll help you get started with such a vital approach:
Parking Conditions & Road Proximity
It’s easy to view parking and driveway infrastructure as just a utility that remains either there or not. But there’s more to worry about than just spaces and capacity. For example, is it easy for people to get in and out, and how are the sight lines? If it's right on a busy road, that could be a headache waiting to happen and may require a checking gate to ensure vehicle flow is optimized..
You don't want your staff worrying about their cars getting dinged every day, or risky pullouts with bad sightlines when a mirror can help work wonders. If you need inventory to come and go with your daily deliveries, it’s worth thinking about access, capacity, and loading bays, and how this general flow of traffic interferes with other vehicles too. Can they get in without causing chaos? Sometimes a place looks great until you realise the parking is a nightmare and you have to compete with ten other poorly designed car park arrangements within an industrial park. If there’s little chance of changing this outcome, that can be an issue.
Radon Management
Radon is one of those gases you can't see or smell, but it can be a real problem. Radon comes from the ground (in some areas more than others, but it affects many in the United Kingdom), and it’s worth knowing too much of it isn't good for you. If you're buying a building, it's worth getting it checked out with a reliable Radon detector to check levels and gauge the need for precautions..
Sorting out radon issues can be a bit of a pain, but it's better than finding out later. There are ways to deal with it, like special ventilation systems you may need to invest in. This is especially important if you’re constructing new premises on empty land.
Access Routes & Lighting
Access routes are something we usually take for granted - sure, if you buy a building it’s likely going to have entrances and exits. But the truth is that where these are located can define a great deal of security measures you take, or how you manage the traffic flow of the general public on top of that.
It’s good to ask a few questions to make sure the daily operational safety of your business is reliable. Are there enough fire exits? Can someone in a wheelchair get around easily from bottom to top, or will you need specialized equipment?
From there, think about your lighting measures. Dark car parks or poorly lit entrances can be accidents waiting to happen, not only for traffic issues but potential theft or even just trip hazards such as black ice on the pavement in winter. Installing appropriate floodlights or automatically enabled scheduled lighting systems can be worthwhile.
Crime Rates
Of course, the crime rate in the local area will determine the likelihood of if or when your business will be targeted. Even in less safe areas, the chance of your business being targeted remains low. But it still can be. There’s a reason why expensive tech showrooms will rarely set up in certain areas.
That’s not to denigrate the people who live in those spaces, or local residents at all, but it can certainly determine where you choose to invest. For example, a retail supermarket might not choose to set up in areas where shoplifting and robberies are much higher than the national average. It’s an important metric to consider when planning your investments, and even being involved in the business community to push for change in specific zones can help you reshape and redefine areas for the better via your capital.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily consider safety when purchasing your business premises going forward.
