The summer months are coming, which could mean business is slowing down. The office starts to empty as employees go on vacation and it seems as if there is more open space and free time than there is during the fall, winter or spring. It's also an ideal time to take advantage of the extra time and space and review your environment and safety procedures. This summer could be a chance for you to make changes that can positively impact your business for the foreseeable future.

Here are a few ideas that can help you improve company safety:

• Review accident response protocols – Sometimes, it's not about preventing an accident from occurring, it's about having the fastest and most effective response. It's hard to predict most of these incidents. That's why they are called accidents. But, if you put the company in position to overcome them, you can reduce risk.
• Acknowledge dangerous or risky areas of the office – Do you have too many cords plugged into one outlet? Are your hallway floors slippery? Identifying and marking all potentially hazardous spots on your facility will, in the short term, force people to be more careful when in those areas, and in the long term could help your team construct strategies to make them safer.
• Develop and promote best practices – Perhaps an overhaul of operations and policies is in order. When the vacation period ends and your team is ready to get back to work at the end of the summer, it might be wise to hold a session where you teach them new, safer ways to perform certain tasks without compromising productivity.