Safety at Work is the New Imperative
Safety at Work is the New Imperative
From virus pandemics to falling from heights, the list of dangers at work is endless. Once an injury occurs; not only do you lose a worker for quite a while but you could be facing a negligence lawsuit; if you failed to introduce proper safety procedures. For this and for numerous other reasons, safety at work is the new imperative.
The link between safety and productivity
Safety at work is among the top priorities workers have when choosing a company to work for. Bonuses at the end of the months and a chill zone in the office cannot supplant the feeling of safety at your work station. In fact, safety is key to employing a satisfied workforce.
When workers see that the employer is taking active measures to keep his staff out of harm’s way; they will perform better. As you start to raise the level of safety, you will notice a tangible spike in productivity levels. There is a correlation between the two.
Your company’s rep is on the line
The list of companies who went bankrupt after a major accident at work is virtually endless. A work-related injury is costly. It destroys your reputation and in today’s business world; reputation is the company’s most valuable asset.
Namely, the company’s name is intrinsically associated with trust. Unless people can trust your brand; they will stop buying goods and services from you and business partners will shun you. You can have the best PR team on the planet. If you fail to invest in safety at work, your reputation will be irreversibly damaged.
A loss of time and money
As stated in the introduction, an injury at work costs you both time and money. The person injured will be off work; costing you lost work hours, decreased productivity, and increased insurance rates and possible litigation. On top of it all, you will have to hire a temp worker, paying the temp agency money you needn’t have spent.
All in all, a work-related injury is a huge waste of time, money, and energy. When you work out the cost; you will realize that it’s wiser to invest a small amount in workplace safety now. Then to face possible litigation later on when someone gets injured. You can never waste money when it comes to safety, only invest it.
Improving workplace safety
Once workplace safety becomes imperative for your business, you should introduce various safety procedures. These vary from industry to industry, as a fire drill is mandatory for office work, while economy spill kits are more appropriate for factories and warehouses.
Your HR department will come up with most of the safety measures and procedures; so, make sure they fully understand the importance of safety for your business enterprise. After all, it’s the employer’s duty to create a safe working space according to labor laws in most countries.
Evaluating the risks
An office post and a job at the surface for a mine are incomparable in terms of safety risks. From falling trees to explosive materials, miners and loggers are among the most dangerous occupations. Safety standards in these and similar industries are exceptionally high.
Otherwise, the number of casualties would be even greater. The best way to combat risks at any workplace is to evaluate them and then propose adequate protection. Sometimes, this is nothing more than a “no smoking” sign; while in other cases, a safety net or a barrier is needed.
Excellent communication
Accidents at work don’t occur on their own, as they are the final stage in a chain of events. A factor present in most accidents is the lack of communication between workers and their superiors.
If an electrician climbs up a pole but the power wasn’t cut off prior to the repair, they risk their life. Simply informing the electrician the wires are still live could save his/her life. Which makes good communication a crucial factor in creating a safe work environment.
Preparing for the worst
Have your office workers taken part in fire drills, watched CPR demonstration or attended safety training programmes? If the answer is no; this should change, as a general rule states that 2% of total labour hours should be devoted to safety training.
Just like athletes train hard to shine on match day; workers should train to know exactly how to behave in case of an emergency. If they cut themselves, they will know where the first aid kit is and how to use it. With the right safety procedures and employee training, the number of injuries drops dramatically.
The safety of the people you employ is not only a moral issue but an issue of productivity; as we have seen from examples above. The safer your staff is, the happier they are and the better they perform at work. Spill kits, safety procedures, and regular training don’t seem like much but they have the potential to indirectly boost productivity.
