From manufacturing and construction to food service and healthcare, injuries can happen anytime in any industry. And when accidents happen, they can cost businesses billions of dollars in workers’ compensation claims, medical expenses, and lost productivity. Fortunately, there are steps that businesses of all sizes can take to promote workplace safety and reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. Here are five premium tips to get you started.
Provide Safety Training for All Employees
All employees should receive safety training when they start work and on an ongoing basis when new hazards are identified. The type of training will vary depending on the industry you are in, but it should cover topics like hazard identification and control, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Furthermore, employees should be encouraged to ask questions if they are ever unsure about something. While at it, ensure your product safety representative receives adequate PSCR training. Product safety and conformity representative training programs cover topics such as product liability, risk management, product compliance, and quality assurance. It is designed to give reps the knowledge and tools they need to protect consumers from unsafe products.
Invest in the Hiring or Human Resource Department
It also pays not to overlook the human resource department’s role in a company’s success. After all, it’s their job to ensure that the company has a competent and reliable workforce. In risky industries, such as construction or healthcare, this is even more important.
A single mistake can cost lives, so it’s essential that companies take care to hire workers who are qualified and capable of following safety protocols. Before bringing on board new workers, ensure you screen applicants and conduct thorough background checks. Not only will this help to protect employees, but it will also help to improve the company’s bottom line.
Implement Engineering and Administrative Controls
Engineering controls are physical adjustments to the workplace that help reduce or eliminate hazards. For example, installing guardrails around a platform can prevent falls, while replacing toxic chemicals with less dangerous ones can eliminate the risk of exposure to harmful substances.
Administrative controls involve changing the way work is done to reduce or eliminate hazards, for example, requiring employees to take breaks every 30 minutes to avoid fatigue-related accidents.
In some cases, even after taking all other necessary precautions, there is still a risk of injury when performing certain tasks. In these situations, personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used to protect employees from harm. Common examples of PPE include gloves, goggles, overalls, and hard hats.
Conducting Regular Safety Audits
By taking a systematic and proactive approach to safety, businesses can identify potential hazards before they cause harm. Safety audits should be conducted by a qualified individual, and they should include a review of all aspects of the workplace, from electrical wiring to chemical storage.
They should also be conducted regularly, at least once a year, or after major changes to your workplace or operations. Be sure to involve your employees in the audit process so that they can provide valuable insights into potential hazards that you may not be aware of.
Create a Written Safety Policy
A written safety policy sets out your commitment to providing a safe workplace for your employees. It should outline your company’s procedures for reporting hazards and accidents, as well as the steps you will take to correct them.
Be sure to involve your employees in developing the policy so that they feel ownership over it and are more likely to follow it. The policy should also be clear and concise, outlining management and employees’ specific roles and responsibilities in promoting a safe work environment.
Additionally, the policy should identify the penalties for unsafe behaviors and the rewards for safe behaviors. While at it, be sure to check what other businesses in your industry are doing to promote safety and follow suit.
Bottom Line
In the end, promoting workplace safety is a shared responsibility. For employees, it means being mindful of hazards and reporting them as soon as they are identified. For businesses, it means investing in safety and training while conducting regular safety audits and adhering to legal standards. By following the above tips, employers and employees can make the workplace safer.
