The safety of employees is not specific to manufacturing or construction industries. Even if employees sit at a desk all day long, employers are responsible to provide a safe workspace for them, by law. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws clearly indicate that employers and business owners must provide training and workshops for better workplace safety. Moreover, workplace investigation is also necessary in case of any incidents. Injury prevention, checking for faulty equipment, and industry-specific precautions should be in place.
Workplace safety protocols and their implementation isn’t a straightforward process. It can be a consistent process and employers should learn to anticipate the current needs of the workplace. However, all of it can be worth it because a safe and healthy workplace can not only improve employee wellness but can also directly impact their motivation.
Why Is Workplace Safety Important?
Curating a safe environment for your employees is primarily an obligation by law. However, even if we don’t consider the legal side of such protocols, we still have to think about the human aspects. Your employees are a part of your work family and taking care of them can ensure a healthy organizational culture. So, you should make sure that your workplace is free of any known tangible hazards, and toxic fumes and that employees get ample break time.
The entire chain of the system can only be as strong as the weakest link. If an employee gets injured on duty, all your employees will start feeling disenfranchised by the organization. If you want to ensure that your employees feel taken care of, then putting workplace safety protocols and SOPs in place is crucial. It is also important to ensure regular safety training and make sure the employees actually follow the rules set in place
What Are the Challenges of Workplace Safety?
Improving the standards of workplace safety comes with its fair share of challenges. However, a determined employer understands that all these challenges are worth it. If you are considering implementing some workplace safety protocols in your organization, you can expect the following hurdles:
#1: Increasing Costs
Any new policies, safety equipment, or consultations from occupational health experts can cost money. So, you may see a surge in your operational cost when you begin implementing these protocols. However, these can also be a preventative cost as employee injury recovery or class action lawsuits can cost you a lot more money.
#2: Employee Compliance
Setting up a bunch of rules and SOPs can be fairly simple. However, it is also the responsibility of the employer to make sure those rules are being followed. Implementation and compliance checks and balances can be the trickier part as it can take time and effort from all stakeholders.
#3: Red Tape
As you put new policies in place, employees will have to adjust to them. They might seem like bureaucratic roadblocks initially. However, straightforward procedures aren’t always the safest and employees shouldn’t always look for shortcuts.
#4: Change Management
You can’t expect to get all your ducks in a row without managing the change over time. Not every resource will willingly and enthusiastically accept new procedures. It can be especially difficult to bring senior employees on board as they’ll be used to the older processes the most.
Benefits of a Safe Workplace
Employers shouldn’t disregard the benefits of having a safe workplace because of the challenges. With time, all workplaces can overcome the challenges and improve employee wellness. Here are some benefits of workplace safety protocols:
#1: Increased Productivity
The safer a workplace is, the more productive the employees can be. Unsafe practices and shortcuts might seem like they take lesser time. But if something goes awry, the steps to minimize the damage could take a lot longer. Moreover, productive employees mean you may be able to reduce operational costs as well.
#2: Lower Risk
A safer workplace can reduce accidents and employees can work safely around machinery that can otherwise be dangerous. This can reduce any operational downtime as the processes run more smoothly and you won’t need to compensate any affected employees.
#3: Decrease Repair Costs
Regular maintenance of industrial machinery is not only good for employee safety but can improve longevity as well. Business owners have to invest lesser money into more serious repairs or replacements if they regularly maintain the equipment. Moreover, if the machinery is up-to-date, the employees don’t have to worry about efficiency and can focus on other tasks.
#4: Employee Satisfaction
A safer workplace creates a way for happier and more satisfied employees. That is why many employers keep that as a top priority for their talent acquisition strategies and employee retention. Employee well-being is directly proportional to work efficiency which in turn can increase your revenue as well. If your workforce is happy, the overall morale will increase and employees will give their best.
