Occupational health and safety has changed drastically in recent years (especially since the pandemic) and today the sector is characterized by continuous improvements, government agencies, complex legislation and a gradual decrease in workplace accidents.
However, dangers still lurk in the workplace and accidents still happen, and this will continue to happen even if companies wrap their employees in cotton. Thus, companies continue to deal with accidents at work and end up paying compensation for incidents that they could easily have avoided.
If you run a business, this may not necessarily be the case for you, as there are practices you can follow to improve the health and safety of your workplace. Here are the security precautions you should consider for your business.
Tell your team why safety culture matters
Occupational safety requires continuous effort and is not only the responsibility of management, but also of workers. Therefore, your organization should strive to create a safety culture where everyone is responsible for overall safety.
Workplace safety culture is a set of behaviors and beliefs that a company promotes to increase safety. When you prioritize safety above all else, you have a positive and strong safety culture that your employees are sure to embrace. Therefore, it’s crucial to involve everyone in your business, from the newest employee to the board of directors. When you embed safety into your company culture, your staff sees it as a mandatory standard that must be met.
When you promote a strong safety culture, your team is empowered to report safety risks to management and unsafe conditions they identify to prevent accidents. Additionally, they are also more productive when they know they are working in a safe environment because they trust the processes and their peers.
A successful safety culture is about sharing with your team why safety procedures were created and their daily responsibilities. Safety culture is essential in the UK as it prevents companies from being held responsible for accidents at work.
Identify the main risks
The key to developing an effective security plan is to identify key risks and exposures before developing contingency methods. If you already have a workplace safety plan, take it out to find out if the identified risks are still viable. The new workplace safety plan should include:
– Common accident hazards. Depending on your industry, your workers may suffer injuries from slips, falls, trips, driving hazards, or overexertion. Do you have measures in place to prevent the most common injury risks?
– Human factors. Unfortunately, human factors are often the main cause of workplace accidents and limiting their impact is essential. It’s easy for new, inexperienced, distracted, or rushed employees to make mistakes that lead to an accident. Therefore, giving your employees time to relax and unwind is crucial. And it is also recommended to assign mentors to new employees to guide them through the processes.
– Injury management. Does your company have an injury management plan? Plan the process from beginning to end to limit the consequences associated with occupational injuries. Train your employees to provide first aid and partner with the right medical providers for emergency relief.
Periodically organize safety training
Bad news! Accidents at work don’t happen at a convenient time, so it’s essential to be prepared before they happen. Workplace safety is something you build over time, and a key part of developing it is providing periodic training to your employees.
Health and safety experts say most companies don’t want to think about preparing for workplace hazards until they happen. Start with management and team leaders who run the business and make them aware of the importance and value of training the workforce and teaching people what must be done in an emergency.
Training should cover topics such as risk prevention and response and should be delivered using a variety of methods. OSHA recommends using a variety of learning techniques to ensure that all employees know the rules they must follow during workplace accidents.
Do emergency drills
Suppose you train your employees periodically and that they know what to do in an emergency; you can plan exercises to test their skills and help them engage in muscle memory procedures. Emergency drills also help your staff determine how they will react in the event of an accident, as it clarifies their senses and inspires them to act.
Depending on the type of accident your business is prone to, emergency drills can range from slip and trip accidents to fire hazards. Introducing unexpected complications into exercises is the best way to encourage them to adapt and respond effectively.
Provide your workers with adequate machinery, equipment and tools
Regardless of your industry, whether your employees perform physical work or not, make sure they follow guidelines and know how to use all the machinery, equipment and tools needed for the job. Additionally, following the proper procedure will increase your safety and performance.
When your workers know how to choose the right machinery, equipment and tools, they reduce their risk of injury. Make sure all running machines are fully operational and clean before anyone handles them. It is also crucial that employees use equipment only for its intended purpose, as improvisation can lead to fatal injuries.
In addition to using the correct tools, machines, and equipment, your employees should also wear protective gear to protect themselves from environmental and safety hazards. Protective gear is essential to your safety, especially in industries where you perform physical tasks. Architects, engineers and construction specialists should always wear protective equipment when on the job site to minimize the risk of injury.
Protective gear such as non-slip footwear, reflective clothing, respirators, and industrial work gear protect your workers from inhaling toxic chemicals or injury from trips, slips, or falls.
Protecting your business is crucial
Above is a list of practices that all companies must implement in 2023 to prevent accidents and improve performance in the workplace.
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