How to Make Safety and Health a Top Priority at Your Company

How to Make Safety and Health a Top Priority at Your Company

The safety of your employees is one of the most important things you can do for them and your business.safety best Safer working environments lead to fewer accidents and injuries, which lowers workers’ compensation costs, retraining expenses and loss of productivity.safety best In addition, employees who feel safe and productive are happier and more loyal to their employers.

Employee safety needs to be a top priority of every company.safety best It must be a shared goal from the leaders to the frontline workers, and it must be reinforced regularly through small actions and communications.safety best For example, if you regularly reward employees who work faster than others, you send the message that speed is more important than safety. Likewise, when you cancel safety committee meetings, it sends the message that management doesn’t care about employees’ health and safety.

Many companies use lagging indicators such as lost workdays, workers’ compensation claims or the number of incidents to measure their safety and health program’s success.safety best However, this approach focuses on what has already happened and doesn’t do anything to prevent the future.safety best Instead, it’s better to focus on leading indicators that predict problems before they occur. These include:

Taking a proactive approach to managing safety and health is more effective than reacting after an accident or injury has occurred.safety best Companies that take this approach often see a $4 return for every dollar they invest in their employees’ safety.safety best

To get started, you should create a safety committee that includes managers and supervisors as well as hourly employees.safety best Make sure the committee meets regularly and is given the time and resources to address any safety deficiencies identified.safety best It is also helpful to involve the committee in fun activities like icebreakers, which will help them bond and build trust.

Your safety committee should also be trained to conduct regular inspections of the workplace.safety best These should include both physical and health hazards, such as chemical and noise hazards, heat or radiation, ergonomic issues and other health risks. It is also critical to have an investigation process in place should an incident happen, and it should be consistent across all departments.

Displaying health and safety policies in a visible location is also a good idea.safety best This is a great way to ensure that all employees, from the frontline to the CEO, understand their role in maintaining a safe working environment. Finally, you should develop a policy that clearly outlines the step-by-step process for correcting any violations of safety protocols.

Creating a culture of safety takes time and effort, but it is worth the investment.safety best Injuries and deaths can be devastating to a company’s reputation and financial stability, and they are expensive and inconvenient to the injured worker, their families and the community. Moreover, employees who feel unsafe or who have suffered from workplace injuries are more likely to search for new jobs than those who do not. So, be a leader and commit to implementing these best practices to make your workplace safer for everyone.

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