What Does Workplace Safety involve?

Ensuring a safe and healthy workplace requires effort from all members of the organisation. The recent pandemic, COVID-19, also highlighted the importance of workplace security worldwide wherein safety is a priority. Dedication and investment from the employees to uphold company protocols and policies should exist in order to promote risk identification and remediation for hazard prevention and workplace optimisation. It should be noted that safety should be practiced proactively.

Advantages of Workplace Safety

Fewer injuries and illnesses are only a part of the list of advantages that comes with priority to uphold safety and security in the workplace. Although it absolutely requires the participation of all members of the organisation to fully realise its positive outcomes.

Let’s investigate further:

-Reducing DART and LTI rates enhances efficiency and productivity
-Lower incurred costs for illness and insurance claims through the reduction of work-related injuries
-Recognising safety and well being of workers also increases worker retention and worker morale
-Promoting robust health and security measures enforces the mutual protection and commitment in the workplace and its employees
-A healthier workplace and employee protection from potential harm by adopting better safety protocols and procedures
-Reinforcing important safety skills among the team ensures a safe and successful workplace by keeping updated on emergency trainings and safety protocols

Eight Ways to Stay Safe in the Workplace
Creating a safe and responsible workplace is paramount. To ensure the best possible results, here are some key principles to keep in mind when it comes to reducing on-the-job risks: Work Safety Tips that can have a real impact!

1. Always alert supervisors of any unsafe conditions.
A proactive approach in reporting potential accidents is preferred for a safer workplace. This reduces the workers’ anxiety due to the effort consumed when thinking about one’s safety. Thus, reporting potential unsafe situations as soon as possible reduces this risk

2. Maintain a tidy workspace.
Approximately 36.55% of job related fatalities are caused by slips, trips falls according to OSHA’s Fatal Four – Leading Causes of Fatalities in the Workplace report. Therefore, it is imperative that a conscious effort should be given by organisation members to prioritise developing housekeeping habits in the workplace. Keeping the area void of unnecessary items, cleaning up immediately after instances of spillage, and sanitizing the workplace for safety purposes are importance precautionary measures to minimise workplace accidents.

3. Put on protective gear.
Using PPEs such as goggles and hard hats are also are also required to ensure worker safety. Onsite accidents happen rarely, but being prepared for it reduces the possiblity of it being fatal. Thus it is encouraged that this practice is taken at heart by the workers for their own necessity.

4. Breaks are also essential.
A successful work routine also includes time for periodic breaks. This will retain the workers’ focus and consciousness in executing their tasks thus preventing injuries from exhaustion and overwork.

5. It is important not to skip any steps.
Following protocols geared towards safety has been generated for the same purpose. Reducing risk the workers are exposed to should be given the utmost priority in establishing these goals.

6. Keep informed about new protocols and procedures.
Updating these protocols are also important to maintain a safe and secure workplace. Integrating new steps to these protocols as well as monitoring inventory upkeep are also essential for this step. Fostering a curious culture within the workplace produces employees that are proactive in fabricating safety measures as they tend to question these protocols every step of the way.

7. Keeping good posture is important.
Ergonomics is an underrated concept to be considered. Fitting the workplace to the workers is a good practice in workplace safety. Equipping the staff members with appropriate equipment such as better computer chairs reduces the occurrences of body pains which could also lead to long term complications.

8. New employees needs assistance
By passing on their knowledge and expertise, experienced employees contribute to a safer workplace not only for them but for their newer co-workers as well. This ensures that all members of the organisation can contribute to its success which also brings the impression that the workers and their safety are prioritised.