Many businesses implement sub-par safety measures so that they can move on to the ‘more important’ elements of their business, but what they don’t know, is that they are actually doing themselves more harm than good. When safety standards are not regularly enforced, the consequences can range in severity from reduced productivity to medical expenses, worker compensation claims and fines.
Does this sound worth it to you?
With just a few changes, you can make sure that you protect your employees and that the running of your business is considerably more efficient and productive on a day-to-day basis, all the while being completely compliant with current legislation.
Here are five health and safety tips that you can implement right away that will have this positive impact on your business.
1. Model good health and safety behaviour
Ever heard of the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do?” There’s a reason why this doesn’t work, so always try to adhere to the health and safety yourself and you’ll soon see how the organisation will follow. A strong safety culture starts from the top, so always make sure that the leaders of the company are all working and acting safely before you enforce this with the rest of your business.
2. Seek the advice of your employees
There’s nobody who knows the daily runnings of a business better than those working on the front line, so always seek their feedback and advice when executing safety in your workplace. Distribute anonymous safety surveys and find out what your employees already know and think. Are they familiar with your policies and procedures? Do they know your expectations and their individual responsibilities when it comes to safety?
3. Encourage open communication about safety
Communication is key to improving so think of ways that you can encourage this more in your workplace. Would a suggestion box be sufficient? Or perhaps you could get more hands-on with an end-of-week summary or by conducting pre-shift huddles? Whatever works for your team, use this time to reinforce the safety culture, covering near-injury misses, specific incidences, newly identified hazards, proper equipment handling, and the safety processes that staff should be implementing and adhering to.
4. Show your employees you value their feedback
Any feedback that employees can give you when it comes to your health and safety measures that are in place is extremely valuable, so show them that. Arrange frequent one-on-one discussions to give them a chance to talk to you about safety in a relaxed environment and start to make changes in response to this feedback. You’ll soon build trust by showing that you respect your employees and you’ll find that they will perform better knowing that their opinions and perspectives are valued.
5. Perform ongoing safety training
Workplace safety needs to be constantly upheld, so make sure that you provide regular safety training for your employees. A workforce with a strong understanding of safety guidelines and best practices is more likely to recognise potential hazards before they occur, so this ensures that there will be fewer injuries as well as costly losses due to productivity and morale.
The takeaway
By implementing these 5 changes in your workplace, you will create a safer and more engaged workforce that has a considerably positive impact on your business. By simply creating a strong safety culture and providing open communication channels, your business will benefit from:
- Improved safety measures, especially identifying and addressing hazards
- Reduced injuries and therefore, lower medical expenses and reduced workers’ compensation costs
- Improved productivity and employee morale
- Stronger employer branding and a positive outside perspective of the organisation.
Need More Help with Your Overall Health & Safety Strategy?
ActiveHSE provides many publications and resources on Health and Safety, including policy log books and checklists that can be tailored to your business. If you need any advice or guidance on which ones you need, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
info@activehse.co.uk | 07921 278986