Promoting safety in the workplace
Guest Post
Safety should be an integral focus of any workplace. Without this mindset – as well as its implementation – employees are put at risk. It is no surprise that safety must be actively promoted in the workplace, even though this doesn’t necessarily translate into reality.
The Safety Mindset
A piece from Manufacturing.net argues that complacency is one of the worst emergency planning mistakes made by businesses. Yet this easily extends to the full range of workplace safety.
Transforming complacency into a proactive approach, which is repeated in the piece, can authentically mean something. Employees can have a knack for recognizing when a potential situation is occurring. Of course, employees can feel safer in the workplace – a priceless sentiment.
SAPA Extrusions, Inc. took time out on a workday to hold its third annual “Health and Safety Day,” as reported by Jake Iversen. Not only was the company displaying safety equipment and providing health checks – which has, in the past, detected prostate cancer and breast cancer for two employees – but promoting safety in a fun and lively day. Iversen notes that it “has the look and feel of a street fair or carnival” though it’s doing something much more important than distributing funnel cakes and teddy bears.
One employee reported that it has improved their comfort level. He also mentioned that the company is “always trying new ways to do things better and safer,” which is indeed high praise.
Creating a Safe Workplace
Truly promoting safety in the workplace involves action, as the story from SAPA demonstrated. For businesses to have employees who feel comfortable in the workplace and recognize their employer’s dedication to safety, some real ground must be made in this area – promotion is only part of the equation.
What can businesses do to transform a workplace into a safer one? Here are some examples to give a company something to promote and be proud of:
- Action Plans: The previously mentioned article from Manufacturing.net highlights important aspects of an action plan – including evacuation procedure, location of shelters for an earthquake or tornado, and their integration in safety training sessions. It also notes having them posted in visible locations.
- Safety Equipment: Valuable safety products may be available to improve the day-to-day operations of a business. It’s important to identify key needs in this area to ensure that employees are staying safe from danger.
- First Aid: Newsday looks at the importance of first aid in the workplace. From low- to high-risk workplaces, as well as from bruises and cuts to cardiac arrest and electric shocks, first aid is a prime consideration across the board.
- Education and Monitoring: Teaching team members the proper responses is critical. Yet, so too is a company staying on top of safety, continually reviewing and advancing safety procedures, products and education itself. It’s an ongoing process that cannot be stagnant.
Overview
From the right plans and products to the right mindset, workplace safety is a dynamic and incredibly important area for any business. Even for low-risk workplace environments, a proactive approach should be taken to improve employee safety and confidence. By promoting workplace safety and taking the right steps, any business can excel in this vital department. The direct and complementary benefits of it can be quite impressive.
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