How to promote safety in the workplace
How to promote safety in the workplace
A safe workplace is the key to productive warehouses, manufacturing plants, and construction sites. Each work environment has different degrees of safety standards that must be maintained to create a harmonious environment.
The common thread for all companies is the steps they must take to create a safe job site, as well as their investment in workers compensation insurance for the times when things do go wrong.
In this article you will find information regarding:
- safety in the workplace
- tips for maintaining a safe workplace in your business
- how insurance benefits businesses
7 ways to creating and maintaining a safe workplace
Below are a few of the most useful tips to developing a secure workplace for your employees.
- Banish potential hazards – Be sure your workspace is Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliant and free of any chemical or physical hazards.
Use signage systems and verbal instructions to remind staff of the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), forklift safety, “Lock-Out, Tag Out” procedures, and machine guarding.
- Perform regular inspections – Depending on the type of work your facility performs, it may be necessary to do daily or monthly inspections.
This means regularly inspecting equipment and facilities to be sure everything is working well and team members are following all safety rules. Keep an inspection checklist so nothing is missed and there is a record of the safety checkups.
- Proper training of all workers – Your company should furnish all new workers with mandatory safety training.
In addition, it’s important your company regularly provides refresher safety classes, as well as retraining when a worker switches jobs within the organization.
- Incorporate visual safety aids – It’s a legal requirement for businesses to display OSHA posters throughout work and rest areas.
It’s also helpful to use safety signs, and a color coding system to remind team members of critical safety procedures. Furthermore, digital signage and overhead speakers can be used for emergency situations.
- Write a safety manual for your staff – Create a comprehensive safety manual for your employees that includes information like how inspections are performed, as well as an overview of safety training and emergency drills. Your safety manual should also include the corporate policy for reporting both injuries and hazards.
- Organize a safety committee – Once a month representatives from the shop floor all the way to the C-suite should gather and discuss inspections, injury and illness statistics, and other safety topics.
In addition, each department should regularly have their own safety meetings so team members can discuss concerns and express ideas for improving safety
- Investigate safety laws in your community – Be sure your company is complying with all state and federal laws, as well as any industry standards.
The easiest place to start is by checking with OSHA and your state’s Department of Labor.
How workers’ compensation insurance benefits businesses
Your business may follow all the tips above for avoiding worker accidents but sometimes workplace injuries happen anyway. In fact, traffic accidents while on the clock are the number one employee reported safety mishap.
This is why businesses, like yours, invest in a workers compensation insurance policy. By having workers compensation coverage, you can be sure a hurt team member’s health care and a portion of their income while recuperating will be covered.
In addition, workers compensation coverage protects the employer from liability lawsuits caused by injured employees.
In the end, it’s always best for companies and employees to work together in establishing a safe, hazard-free work environment. However, if a mishap does occur then both employers and their staff need to be protected by a workers compensation plan.