Make Safety a Workplace Priority

Workplace safety is important for many reasons including staying compliant with regulations, retaining skilled employees and being more efficient. Not to mention the ethical implications. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), “an effective safety and health program can save $4 to $6 for every $1 invested. It’s the right thing to do, and doing it right pays off in lower costs, increased productivity, and higher employee morale.” Here are some tips and advice for creating a safer workplace.

Make Sure You’re Meeting OSHA Regulations

Not only is it necessary to remain compliant with OSHA regulations in order to keep your workers safe, it’s important because it can cost you financially if you’re non-compliant. If you’re found to be in violation, it can lead to penalties ranging from $5,000 to $70,000 along with an additional $7,000 penalty per violation. Fortunately, OSHA does everything it can to ensure that businesses are aware of regulations and takes measures to provide employees with a safe working environment. You can learn pretty much many of the things you need to know through this resource.

Determine Potential Hazards

Next, you’ll want to examine your workplace and identify anything that could be deemed as dangerous. Looking at current worksite conditions and assessing potential hazards will put you in a position to correct minor issues before they become major problems. Along with your own personal inspection, it’s ideal to get assistance from an expert because they’ll have an in-depth understanding of common dangers in your industry. In many cases, OSHA will even give you a free consultation visit, which you can learn more about here.

Design a Safety Training Program

Once you have a better understanding of the regulations you must meet, and pinpoint the biggest threats in your workplace, it’s time to develop a safety-training program. Doing so is a good way to be proactive, rather than waiting until something unfortunate happens. It’s also an effective way to reduce the odds of injuries or illnesses ever occurring in the first place. Some ideas include:

  • Educating employees on common safety risks
  • Educating employees on how to identify and report hazards
  • Explaining the legal repercussions of non-compliance
  • Explaining the precautions employees can take to stay safe on the job
  • Offering suggestions to minimize injuries or illnesses
  • Providing first-aid training
  • Providing employees with relevant safety equipment such as non-slip shoes, goggles, safety gloves, etc.

Reward Safe Practices

Finally, you may also want to reward employees who adhere to safety protocol and strive to make your workplace safer. Whether it’s an increase in pay, gift card or any other perk, this will often serve as motivation for your employees to do their part.

Taking safety seriously and making it a priority can yield numerous benefits for your business, and help preserve your workforce. For help recruiting and hiring qualified staff, contact us today.

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