Ensuring Safety First: The Crucial Importance of Occupational Health and Safety in Workplace
Ensuring Safety First:
The Crucial Importance of Occupational Health and Safety in Workplace
Introduction
In today’s fast-moving world, it is very important to ensure the health and safety of employees working within an organisation. When we talk about Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) it’s not just about rules, but a collective approach which will involve creating a safe, supportive work environment as well as a healthy workplace. It doesn’t matter where you are working, whether it be an office, a factor, a high-rise building construction site, the very importance of OHS cannot be unjustified. By having an efficient Occupational Health and Safety Management System it will not only ensure the well-being of employees but will also help the company to enhance its reputation and overall business profit. Now let’s look in detail how having a robust OHS Management System is crucial to every business.
Why Occupational Health and Safety Matters
Keeping people safe and preventing injuries
Occupational health and safety is all about keeping people safe at all times. But still workplace accidents continue to be a global issue, with thousands of injuries as well as deaths being reported every year worldwide. Each year, around 2.3 million workers lose their lives due to work-related accidents and work-related ill-health, according to the International Labor Organisation (ILO). It is not necessary that this has to be case at all times. By having a strong and robust Occupational Health and Safety Management System we can make a real difference in the workplace. It could be by identifying all the hazards at workplace, introducing suitable and sufficient control measures, provide training and also ensure that all the employees are provided with right personnel protective equipment’s as necessary to their job.
When an organisation gives OHS priority, it’s just not about reducing the injuries but also making sure that their employees are safe and they are returning back to their family at the end of their shift. The key factor that needs to be always remembered is that – A safe workplace is one where all potential risks are identified well in advance as far as reasonably practicable and addressed before they can cause harm to anyone.
Maintaining Legal Compliance
When it comes to legal compliance every country has well defined legal laws that would regulate the workplace safety and it is the responsibility of every employer to ensure that they are always complied. Failure to comply with these legal laws can invite hefty fines, legal troubles as well as damage to their reputation.
Let’s take the example of United Kingdom (UK) where the employer’s responsibility is governed by The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This law describes the framework across Great Britain on workplace safety, employee’s welfare as well as safety of others who may be affected by their work activities. As per the HSW Act every employer who has 5 or more employees should have a documented health and safety policy within their organisation. Failure to comply with the law can lead to fines or even prosecution which will depend on the severity of non-compliance of the same.
Taking care of employee’s well-being
Ensuring employees safety is not the only priority when it comes to workplace safety but ensuring mental and emotional well-being is also equally important. By ensuring an employee’s safety both physically and mentally will make them feel safe which can in-turn boost their confidence in performing their job as well bring satisfaction in what they do. On the opposite side worrying about safety can lead to anxiety, burnout as well as loss of productivity.
By ensuring a robust Occupational Health and Safety program employers can create a safe working environment which will help the employees to focus on their work without the fear of an accident. To ensure employee’s well-being employers can also conduct regular health check-up’s, provide mental health support as well access to various resources which can contribute to a healthier and balanced workforce.
Making business more productive and efficient
Having a focus on Occupational Health and Safety is not just good for employees but also good for business. There are fewer accidents when the employer ensures the workplace is safer which would eventually lead to less downtime and higher productivity. Confidence on the workplace safety can lead to employees stay focused on what they do more efficiently.
Risk Management and Saving Money
Many organizations think about the cost associated with setting up an Occupational Health and Safety Management System. But they don’t identify the long-term benefits of setting up an OHS system. By setting up an efficient OHS system the organisation can address the risk well in advance to a greater extend. This will help the organisation to avoid expenses like medical bills, compensation claims, legal fees etc. which are associated with an accident.
A good risk management where all the potential risks are identified with adequate control measures taken can not only save money but also will help to increase the reputation of the company in the long run. Those business who does take such proactive steps towards safety are those how are better positioned to thrive.
The importance of building a strong reputation
An organisation who has a strong Occupational Health and Safety Management system showcases its commitment towards OHS. Such organizations show clients, investors and employees that they care about Occupational Health and Safety. Having a good OHS system will help the organisation to attract talented staff which will further enhance their productivity. Companies that prioritize their well-being are more appealing to employees.
People always want to work in those organizations who care about their health and safety as well as prioritize their well-being. This will help to reduce employee turnover as well as costs of hiring and training of new staffs.
Conclusion
The importance of Occupational Health and Safety goes way beyond just following rules. The goal is to protect lives, support employees, boost productivity and also ensuring long-term success. Regardless of the size or industry, every organisation should make safety their top priority.
Investing in OHS programs and reinforcing safe practices can help businesses to enhance their reputation, increase their productivity and have a health worker. Let’s remember: Safety isn’t something we should think about later, but which should be always put in first.
Call to Action
We have got to make health and safety a priority as work environments evolve day by day for both employees and employers. Creating a safe and supportive workplace is possible if we all work together.
Please let us know what you think. Comment below if you have any thoughts, experience or idea on how to make workplace safe. Let’s keep talking.
Author of this Blog
Sanker Srikumar
Founder / CEO / Academic Director
– Green World Group
Bsc.IT, Msc.IT, MBA, Bsc.OSH, Dip.RSA, IDip.Nebosh, Cert. IOSH, SIIRSM, TSP, CFPS, CSM, CSMC, PHSM
