Employers are required by law to keep their employees safe. No one should have to worry about safety when they go to work. Everyone wants to feel safe at work, and know that their workplace is prepared for emergencies. In this post we will walk you through the need for safety in the workplace and why it is a hot topic.

Incidents leading to injuries and  illnesses  are a major concern in the workplace. Injuries sustained from poorly designed equipment, improperly maintained tools and hazardous materials are just some of the risks that employees face when they come to work every day. In Australia alone, injuries or illnesses at work have an estimated cost to the Australian economy $61.8 billion reported by Safe Work Australia. This means that the issue of safety in the work environment shouldn't be overlooked because of the potential economic and social impacts.

Why is it important to ensure safety in  the workplace?

Irrespective of the kind of business you run, safety of employees is paramount. The primary goal of any workplace safety program is to reduce the risks of injury, illness or death to workers. Additionally, a safe work environment can lead to a better mental health, less anxiety and stress for employees. Naturally,  this is a benefit to any business  and will lead to higher productivity and job satisfaction hence positively impacting the bottomline. Workers can go home at the end of the day to their loved ones without any incident from the workplace.

The benefits of a safe workplace

Here are some of the benefits that come with having a safe workplace:

Improved workers performance

A safe workplace will not only reduce the risk of accidents happening, but it can also improve productivity as a result. The ability to focus on tasks without having to worry about potential risks can lead to a reduction in mistakes made. When workers are less stressed, it leads to better job performance.

Lower absenteeism rates among employees 

A safe workplace is likely going to have lower absenteeism rates as incidents that can  cause injuries are usually dealt with quickly. Absenteeism is expensive, and a business would have to spend money on finding replacements and training them. Lower absenteeism rates will also mean that your business has a higher productivity and less time is wasted when an employee takes leave to recover from a workplace injury.

Higher morale among employees 

Morale is essential for any business and having a safe workplace will have your employees feeling more positive about their work. Employees are more likely to stay in the workplace and work harder when they feel appreciated. They will also be more engaged with their tasks because of a sense of responsibility for what is happening around them.

Less time and money spent on accidents 

When a workplace is safe, there will be fewer occurrences of accidents which means that your business will not spend time and money on dealing with these incidents. A safe workplace is a productive workplace, so it's important that safety measures are in place to ensure the safety of your employees.

Increases adherence to WHS compliance 

When a workplace has a strong safety culture, it is likely to have better adherence to WHS compliance. This would be due to the fact that with a focus on safety, employees are more likely to take the right precautions. With compliance, it means that you're going to incur fewer compliance penalties.

Reduced insurance premiums 

An unsafe workplace will lead to higher insurance premiums, as there are more risks for injuries and other incidents that can lead to losses to a business.

Better Reputation and PR

If your workplace is known for its safety, it will go a long way in improving your reputation and PR - a reputation for safety is a strong selling point for any brand. Your business would be less likely to lose customers because of safety incidents, rather, it could potentially lead to more customers, which is great news for a business. It can be considered as an investment, with the benefits being more than just financial. 

Reduced employee turnover

Employee turnover has a number of costs associated with it, such as the cost of finding replacements and training them. A safe work environment will lead to less turnover as employees will feel safer in their work environment.

Safety attracts top talents

A safe workplace is a desirable work environment for employees and it's going to attract top talent so you won't have to spend time and money trying to find replacements.

How to achieve a safe workplace: A strategy to prevent accidents and incidents

A safe workplace is vital to the success of any business, so it's important to make sure that safety measures are taken into consideration. A strategy to prevent accidents and incidents include:

Conducting a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

Conducting a Job Safety Analysis helps identify the hazards and potential risks associated with particular job tasks, as well as determine which control measures are needed to prevent accidents. For example, the analysis might reveal that a job task is susceptible to slip, trip and fall hazards. In this case, the JSA would identify additional control measures such as installing safety mats, improving lighting or reducing the likelihood of spills. Conducting a Job Safety Analysis is integral to assessing and managing risk, and is a systematic process that should be applied to all jobs.

A safe workplace starts with the people who work there  - so it's important to make sure that all employees are aware of the hazards, risks and potential consequences associated with their job. Employees should have access to information on how to work safely, and know what will happen if they don't comply with safety measures. JSA makes all of these possible.

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