How to ensure a healthy and safe workplace
Today, managers have legal and moral responsibilities to attend to their employees’ health and safety at work. Managers must introduce and apply safeguards and procedures guaranteeing the physical security and welfare of employees; and if an accident occurs, managers must be able to do whatever is appropriate. The following strategies might be considered…
1. Make workplace health and safely a priority.
Consult the Workplace Health and Safety legislation governing your area. Advise your employees of these requirements, provide the necessary training, and demonstrate clearly your commitment to a healthy and safe work environment.
2. Make use of any available advisory services.
Most government agencies are only too willing to advise you on the legislatory requirements and will usually accept an invitation to review your procedures and help you develop workable policies.
3. Appoint a workplace health and safety officer.
Find an employee willing to assume the role of a health and safety officer - some legislation actually demands that. Relevant training programs are usually available through tertiary training institutions. The trained employee will play an invaluable role in implementing the health and safety program for your organisation. A safety committee may provide a support option.
4. Involve employees.
A healthy and safe workplace is the responsibility of everyone in the organisation; so provide opportunities for employees to be involved in a consideration of this initiative. Employees must know that management is committed to occupational health and safety, and that all staff are empowered to act in the organisation's best interests.
5. Keep records.
Your safety record is one measure that others will use to judge your organisation. Many potential employees are reluctant to join an organisation that is not serious about the safety of its employees. Reviewing statistics is one way of making sure that health and safety issues have been dealt with satisfactorily.
6. Prevent problems before they happen.
Document your procedures and train employees to follow them. Start with your staff induction program. An Australian study, reported by the Australian Institute of Management, claimed that it is six times more expensive not to train than to train - findings which would be conservative when the costs resulting from accidents are calculated.
7. Be ever vigilant in finding solutions.
Be wary of quick-fix solutions. If employees are required to engage in excessive overtime, this could be indicative of inadequate staffing levels or ineffective procedures. Remember that productivity levels not only decline when employees are required to work long hours but workers are also adversely affected on the following day. Procedures also need to be in place to ensure that areas of non-conformance are identified, addressed, and monitored through a management review process.
8. If an accident occurs, take immediate action.
Make sure that documented procedures are carried out during any accident. Your first concern must be the health and safety of staff and any customers. Review the procedures after the accident and make any changes that will improve accident prevention and that will deal with any accidents should they occur. Keep a detailed record of the incident for possible workers compensation claims, litigation, or future corrective action. Provide any rehabilitation necessary, and recognise any significant staff achievements in coping with the incident.
9. Conduct regular checks.
Work closely with your Workplace Health and Safety Officer and insist on regular audits and reports. One of the added benefits of management- by-walking-around is that you keep your own close check on health and safety issues in your organisation. Adopt the Western Australian government’s approach to health and safety program: Thinksafe SAM reminds us to:
- Spot the hazard.
- Assess the risk.
- Make the changes.
10. Focus on continuous improvement.
When (or if) problems occur, initiate corrective actions that will ensure there is no recurrence of that problem. The importance of documented procedures cannot be overemphasised.
