An employer provides the workplace safety by providing safe equipment, following procedures, ensuring the workers’ health and safety, and establishing policies by encouraging their employees to stick to them. They may also develop a safety communication plan, appoint a health and safety representative, and keep managers and employees connected.
Additionally, an employer must adhere to health and safety requirements, failure to do so may grant them high legal charges, heavy fines, or even worse, a prison sentence.
With different ways of guaranteeing safety, an employer can find an EHS software and integrate it into the business. This program automates management processes and aids businesses in complying with government regulations.
They track and examine the results of safety capabilities taken by your business while following staff participation. Workplace safety results in fewer costs, team member retention, and less downtime, amongst others discussed below.
Here are Ways in which Workplace Safety can Increase Employee Morale:
1. Increase in Productivity
Failure to place safety measures in place may lead to less productivity amongst workers as employees tend to deliver more when they feel safe in their working environment. This may be because they don’t experience pressure and stress.
Additionally, when an employer provides safe equipment, it will give workers a chance to get their jobs done without worrying about being injured. In an accident where a team member gets hurt and has to leave, less-experienced workers may step in to replace them. As a result, productivity will go down for they may fail to deliver as expected.
For example, there are risks that employees working in a restaurant may face. These risks may include injuries from repetitive motion, accidents caused by slipping and falling, burns, food poisoning, and in some cases, assault.
Even with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) placing specific guidelines, these protocols may not be enough to combat the risks.
2. Minimizes Lost Working Hours
Businesses rely on employees to attain the required outcome. If an injured team member will take time off, it might result in lost productivity.
For instance, a small business may experience lost working hours which may cost the business through;
- Production losses.
- Having to hire and train new employees.
- Paying wages for work not performed.
Additionally, injured workers will need to take time off to heal, leading the employer to scramble to address the hazards. All these factors will contribute to lost work hours that affect the business’s output and possibly its revenue.
3. Keeps Employees Engaged And Happy
A study showed an increase in team member productivity by 24% and reduced factory costs by 20% from satisfied employees. Unhappy employees tend to be withdrawn and uninvested, which may affect day-to-day performance.
Additionally, they are also prone to making errors and have shortcomings. In contrast, engaged employees tend to put in additional effort, offer excellent work products, and give suggestions to boost productivity in the work environment.
Team member engagement will create a recognition culture that allows workers to voice their concerns. Once an employer addresses their problems, they will end up being content and it could boost their morale.
An employer can keep workers engaged by providing a safe environment. You can use the following ways to achieve worker engagement:
- Giving them a sense of ownership.
- Through conducting safety meetings and implementing feedback for continuous improvement.
- By setting guidelines that remind workers of safety precautions, they will feel cared for and needed.
4. Safety Boosts Personal Accountability
A workplace focused on accountability works together to expose hazards against workers. Safety in the workplace will empower employees to take personal responsibility. This could be done by performing simple tasks such as cleaning the work area and putting away tools.
Safe workers tend to be accountable to their colleagues by communicating with them about unsafe situations. A worker can try relating a story of a former injury and explaining potential safety hazards without pointing fingers, which boosts productivity.
A worker with personal accountability from safety can work together and support each other, thus boosting morale in the company.
For instance, a worker can suggest adopting a reliable ventilation system, including commercial fans, blowers, heaters, louvers, and dampers, from trusted ventilation manufacturers, such as Knape Associates, to reduce pollution, increase productivity, and promote safety.
Here are the other ways to promote safety in the workplace and boost personal accountability:
- Regular Meetings
Managers and workers can meet up and review the standard operating procedures (SOPs) or safety guidelines quarterly or yearly. This important activity ensures all safety protocols are still aligned with the changes and emerging needs of the company.
- Regular Training
When everyone is well-informed, a sense of responsibility and accountability follows. Regular training must be conducted whenever new equipment, tool, or workflow exists. This activity is crucial in promoting workplace safety by raising awareness of their operations and hazards. Equipment manufacturers and solution providers usually provide free training.
- Feedback and Incident Monitoring and Reporting
Proper documentation and follow-up are essential for prompt reporting and analysis using the right tool or software program when workplace accidents occur. The management can establish an incident database and use data insights to create better safety policies. Furthermore, the company must also seek the feedback of its frontline workers to obtain concrete suggestions to improve workplace safety. To build on this foundation, implementing a lone worker solution can furnish immediate communication and location tracking capabilities, markedly enhancing the company’s efficiency in handling emergencies. This step naturally extends the dialogue between management and frontline workers, further solidifying the role of technology in strengthening safety protocols.
Bottom Line
A strong workplace safety culture contributes to team member morale. A safe team member could give 100% to the job and fellow employees if they feel safe enough. Additionally, safety will boost engagement in workers and engaged workers will fully commit to their work by adding more effort. More effort will translate into higher productivity.
Employers should involve all business members to ensure a safe culture is established and give the management system a chance to reach its full potential. With safety put in place, you will boost workers’ morale in the ways listed above.
Featured Image Source: Vantage Circle
