Safety in the workplace should always be at the top of the list of business priorities. In fact, it is a legal obligation to provide a safe environment for employees and others who step foot on your company property. According to a survey from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 4,585 fatal work injuries in just 2013 alone. This is about 12 employees a day who are killed just performing the duties of their jobs.
The focus on safety must start at the top of an organization because it takes a strong management team to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to work in a safe work environment. Here are some guidelines for supporting safety at work from the top down.
Have clear workplace safety policies and procedures
Every workplace should have a central safety communication center, where hazardous materials and chemical information are stored, and important procedural data is readily available to managers and employees. Have a clearly written safety communication policy in the employee handbook and make sure all employees sign off on this. Managers should have regular safety meetings with staffers to ensure compliance and reporting happens before someone gets hurt.
Include business leaders as stewards of safety teams
Tap into the expertise of the leadership team by including them to participate in safety measures at the company. Make them the stewards of this mission by encouraging them to protect the lives of employees as much as they protect other business assets, such as the equipment and inventory. The best leaders are those who step up and take command of the safety matters that affect working people.
Keep listening and engagement as an ongoing effort
While managers need to be on top of safety measures in the workplace, they also need to be accessible enough so that employees can promptly report safety risks that can prevent loss of life and property. Make it simple for employees to report things and have an active ear listening to any concerns and complaints from employees and floor managers. Accidents can happen but being aware and listening will help management be proactive in addressing safety issues.
Make safety training a priority
As company leaders, it’s possible to make safety one of the key values of the company through continual training. From the moment employees begin work to the end of the day, ensure that safety training and equipment is provided to all. Have regular training sessions to refresh current employees on things like lifting, use of safety equipment, material handling, personal safety, and other issues that are common in the workplace.
If you make safety a topic that comes from the top down, employees will be more willing to follow the rules and report safety risks to their managers before someone is seriously injured or killed.
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