Did you know that preventable injuries are the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States? That includes accidents at work.
Employees who have a safe working environment don’t have to worry about getting hurt on the job. They can focus on their tasks at hand, going about their responsibilities and being productive without needing to move about with extra caution.
June is National Safety Month and it’s important to make sure your workplace is as safe as possible, with each employee, at every level, understanding their responsibility in keeping their workplace hazard and risk free.
Here’s a little more to consider on the importance of National Safety Month at work.
- Every workplace has safety hazards. No matter what kind of environment your team works in, or the kind of work they do, it’s important to prevent them from getting injured or facing serious harm. This is an obvious situation to deal with on higher-risk jobs: hard hats should always be worn at construction sites; heavy machinery should always be properly stored away, with the keys out of the ignition, when not in use; flammable materials and explosives should always be properly stored. But even offices have hazards that could create a risky situation: frayed wires can lead to electrical fires; improperly stored cables and cords can lead to trips and falls (and broken bones or sprains), leaky faucets can lead to wet floors and cause falls as well. Even if your workplace doesn’t have heavy machinery or moving parts or risky tools like saws, hammers and drills, there are safety risks that need to be considered.
- Safe working environments allow employees to focus on their jobs. Working in a safe place, where there are no obvious hazards and any problem that does come up is addressed quickly, means people can do their jobs. That’s it! They can focus on their responsibilities and the tasks at hand without worrying whether the lights overhead will short out, causing them to work in the dark and possibly bump into tables or prompting them to trip over things. An uncluttered hallway means there’s a reduced risk of tripping over a box of outdated materials and falling on the floor. Without having to conduct a safety check every single day in their working area, but generally being mindful and watching for something to occasionally go astray, workers can do their jobs without worry of getting hurt.
- Run those drills! Many of us think we’re done with fire and tornado and other safety drills when we leave high school. But it’s important for your workplace to conduct safety drills occasionally, or at least provide safety training on a regular basis. Does your team know where to meet in the event of a fire? Or maybe a chemical spill is a plausible risk at your workplace. Sadly, it’s also a sign of our times that people need to understand how to respond to an active shooter or other threats of immediate harm; has your team been trained on how to protect themselves or escape to safety? It might seem silly, outlandish or unnecessary, but training and knowledge and preparedness are the best ways to make sure people can respond to a dangerous situation confidently, without panic or fear or wasting precious seconds.
- Safety is a cost saver. A safe workplace is essential to your bottom line. In 2021, the cost of workplace injuries, as a whole, ran about $167 billion, between wage and productivity losses ($47.4 billion), medical expenses ($36.6 billion) and administrative expenses ($57.5 billion). Those are massive numbers! Regardless of how big or small your company is, an unsafe work environment can cost you dearly, in terms of fines, fees, penalties, lost productivity, workers compensation payments, repairs, fixes after the fact and other expensive corrections and alterations. Fix problems as they arise; don’t wait for someone to get hurt to address a concern.
- Encourage your employees to get good rest and eat good food. There can be indirect pressure on employees to stay at their workstation all day. For those who spend most of their time seated, that can be really detrimental to their health! But so too can be the demand to stay on their feet all day. Flexible options are great, as applicable and available, to help avoid back pain, foot or leg pain and other discomfort that could lead to long-term physical issues. Did you know an estimated 80% of Americans will have a back issue at some point of their lives? The ability to get up and walk around, or take a seat for a few minutes, is critically important to helping employees stay comfortable, safe and healthy. The same is true for being able to take a real break to eat lunch, and having healthy snacks and plenty of water available during the day. It’s just as important for your team to know they need to pay attention to how much sleep they’re getting and whether they’re fully resting. Did you know 37% of the US workforce can be considered sleep deprived? That contributes to excess weight gain, an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can contribute to feelings of depression. These might not be typical or obvious safety risks, but they can all contribute to your employees’ ability to do their job with clear minds and a better awareness of their environment.
Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it’s up to managers to lead by example and model good behaviors. Spend a little time this National Safety Month going over the safety protocols with your team, even scheduling a fire drill as weather permits, and drive home that this is a priority for you. Protected and secure workers are happy ones!
If you’re looking for other safety advice, or if you’re trying to add to your safety team, call Davis Staffing. Our recruiters are ready to help provide whatever help you need, including finding great job candidates who have the experience and background you’re looking for, with a very quick turnaround to keep your company rolling. Call Davis Staffing today to learn more!
