Because professionals in industrial roles do work involving sensitive materials, complicated machinery and powerful tools, the risk of employee injury is significantly higher than it is in other sectors. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to make sure all your staff members are excelling at their jobs in safe and healthy circumstances. Here are four key elements of successful safety programs or initiatives.
1. Make sure management is engaged To ensure your safety program is a success, you need to get the entire organization involved. Entry- and associate-level workers are less likely to take the initiative seriously if their superiors aren’t participating. Management should “lead by example” explained Assured. The source recommended printing out your workplace safety rules and giving every employee a copy. Ask everyone to carry these pages around with them at all times to promote a culture of health and safety at all levels.
2. Schedule frequent workplace reviews
Even if your safety initiative gets off to a great start, it’s only a matter of time before workers start to cut corners. Prevent your company from relapsing into dangerous habits by scheduling regular check-ups. Non Profit Risk recommended scheduling frequent workplace reviews so that everyone in your company is on high safety alert at all times. During these reviews you should also assess workplace conditions to make sure buildings, labs and construction sites are safe and secure for your teams. Everything from specific tasks to the quality of tools should be examined during these assessments.
3. Be proactive about preventing hazards
Preventative maintenance is an essential step in any workplace safety program. Have a system in place for testing machinery and tools on a regular basis. If something breaks down while workers are on the job, make sure they have the proper training to fix the issue or at least temporarily remedy the situation. Make sure workers know how to handle potentially dangerous situations, such as fires or chemical spills, so that emergencies don’t result in life-threatening situations. Give employees all the safety gear they need, and be vigilant about updating their equipment whenever necessary. Taking all these proactive steps can go a long way toward preventing major issues.
4. Offer plenty of training
Excellent training is a cornerstone of a safe and healthy work environment. Anyone who sets foot on a work site, whether they’re upper-level management or interns, should undergo extensive safety training beforehand. Even after formal training concludes, you should continue to incorporate safety information into every work day. Assured suggested kicking off regularly scheduled department meetings with safety briefings, or sending out company-wide “safety tip of the day” memos.
SOURCES
http://ehstoday.com/slc-connect/slc-2014-8-key-elements-world-class-safety-program
https://www.osha.gov/dte/library/safety_health_program/
http://www.neacelukens.com/four-key-elements-workplace-safety-program/1626
https://nonprofitrisk.org/tools/workplace-safety/nonprofit/c3/elements-prg.htm
