The challenges of managing aspects of health and safety in the workplace can often be exhausting. There are many legal, financial, and moral reasons why you must pay attention to the obligations related to safety at work. With all these challenges, it’s important not to waste time, money, or invest effort on things that just don’t work. In terms of successfully managing occupational safety issues, we bring you a list of common mistakes that organizations make.
You are happy with a small number of injuries, not safety rules?
It is a big mistake to focus on a small number of injuries as a measure of safety. Many people were in a situation where they took a big risk at work – even though their well-being was at stake. Of course, companies should be happy when there are no injuries over an extended period, but that doesn’t guarantee safety. And safety cannot be defined by a small number of accidents. Safety is created by what we do, not by what we avoid.
You do not involve employees in defining safety rules?
Rules imposed by others are usually not needed to make changes. Employees need to be involved in the process of establishing safe behavior and rules that apply in the workplace. This will lead to increased compliance. Involve employees by challenging them to define and review safety performance standards.
Safety only for the sake of the law?
In the early stages of developing a safety culture, companies can make mistakes by working on safety just because the law forces them to. The value of safety management is beneficial to a company’s productivity and leads to the creation of added value for the company. Safety also means bringing all employees home every day! It’s important to stay in line with safety laws, but don’t do them just because you have to but to protect your employees. Your company will therefore progress financially.
Do you neglect the importance of proper tools, equipment, materials, and workspace?
The myth that risky behavior causes 88% of accidents is simply not true. Risky behavior is involved in all incidents that companies experience, but it is not the only cause of accidents. By believing in this myth, the fact that inadequate conditions are also to blame for accidents is often overlooked. You must also keep in mind safe behavior and safe conditions (i.e., tools, equipment, materials, and work environment). If you’re only delivering broken tools to people, don’t be surprised when they get hurt. Good tools and equipment increase the chances that workers will do their job safely and not take unnecessary risks.
Do you neglect risky behavior?
Everyone must be responsible for safety in the workplace and prove it by their behavior. Allowing risky behavior to employees is often disastrous. It is crucial to warn and educate employees who are not working safely. Again, you want all the workers to get home safely at the end of the shift.
Do you neglect the power of groups that actively care for each other?
Inviting co-workers to give feedback and warn when you notice risky behavior encourages a team approach to safety. Unless asked, your co-workers may be reluctant to draw attention to mistakes because of fear of a bad reaction. You’re in it together, so why not open a discussion and invite everyone to overcome the challenges and work safely.
Do you measure results, not activities that create safety?
Companies that define safety activities for all employees, including the CEO, are safer organizations. Require that safety measurements include tasks such as investigations, hazard assessments, inspections, and attendance at meetings. Failure to apply these measures will mean that safety activities will always be in the background.
Do you manage safety at work differently than other parts of the business?
Why would profitable and successful companies with extensive management experience implement a safety program that doesn’t explain their success? You need to manage safety at work the way you manage your business to achieve similar, successful results. Too many organizations that manage safety are different from other parts of the business leading to increased risk. Workers and the management team are motivated to achieve production results. Why settle for something smaller when it comes to safety?
Do you design safety meetings in a way everyone wants to avoid them?
Most people avoid occupational safety meetings because they don’t like the way they are conducted. There is often talk of things that are not applicable in the work environment you are in. Tailor meetings to people and companies and involve employees to participate.
We’ve given you ideas to help improve your safety culture. This list will get you thinking about the changes you need. It is crucial to own safety processes as well as participate in their creation. Everyone has to get involved and stop doing things that ultimately lead to failure and costly injuries at work. Safety is important, especially for the people you work with every day.
