As an employer, you have many obligations and responsibilities regarding your employees. Foremost, you need to provide them with comfortable working conditions, which in turn will help them increase their productivity. But more than that, you have to make sure that their workplace is safe. You have to minimize their risk of sustaining injuries. After all, when workers get injured, your business will be gravely affected.
This is especially necessary for businesses that are in the heavy industries. These include manufacturing plants, oil rigs, and factories. However, it is also important to understand that even offices in the city have to see to it that their spaces are safe.
For you to come up with a comprehensive safety plan for your employees, you need to know first the costs that come with negligence to promote safety and failure to keep the facility secure. Below are some of the important things you need to know:
What are the direct costs?
Office and facility managers everywhere should be concerned when it comes to keeping their employees (and even customers) safe. The direct costs that come with employee injuries and workplace-related illnesses are pretty obvious: the affected employees will file claims and get compensation. Things are much more difficult in case you do not have a workplace insurance policy.
But of course, you will also need to think of the employees that have been affected. Injuries may cause loss of life and pain and suffering for the family. They may also lose a source of income, which in turn will affect their financial well-being and stability. Relationships may even get damaged. You need to understand that these results can affect your employees in a way that money cannot address.
Are there any indirect costs?
Injuries in the workplace will require different procedures, which may take a portion of your budget. They may not appear right away, so you need to be ready for them. For instance, foremen and supervisors will need to investigate the cause of the accident; if death is involved, the services of a third-party inspector and even the police will be necessary. Damaged tools, machinery, and pieces of equipment will have to be cleaned up and repaired.
And because the affected employees may not be able to go to work, you will have to hire new team members. Hiring new employees may mean that you will have to spend on their training. Additionally, you will need to cover legal fees after working with attorneys and regulators.
Prioritize the reduction of risks
Employers usually apply different protocols and instructions that should reduce certain risks. These may be expensive at first, but you need to consider these efforts as an investment. Among the first things that you need to implement is the revamp of workplace ergonomics. You need to come up with a layout that is comfortable for the employees and at the same time will help avoid repetitive injuries.
The proper placement of equipment will also aid in reducing the chances of mishandling. At this point, make sure that every piece of equipment and even each room has posters, safety signs, and printed instructions.
You can also offer your team a variety of safety products, such as uniforms, hard hats, and work safety gear and equipment. Furthermore, you have to see to it that your team members are well briefed. They should be trained properly.
Safety benefits everyone
A safe and healthy office or facility gives your employees peace of mind. And in turn, it will inspire them to be productive and even help increase employee loyalty. All these end results are something that you should keep in mind when you are planning a 360-degree safety program.
