Implementing Employee Safety Measures and Practices - An Important Consideration for Business

Workplace safety is one of the most important concepts in business but is not always taken seriously until a serious workplace injury occurs. The ‘it could never happen to us” syndrome, aka complacency, has been a root cause in many epically astounding injuries, both financially and even more devastatingly, in human capital. According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), “a safe workplace is sound business.”  

While there is no substitute for performing a professional safety audit with the guidance of an experienced employment lawyer, below are some tips to help you effectively plan and implement measures and practices (safety plans) which assist in promoting safety in the workplace.

What is a Safety Plan? 

In the simplest terms, a safety plan is a written record illustrating what your business does to establish and promote a safe working environment. It includes, but is not limited to, measures and practices that are utilized to identify, eliminate and mitigate hazards. A safety plan may also describe practices to report workplace concerns, data gathering, and training efforts.  

Know Your Legal Obligations

Protection of employees is usually the number one priority of any responsible business. In general, employers are legally responsible in the event of a workplace injury. The best time to review your business’ legal obligations is before an injury or accident occurs. Discussing the topic with your legal counsel is a significant initial step. 

If an injury does occur in the workplace, employers are required to provide emergency medical care and must report the incident to the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Injured employees may be able to obtain workers' compensation benefits, which provide them with money to help cover medical expenses and lost wages. If an employee is disabled after the injury has occurred, NDIS may provide further support and funding. For example, NDIS cleaning services can help disabled employees after an injury by providing support for tasks such as cleaning, home maintenance, and gardening.

Know Your Industry 

While accidents happen to even the most prepared of us, recognizing specific perils in your industry will help you to draft specific safety measures and practices. A white-collar office operation warrants much different safety measures than a warehouse operation or an oil refinery, yet the goal for a zero-accident workplace is the same. In some industries, highly detailed written plans are required by OSHA, while in others, they are not. 

Core Elements of Safety Plans

Safety plans are successfully used to promote employee safety, a safe workplace and help to produce favorable financial results. The following core elements should be of primary importance when implementing safety measures and practices within a safety plan.

Management Leadership

Safety is everybody’s job, but clear and continuous messaging that it is a top priority from all levels of management is critical. Leadership that consistently demonstrates, both in words and actions, that a safe workplace is a benefit for all is highly effective. Allocation of sufficient resources, creation of safety roles, tying safety to individual and group incentives are additional examples of actions that communicate the importance of safety in the workplace. 

Worker Engagement/Participation

Many times, the best safety ideas and insights come from front-line workers who perform the work daily. Involving workers and giving them a voice in the establishment of safety measures and practices, and setting up organized and multi-directional communication plans can produce great information as well as provide a vehicle for excellent feedback to employees. Encouraging and rewarding employees for furthering a culture of safety empowers each individual and reinforces that safety is important to everyone. An absolute critical element is to ensure that employees understand and trust that any retaliation for reporting injuries or safety concerns is not at all tolerated nor legal. 

Hazard Identification/Assessment

Methods to identify potential hazards and their severity can take many forms, such as verbal discussions, written surveys, reviews of accident/incident/investigation reports, and employee hotlines. Key elements include objective measures to identify workplace hazards and evaluate their risk. Routine follow-up and continuous assessment are integral. It is important to note that some workplace safety hazards can be quickly and easily remedied, while others may require more significant solutions. 

Hazard Prevention/Control

This is similar to the identification/assessment element but focused on the prevention/control of adverse outcomes. Key elements include the implementation and effectiveness tracking of engineered solutions, safe work practices, administrative controls, and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).  

Education and Training

Training employees in all aspects of safety is critical. Employees must understand how to report issues and that it comes without any negative connotation nor retribution to them. Unless an employee knows how to properly use work tools, follow safe work processes, correctly utilize their personal protective equipment (PPE), and follow safety procedures, the potential for catastrophe remains unfettered.  

Program Evaluation and Improvement

The key to this core element is the understanding that there is always a way to be better and safer. Continuous evaluation of measures and practices for the effectiveness and opportunities to improve the business’ safety plans yields the best long-term results. 

Health and Wellness Programs

Often overlooked, Health Benefits and Wellness Programs offered by the employer can be valuable tools in an overall safety plan. Many businesses now offer financial incentives for employees to become healthier and encourage them to take classes to reach those goals. Adding topics and fitness programs that can directly relate to safety measures benefits everyone. 

About the Author

Veronica Baxter is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant located near Philadelphia.  She frequently works with a number of legal clients in the employment, financial, and family law sectors. The daughter of military parents, Veronica lived all over the world as a child growing up and collected experiences and friends throughout her travels.