Workplace safety is something that employers in the UK have a legal and moral duty to worry about. It can make a big difference to workplace productivity and morale and by extension to the bottom line of the business.
But building a safe workplace isn’t just a matter of putting together a list of rules. It’s about fomenting a culture wherein workers actively seek out hazards, identify them, and eliminate them.
Why is a safety culture important in the workplace?
There are several good reasons to promote a culture of safety.
To begin with, a safety culture will directly reduce the likelihood of your workers suffering injury and illness in the workplace. This will help to drive down absenteeism and presenteeism, and ultimately bolster your productivity.
As a further consequence, it will drive down staff turnover. Not only will workers stop leaving because of long-term injury and burnout, but they’ll also be encouraged to stay by the impression that their well-being is being taken seriously by their employer.
We should also mention the potential legal consequences of failing to protect workers. Accidents at work can often lead to legal action, which can hurt both the finances and reputation of the affected business.
How to create a safety culture in the workplace
Building a safety culture is not as difficult as it might seem. All that’s required are the right foundations. Let’s take a look at a few important pillars.
Communicate
Everyone in the business will need to be on the same page. That means holding regular meetings between managers and staff. These meetings will help you to devise and disseminate a safe way of doing things.
Commitment
You’ll need to pledge to take the problem seriously, and commit time and energy to tackling it. When this is visible, it will persuade everyone to take their own responsibilities seriously.
Lead by example
If leaders and those in management roles are not seen to be taking safety seriously, then the culture will not take hold of the entire business. When the managing director steps over a trailing cable without bothering to raise the issue, then you can be sure that more junior members of staff will be similarly blasé.
Provide training
Workers will often need training to recognise and deal with safety hazards. This should be provided with the help of regular sessions, wherein employees should be encouraged to talk about safety and to hold one another accountable.
Involve all employees
We’ve already mentioned the value of communication. But communication should be two-way, with employees encouraged to speak up. This will allow you access to new insights, and get everyone invested in their shared responsibility.