Among the many responsibilities that employers face, ensuring the health and safety of workers is one of the most important.
Despite this, statistics released by Health and Safety Executive show that more than 500,000 workers sustained injuries at work during 2021-22.
As an employer, you need to tackle this responsibility as proactively as possible.
With this in mind, we’ve written this short guide to explain what you need to know about worker health and safety.
Why is it important?
It’s commonly said that in business, the customer is number one. Yet without your employees, you wouldn’t be able to deliver your products or services to your customers in the first place.
Legal compliance
Worker health and safety is protected by law – it isn’t just a nice to have. Poor health and safety practices don’t just put your employees at risk, but also your very business itself.
Productivity
If you want your business to operate effectively, you need to promote a culture of safety and protection throughout every level of your organization. Without the proper systems in place, your team won’t feel the levels of protection, security, and organization conducive to their success.
How to protect your workers
Provide training
Health and safety training is a crucial part of onboarding for every employee. Each worker needs to understand how to perform their role without putting themselves or others at risk.
But adequate training isn’t only required when a new employee joins your staff. It should be regularly revisited and updated in accordance with new laws and regulations throughout their employment with you.
Supply PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the name for various garments and accessories that protect the wearer from various hazardous conditions. It’s important your employees are properly equipped for the conditions they face and as a precaution against any accidents.
Whether it’s ear protectors for noise limiting, masks to reduce dust inhalation, or heated hoodies that keep your workers warm in cold weather, giving your staff the right protective equipment is one of the best ways you can keep them safe from on-the-job harm.
Ensure security
The threats your workers encounter in the workplace are many and varied. They aren’t just vulnerable to hazardous conditions and accidents. There are also malicious external threats that they need to contend with.
As their employer, you need to ensure that their workplace is secured from both physical and digital threats. This could involve installing CCTV cameras and alarms, setting up IT protection for sensitive data, and much more.
What do you most need to implement to improve the health and safety of your workers?
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