Safety in the workplace should be the main priority of every business owner. However, other business concerns often take preference over the safety of staff, customers and other individuals who come into contact with your business. Overlooking this aspect of a business can have serious consequences if an incident occurs. Large numbers of preventable lawsuits are caused by simple oversights in the workplace. The following are some reasons why safety at work is vital:
Introducing Safety Procedures Helps Avoid Lawsuits
Thousands of genuine lawsuits are taken against businesses who fail in their duties to provide a safe work environment. Cuts, broken bones, head injuries, strains and a wide range of other injuries occur in businesses every day. This has serious consequences for those involved and affects the reputation of a business, especially if occurs frequently. Proper equipment and training such as confined space entry training must be available in order to improve the safety of your workplace.
Lawsuits are costly and also affect the financial health of your business. Legal expenses and increases in insurance premiums are just two of the ways a business is affected financially.
Reduces Fraudulent Claims
If staff members or customers realize you don’t have proper safety procedures in place, it leaves your business vulnerable to various types of fraudulent claims. These false claims can come from dishonest staff working in warehouses, stores, offices and other unsafe business buildings.
A large number of customers also target businesses who don’t take safety seriously. If a claim is made, it’s very difficult to defend your business, especially if you cut corners in relation to the safety of members of the general public.
Improves Morale and Productivity
Poor safety is a symptom of poor management. A happy workforce is a productive workforce. Unfortunately, many business owners and managers don’t realize this simple fact. If your business is a dangerous place to work in, you’re neglecting your workers and putting their wellbeing at risk. Staff members realize this and will be less loyal to you and your business.
However, if you put the appropriate safety procedures in place, most staff members will respond positively to these changes. Staff feel more appreciated. This results in a more content, more productive work force.
Staff are less likely to miss work too which increases productivity in the work place. For example, staff who get injured because of avoidable accidents have to be paid some kind of compensation and also have to be temporarily replaced until they’re able to return to their position. Low morale from this lack of safety in the work place also contributes to high incidences of absenteeism in these types of companies.
As you can see, encouraging a safer work environment has the potential to make your business a stronger, more efficient organization. Simple changes like adding downdraft tables, fume extractors, alarms, detectors and conducting electrical maintenance regularly will reduce the number lawsuits, fraudulent claims and other problems associated with poor safety standards. On the other hand making these changes can help you pass LOTO Audits and it can also increase staff morale and productivity as well as making the work environment a safer and more comfortable place to work.
