Why Employers Should Prioritize Worker Health And Safety At The Workplace

Why Employers Should Prioritize Worker Health And Safety At The Workplace

Why Employers Should Prioritize Worker Health And Safety At The Workplace

Every seven seconds, an employee is injured while on the job: that’s the equivalent of 540 work injuries per hour. Injuries at the workplace are worrying because they lead to reduced productivity and output, poor physical and mental wellbeing, and rising medical costs. Therefore, it is critical that companies should focus on workplace health and safety to protect workers, enhance productivity, promote morale, and decrease absenteeism and turnover. A safe and healthy environment at the work site is good for business, and is the right thing to do for the welfare of employees.

Workers Evaluate Employers For Safety, Health And Security

The ongoing pandemic has taught everyone a lesson – it pays to stay clean and behave cautiously. In this regard, potential job seekers will also look at the policy of the company in protecting its workers. For example, the office can quickly become a hotspot for germs if it is not cleaned properly because there are many places – such as faucet handles, vending machines, handrails and desks – that harbor bacteria that can spread easily and make employees sick. Without the proper cleaning protocols, the average workplace can quickly become a source of contagious bacteria and infections.

Companies that put the safety and wellbeing of their employees first are likely to attract and retain talent. A prospective employee will prefer to work in a place where management cares about the welfare of its employees by instituting health and safety programs. Many organizations already use technology to keep workers safe. To illustrate, big companies like Nokia use an automated temperature detector in elevators to ensure worker safety, while PwC employs a computerized contact tracing tool to notify employees who were in contact with colleagues who tested positive for the coronavirus. Beyond the virus, it can even be used to inform workers if an employee has caught an infectious disease.

Workers Are A Company’s Greatest Asset

Regardless of the size and the type of industries, workers are valuable assets in the functioning and performance of a business or company. Injuries and accidents that occur on-site have detrimental effects on the overall output of a company because of frequent or prolonged absences. In addition, medical costs will rise associated with treatments and therapies for accidents and injuries. Increased costs are also associated with higher insurance premiums that will affect the finances of a company. Plus, you will have to hire temporary staff to fill the gaps left by an injured employee.

Lower morale is also bound to affect workers who are sick or injured. In addition, if the illness is a contagious one, other members of staff will feel scared, and this will, in turn, drive overall company morale down. When the cause of an injury or accident is due to poor safety practices or malfunctioning equipment, uncertainty is going to be prevalent, and this will affect worker productivity and wellbeing. However, when an organization puts worker safety and health high on its agenda, it is going to improve the efficiency of the business. Staff relations and morale are developed to give the company a better public image. An effective occupational health and safety program also boosts corporate and social responsibility.

Worker health and safety is a vital component of a company’s mission. A well-managed occupational health and safety program can lower injuries and accidents, improve company morale, reduce medical and insurance costs, and increase productivity.