One of the biggest challenges for safety professionals and supervisors is getting employees to “buy into” the value of workplace safety. That is why you need a comprehensive safety strategy. While it is quite easy to stand in front of a group of employees and tell them what is expected of them regarding safe work practices, it is far more difficult to get employees to adopt those practices. It is a rare occurrence that employees take the initiative with safety practices. Instead, most times getting employees actively involved in workplace safety takes a deliberate effort on the part of their employers.
Why get employees behind the company’s safety plan?
Organisations that have a strong safety culture often have a high level of employee involvement in the development and implementation of safe work practices. Therefore, it is important to get employees behind the company’s safety plan because:
- Employees are most directly affected by safety issues; they are the ones who encounter potential safety and health hazards on a daily basis
- They have a vested interest in effective protection programs; their innate sense of self-preservation should guide them to safer approaches to their tasks
- Group decisions have the advantage of the group’s wider range of experience
- Employees are more likely to support and use programs in which they have input
- Employees who are encouraged to offer their ideas and whose contributions are taken seriously are more satisfied and productive on the job
Some of The Benefits of Getting Management Behind Your Safety Strategy Plan
Addressing health and safety provides opportunities to improve business efficiency, as well as safeguard workers. Therefore, the benefits of getting employees and management behind your safety plan can include:
- Reduced costs and reduced risks
- Lower employee absence
- Lower turnover rates
- Fewer incidents, accidents, breakdowns and process failures
- Better business continuity
- Increased productivity
- Improved standing thereby a better reputation among suppliers, clients and other partners
