Undoubtedly, many employers are aware that the management of health and safety is their legal responsibility, involving the use of risk assessment and ensuring employee welfare is an integral aspect of workplace policy.
To successfully implement a strategy or programme will require a proactive approach from employers.
Businesses with five or more employees are obligated to create a written health and safety policy which contains the following:
• A statement which details how safety will be managed
• Information that details who has what responsibilities, and how employees fit within the management system
• Appropriate arrangements detailing specific management of activities, duties and functions including first aid, fire safety, risk assessments, equipment use, manual handling among others
It’s one thing to set up a structural strategy, but if it’s not shared, understood or taken seriously, what is the point?
Frequent logging and registration of accident or injury is highly recommended. Such documentation encourages analytical thinking, allowing contributors to compare and evaluate type and frequency of accidents against previous years.
Though simplistic in theory, signs and visual aids go a long way. Whether they advise on workplace policy, or provide clear instruction on using equipment correctly, posters give an immersive quality to health and safety.
Listening to employees and encouraging their input directly is often overlooked when in fact, their role is the biggest contributor to a company. Team-building days and activities offer an active discussion around health and safety between all workers, regardless of hierarchy.
A healthy dialogue between employers and their employees is essential to creating a culture which exhibits and promotes health and safety.
Such action will take a company from accident-prone, to an accident-free zone.
