Workplace Safety Culture

With positive news around several vaccines that protect against COVID-19 buzzing in the news, it’s likely virtual work won’t be as prominent by this time next year. And, as employees return back to work, they’re going to have something high on their mind — safety. Employees will expect a safety culture, one where safety is seen as a priority to both the leadership of a company and the workers within the company.

A safety culture, one led by a robust safety program, can help protect employees from accidents, but it also shows that you care about them and their well-being. And, while the health of employees is the top priority, a focus on safety can positively impact the business. According to the National Safety Council, the total cost of work injuries in 2018 was $170.8 billion. This figure includes wage and productivity losses of $52.4 billion, medical expenses of $35.0 billion, and administrative expenses of $57.6 billion. This total also includes employers’ uninsured costs of $12.8 billion, including the value of time lost by workers other than those with disabling injuries who are directly or indirectly involved in injuries, and the cost of time required to investigate injuries, write up injury reports, and so forth. Not focusing on safety could hurt your employees and your bottom line.

While you may think this doesn’t impact your quiet, corporate office, every business has some element of risk in the workplace, and it’s up to the company’s leadership to understand those unique hazards and reduce the risk of an accident. After all, your employees are your most valuable resource, and without them, you won't be able to maintain the workload that your team currently handles. You should make sure that they are able to stay at work and if an injury occurs, get them back to work quickly.

Here's three quick things you can do to create a safer environment:

Take a preventative approach: Many companies begin making safety changes to the structure of their organization after a worrisome injury or incident has occurred. To be a safety leader and show employees you care from the start, it’s better to take a proactive approach.

Establish a workplace-safety committee: The committee provides a forum for employees and management to work cooperatively to solve health and safety issues. An effective committee can help prevent injury and illnesses on the job; increase awareness of health and safety issues among workers, supervisors and managers; and develop a culture of safety to make the work environment safe and healthy.

Offer annual safety training: Make sure you’re taking an opportunity to educate employees on the importance of safety at least once a year. Walk them through the potential injuries that can occur and the danger of not following safety procedures. If they have a better understanding of why your office’s safety procedures are so important, they are more likely to follow them.

Beacon Mutual’s expert safety team can help you create a safety culture at work. Based upon an evaluation of your company’s loss experience and specific needs, Beacon’s safety consultants will outline the steps needed to establish an effective loss prevention program. Beacon’s goal is to help establish a realistic safety process that will prevent injuries and accidents, improve employees’ attitudes toward safety, and minimize claim costs.

Beacon’s certified ergonomists will also review your loss history, operations and processes, equipment and tools. They will determine the most cost effective and efficient delivery of services from detailed workstation analysis to employee training. Your training approach will be holistic and geared specifically to your workplace culture and processes.