In as much as the business gurus might have convinced us of the benefits of tackling our working life with a battlefield mindset, it still stands to reason that nobody would consider a cracked spine ‘all in a day’s work’, nor should they ever. Today’s litigious society has made the aftermath cost (medical bills, court fees, and general disruption) of preventable workplace accidents almost negligible when viewed in comparison with the cost of investing in preventative measures. Here are some tried and true suggestions you would always do well to implement.
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Knowing is half the battle
Workplace safety training and education should be a cornerstone of every organizational personnel doctrine. A well-formulated safety manual should read like a do-it-yourself guide; simple, straightforward, and explicitly clear, not leaving any room for personal interpretation. Training exercises should be undertaken regularly just to ensure everyone on the team understands and internalizes the instructions therein.
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No autopilot
In a good number of court disputes resulting from workplace incidences and accidents, the classic defense on the employer’s part has been to attribute the accident to the employee’s absent-mindedness, or general lack of awareness. As flimsy a defense as it may seem, being inherently difficult to prove one way or another, it raises a pertinent and valid aspect of workplace safety – the employee’s presence of mind.
Depending on the industry and workplace settings, various methods have been employed in efforts to aid employees in maintaining high levels of awareness and engagement as they go about their tasks; shorter but more frequent breaks; rotation of duties to forestall repetition-induced fatigue; standing workstations; background music and various other measures. The goal simply is to have workers’ minds constantly and consistently present and alert.
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Talk it out
A healthy communication culture is the hallmark of every successful organizational setup. Safety-wise, this comes into play in a big way. Whenever someone spots a colleague infringing upon one of the safety directives, it should be automatically communicated to them in a manner that would contribute to the overall safety of everyone involved, regardless of the respective positions of the parties involved.
A workplace safety culture should treat the entire organization as one body – injury to the most minor of functionaries will interfere with the operations of the entire body, and may be severe enough to destroy the entire organism.
Workplace safety is a perennially sore topic in the world of business. The demoralizing effects of injuries befalling colleagues in the workforce have long been acknowledged and this makes investments of time and resources in their prevention infinitely worthwhile. It’s just good business.
