What is employee safety? Why is it important? There is so much to this question than one can think. Workplace safety is of the utmost importance. All the organizations are expected to provide a safe and hazard-free work environment. When a work area or place is safe employees are more productive and satisfied. They are less likely to be absent at work. According to research by a national body, an employee is bound to get injured every 7 seconds that means 510 employees are injured in an hour and 12,600 in a day, 88500 in a week and a shocking 46,00,000 every year. So how can organizations prevent such mishaps and protect their employees?
Workplace safety is very important irrespective of the industry. It is the moral responsibility of the organizations to take care of their employees since when someone comes to work, they expect to go back home safe. This will help promote the wellness of the employees and the employer.
Employee injury can affect different aspects of an employee’s life. It will affect the families of the employees as well. Employee injuries or lack of safety can cost the following:
- Loss or damage to employee’s life
- It can cause a lot of pain and discomfort
- Financial loss
- Tension in relationships
- Loss of job or career
- Health-care costs above what is covered by insurance
- Employees may suffer from other medical problems
Safety and injury if properly taken care at the workplace, then it will not only be beneficial for the employees but it will reduce illness cost, reduce absenteeism at work, improve turnover, increase productivity and the quality of the products and most important improves employee confidence and employee morale.
For the organizations, injury to the employee can mean cost to the business that includes the following:
- Loss of production
- Increased employee compensation cost
- Damage to the machines and equipment
- Hiring new employees and training them
- Drop-in employee morale
So, what we understand here, is that safety is important for both employee and employer. The cost of injury prevention is much lesser than the cost of injury itself. A safe and hazard-free workplace fascinates and preserves the best quality employees. The employees and employers grow in a healthy and mutually beneficial environment. So have a safe and healthy workplace to have happy and satisfied employees that operate more efficiently and hence are more productive.
Support a culture of safety. There should be safety plans that are discussed with all the employees. Also, employees learn from examples. If they do not see you following good practices, they would think safety not being important.
Safety does not happen by accident it needs to be practiced every single day.
