Working to improve safety standards in the workplace can be quite overwhelming, it is best to be prepared to avoid some of the common mistakes in WHS management.
1. Absence of injury equates to presence of safety
This is something that many people overlook. Just because there hasn’t been an injury due to good luck, it does not mean that a safety mechanism is set in place. More so many employees might lie about injuries rather than breaking the company’s safe record. Safety is something we create and something we work towards, it is not there even if we get lucky once or twice.
2. Safety is just done for the government
Many companies when starting out will incorporate safety standards because they are in the law. So that they can get a free pass from the government. This makes these companies “reluctant compliers” but what they don’t understand is that safety is essential for employees and for the smooth running of company processes. Ensuring safety not only builds an excellent reputation but also allows the company to function smoothly and thrive financially.
3. Ignoring the practice of unsafe behavior
It is important to hold each other responsible and accountable for their unsafe behaviors. Safety should be a team sport where each individual takes it upon himself to ensure all employees carry out safe behaviors at all times. A collective effort can get the message across much better.
4. Simply applying rules on employees
Rather than passively applying rules, help them develop and become a part of making the system safer. Employee will be able to perform better and change their behaviors accordingly if they know what is important and why. There isn’t much use of handing down a golden rulebook if the employees can not relate to it in the first place.
5. Just incorporating safety activities and not checking the results
Results are a must. Simply by adding a few safety activities such investigations, hazard assessments, inspection and meetings will not do a lot for the company if they cannot represent an improvement in results. Do not simply become complacent by adding in a few activities, effectively test how they are benefitting your company and its safety situation.
These are some of the tips that you can work on to ensure that you environment is a safe and secure place for all. Safety is important and use these tips to get the best results.
At Recovery Partners we have a team of expert safety professionals, committed to helping organisations reach their highest WHS potential. We offer a wide range of services and training. Find out more.