Promoting a Culture of Safety in the Workplace

A safety mindset in the workplace is incredibly important, whether your employees work in office cubicles or construct skyscrapers. Nearly 13,000 US workers are injured everyday, according to the National Safety Council. As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes and staff return to work from remote jobs, they may be a little rusty on what constitutes proper workplace health and safety behavior. To prevent accidents, take steps to build (or rebuild) a culture of workplace safety.

What Are the Most Common Workplace Injuries?

According to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, the top ten workplace injuries are as follows:

• overexertion involving outside sources (lifting, pushing, pulling, etc.)
• falls on the same level
• falls to lower levels
• struck by object or equipment
• other exertions or bodily reactions
• roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle
• slipping or tripping without fall
• caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
• struck against object or equipment
• repetitive motions involving microtasks

Naturally, the risk of such injuries varies from worksite to worksite. An office worker is less likely to be struck by a motorized vehicle on the worksite than a member of a road crew. Each site has its own safety risks, and a large part of workplace health and safety lies in identifying and limiting these risks.

What is a Safety Mindset in the Workplace?

A safety mindset in the workplace describes a commitment, from staff and management, to put safety above all else. Some businesses worry that a focus on safety will affect productivity and profitability, and it’s true that bringing a business to a halt to address a serious safety issue affects both these factors. Neglecting safety until a serious accident occurs, however, is almost always more costly, damages productivity, and can lead to damaging lawsuits and OSHA fines. Equally importantly, employee morale is higher in workplaces where staff know the company puts their health and safety first.

Workplace Safety Tips

How do you encourage a culture of workplace health and safety among your employees? Proper training, a clear understanding of worksite risks, and open lines of communication are essential. Here are a few workplace safety tips to get you started:

Revisit Employee Training

Employees should receive appropriate safety training for their positions, and revisit training on a regular basis to refresh their understanding of health and safety protocols. Refresher training is especially important for employees who have been working remotely but are returning to on-site positions.

Consult an Occupational Health Clinician

Occupational clinicians are workplace health and safety professionals who visit workplaces and identify areas of high risk, providing advice on how to mitigate the risk of injuries.

Use Labels and Signs

OSHA requires the use of easily identifiable warning signs for a wide range of dangerous workplace conditions, from electrical hazards to wet floors. Periodically inspect all warning signs and labels and replace any which are becoming difficult to read, while making sure all signs are easy to view. While no substitution for proper training, warning signs and labels offer timely reminders about workplace hazards.

Reward Employees for Safe Behavior

Make a point of rewarding employees who demonstrate the right safety mindset in the workplace. Branded mugs, water bottles, and T-shirts are all ways to recognize safer behavior and keep employees engaged. Consider holding a company contest centered on workplace health and safety, with the prize of a high-quality piece of outerwear or some other high-value product.

Keep Workplaces Tidy

Messy workplaces offer all too many opportunities for unnecessary accidents. Clean up spills promptly, keep entryways and walkways free of snow and ice, stack boxes neatly, and keep clutter out of high traffic areas. A regular inspection to identify tangled or frayed electrical cords, debris, and disorganized tools can prevent accidents before they occur.

Regular Equipment Inspections

All workplace equipment should be cleaned, serviced, and inspected regularly for signs of wear and tear or potential safety hazards. Don’t limit yourself to large pieces of equipment either -- regularly inspect all tools and PPE for signs of damage, replacing them as needed. Make sure all emergency items, from eyewash stations and fire extinguishers to the first aid kit in the coffee break room, are in good working order.

Keep Lines of Communication Open

Your greatest asset when promoting a safety mindset in the workplace is your staff, who often see health and safety issues you may overlook. Staff should feel confident they can report safety issues without fear of reprisal, and indeed be rewarded for doing so. If employees are hesitant about approaching management with safety issues directly, appoint a safety captain from their ranks who will bring the information to management’s attention.

Remember to Consider Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Psychological safety in the workplace is often overlooked in favor of physical safety issues, but is equally important. Employees who feel psychologically safe have higher morale, are more productive, and less likely to make mistakes.

As people return from a year of lockdown and remote work, psychological safety in the workplace is more important than ever. Providing clear direction on mask policies in the workplace, establishing health checks before coming to work, and keeping the workplace well-stocked with masks and hand sanitizer will reduce the anxiety many staff feel about returning to the worksite after COVID-19.