Workplace safety concerns
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that in 2021 there were 4,472 unnecessary workplace deaths, an increase of 9%. By addressing safety risks at work, employers in the manufacturing, construction, aviation, and distribution & logistics industries might potentially avoid major casualties. Not only is it the duty of companies to ensure workplace safety, but it’s also a means of improving corporate culture.
Why is safety at work important?
Employers gain from maintaining a safe workplace in a number of ways, but team members’ health and safety are given top priority.
Any health and safety programme should have the primary objective of preventing workplace injuries. There are other advantages to creating or enhancing a safety programme, though. Employers who concentrate on addressing workplace safety issues to build a safer workplace frequently see benefits in morale, retention, and productivity, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The American Society of Safety Professionals states that companies can foster an employee-friendly culture by emphasising the value of safety and providing the necessary training.
Which occupational safety concerns are most prevalent?
These are a few of the most typical occupational safety risks, according to OSHA:
1. Fall defence
2. Other Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT) and Forklifts
3. Notification of Hazards
4. Protection of the Respiratory System
5. Guarding MachinesWhy do employees not report safety issues?
Saylor claims that one of the worst problems in the workplace is the failure to report safety concerns, such as the ones mentioned above. Both full-time and temporary employees are affected by this reluctance to speak out about workplace safety issues, although Saylor points out that temporary employees may feel more at danger when they bring up safety concerns.
This reluctance is also present in full-time employees who could fear termination for raising a safety concern. As to the NCS, employees can think that the procedure for reporting issues is excessively intricate or they would prefer not to be labelled as “complainers.”
How to properly handle issues related to workplace safety
Resolving safety issues at work shouldn’t require a lot of labour. Here are some pointers on how to bring up a safety issue at work in a professional manner.
1. Report any issues right away to the safety team, human resources, and/or a supervisor.
2. Contract or temporary employees might also notify their staffing agency or recruiter about the problem.
3. Bring a grievance against OSHA
4. If there is a language issue, call 800-321-OSHA to speak with OSHA.
5. Remain composed and refrain from making threats when speaking with management. You should be able to report safety concerns at work via a number of different resources. The procedure of reporting a safety concern at work shouldn’t be difficult or frightening. You can properly communicate your concerns when workplace safety hazards develop by being composed and knowing who to contact.