Page 40 - OHS, September 2021

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
The Value of Advancing Workplace
Safety and Health
Workplace safety and health is imperative to
building successful businesses, prosperous
communities and sustainable economies.
BY CARLY JOHNSTON
Providing a safe workplace should be an important goal for all employers. While this can entail significant investments, the value of advancing workplace safety and health is well worth it. A strong workplace culture
of safety and health can enhance product quality and business reputation. It can also help prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, fatalities and improve micro- and macro-economic indicators.
Safety and operational effectiveness do not have to be competing priorities. In fact, research indicates that establishing a safe and healthy work environment doesn’t preclude economic performance and other operational outcomes.
Advancing Workplace Safety
Can Help Promote Businesses and the World
Workplace safety and health is imperative to not only help protect workers, but also to help build successful businesses, prosperous communities and sustainable economies. There are demonstrable benefits to a workplace safety climate and culture not just for the individual worker and communities, but also for businesses and the economy indicating that a sustainable workforce can contribute to success for companies and their customers. This commitment to the investment in safety and health of the workforce has appreciable benefits for workers, communities, businesses and economies.
Advanced safety and health practices build stronger, more sustainable economies and support sustainable development. Promoting workers’ safety and health has many socioeconomic benefits, and positive safety culture is associated with organizational performance measures directly related to sustainable development.
Here are some actions that employers can take to help advance
organizational workplace safety and health:
■ Begin by assessing the safety and health climate and culture
at all levels of the organization.
Identify actionable areas to enhance the status quo.
■ Build a business case using data to demonstrate the return on investment in safety and health to influence support for
implementation of new program and policies.
■ Consider implementing International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) standards 45001 and 9001.
Defining Effective Workplace Safety
Let’s break down each of these actions that can help to advance organizational workplace safety and health a little bit more.
Safety Culture. It can help to conduct an audit of all current safety practices and see where there are opportunities for improvement. Is all the signage up to date? Are there gaps in training that need to be addressed? Is it time to update standards of procedures?
Risk and Hazard Assessments. When looking at the status quo, are all risk and hazard assessments current and do any changes need to be made based on the findings? Do employees have the proper PPE, know how to use it correctly and are there checks being conducted to make sure it is being used when it should be? Are there any other precautions that can be taken to create a safer environment?
Building a Business Case for Safety Improvement.
Sometimes new measures require investment, whether it be switchingtypesofPPE,implementinganewsafetysystemor overhauling current equipment. Whether you are looking to do one or all of these, documenting the potential outcomes and benefits is crucial to help effecting change.
36 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2021
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