Workplace Health And Safety Concerns Have A Significant Impact on Businesses

Nowadays, it’s rare to come across an entrepreneur to argue that health and safety management is not only necessary but also provides countless benefits to organisations. However, many people cannot stop but wonder what the relationship between workplace health and safety and productivity is. 

Unfortunately, the misconception that productivity is opposed to good health and safety methods still exists in some work settings. But EHS experts argue that workplace safety and productivity work well together, and business leaders should advocate for a philosophy that promotes the idea that organisations can survive and prosper only if they do it safely. Undeniably, some individuals would test a company’s resolve to safety, but if the leaders consistently promote the safe production philosophy, they can achieve a high level of excellence. A safe environment will eventually lead to high employee engagement, more effective leadership, increased productivity, and other similar benefits. 

Of course, the safety vs. productivity debate won’t go away, but more entrepreneurs must understand that health and safety protect the most critical asset of an organisation – its workforce. Accidents at work happen too often and impact the employees, employer, and economy, and some employers still need evidence to believe that workplace health and safety have a huge effect on overall business productivity

Let’s break down the issue. 

Workplace Health
Photo by Charles Forerunner on Unsplash

When a company experiences workplace accidents, it registers several costs that affect its productivity:

– Workers’ compensation payments. Workplace accident victims often hire no win no fee solicitors to help them get compensation for their injuries. When parties don’t settle, the workers can go to court and sue the employers, which can have daunting effects on a company’s performance, reputation, and revenue. 

– Medical expenses

– Litigation expenses

– Property losses

– Noncompliance fines

– Other costs. Poor health and safety in the workplace can trigger expenses such as damaged tools and equipment, project delays, loss of business deals, and loss of skilled staff. 

We previously established that workplace accidents don’t affect only the country’s economy and employer but also the worker. In fact, the injured party experiences the biggest impact as they must endure the loss of earnings, loss of working ability, discomfort, pain, disability, and sometimes even death. 

Workplace safety can help a business bottom line

Safe work settings minimise lost working hours

It doesn’t matter if the work environment is an industrial facility or office; reducing downtime is crucial in maintaining productivity. When it comes to offices, employers must provide a reliable IT infrastructure. But when discussing about factories, they need to ensure all machines work at peak efficiency and pose no dangers. All work environments rely on staff to maintain productivity, so productivity takes a hit when injuries happen. Even if safety and health programs require an initial investment, it positively influences employees’ health and the business’s bottom line. 

A workplace safety culture engages employees

A crucial factor in finding a balance between workplace safety and productivity is promoting a safety culture. Studies show that the companies that develop a safety culture can reduce factory costs and boost productivity because they focus on eliminating errors that could trigger job accidents and hazards. The businesses that implement extensive training and safe job procedures, audit safety processes, and improve pre-work preparation can reduce expenses and improve productivity in the long run. 

Safe workers are happier and more engaged in their tasks

safe work environment goes hand in hand with ideal operational conditions. When the staff is aware there are safeguards in place to protect them, they focus on completing work rather than on the hazards and dangers associated with their work. Companies need to keep their facilities clean and organised to reduce safety hazards and improve efficiency. Workplace safety can be productive in several ways. The workers who take personal accountability for their safety are happier with their jobs and more likely to stay engaged. Research shows that there’s a close connection between workplace health and safety and employee productivity and satisfaction. 

Workplace safety and productivity are the two sides of the same coin

Beyond the obvious benefits of creating a safe workplace, one perk businesses may not be immediately aware of is how a strong focus on safety and health can reshape the company for the better. When they embed these values into their operations and culture, they don’t have to employ staff to supervise safety concerns because the workers prioritise them. Experts state that the work environments when the staff is involved in making decisions about health and safety are more productive because the employees impact the effectiveness through their actions. 

The fact that a company takes care of its staff can be a selling point to talent and customers. Candidates will see the business’s ethical behaviour as a sign of interest in investing in employees. The clients and shareholders will also appreciate the social responsibility and find it easier to associate with the brand. 

However, it’s important to highlight that businesses cannot create a strong safety culture overnight and need to follow a series of steps to improve their safety and productivity. 

This may require them to:

– Invest in EHS

– Employ continuous learning programs

– Improve communication with employees

– Make use of technology

– Track progress regularly

The connection between workplace health and safety and productivity is complex but shouldn’t be ignored or neglected. 

Image source https://unsplash.com/photos/3fPXt37X6UQ

How do workplace accidents affect the economy, employers, and employees?

The way workplace illness and accidents affect an economy has been discussed in several studies. Some identified a clear connection between the two – countries like Denmark, Sweden, and the United States that have superior workplace health and safety perform better in the global economy, while countries like Brazil and Indonesia that lack a well-put-together workplace safety regulation act poorly. 

Why?

Reputable brands choose to expand their operations to low-risk regions. For example, an American company might be reluctant to start a factory in Indonesia for fear of health and safety not being thoroughly followed and therefore putting workers at risk. 

The most productive countries worldwide with the best health and safety records are:

– Luxembourg

– Norway

– Switzerland

– Denmark