Don’t reduce safety to simple compliance
Health and safety presents multiple challenges to employers, but it’s not all bad. Safety legislation is well intentioned, even if it can be a little over bearing at times. It’s important to keep things in perspective. Too many accidents happen at work. Accidents that can cost lives. Employees must be protected in their place of work and allowed to work safely and comfortably.
Many organisations approach safety from a viewpoint of simple employer compliance. If x, y and z are ticked off then that’s that. However, this is an incredibly short sighted way to approach things. Good safety in the workplace can be a force for better, more efficient and more profitable working. To reduce it to a matter of simple compliance with regulations is a big mistake.
It’s easy to empathise with hard pressed businesses confronting challenge after challenge as they face tough conditions. Safety can seem like a distraction or a diversion of precious resources and cash that could be better invested elsewhere in the business.
However, it’s not quite that simple. Neglect safety and it’s importance to good business practice is quickly revealed. Comfortable, happy workers operating in a safe environment are more productive. They are less likely to be off sick with a health problem or be involved in an accident at work. Non compliance with the regulations or a law suit brought by a disgruntled employee involved in an accident can be costly. So don’t ignore safety issues and don’t reduce safety practice just to compliance.
Don’t reduce safety to simple compliance