Why Do We Need Health and Safety Laws

It`s for both. Yes, there are costs associated with occupational health professionals, and at a time when many small businesses in particular are struggling with cash flow, these can be seen as an unnecessary financial burden. But the reality is that workplace health can help companies cut costs and ensure their employees are happy and productive at a time when their efforts are so important to the company`s recovery. 2. Reduce stress at work: Most employees are not fit and healthy due to their busy schedule, which includes long hours, work pressure, and conflicts with co-workers or the head of the organization. And all this can lead to illness or depression in employees. This not only affects their professional life, but also creates nuisances in their personal lives. So, instead of waiting until you`re unfit, it`s better to take care of your health by taking regular breaks, sitting in proper posture with proper nutrition. It will be best for you to plan your work accordingly and manage things to reduce your stress at work.

Health and safety procedures should not be seen as a cost, but as an investment, as results are just as important as any other measurable business goal. If your company`s health and safety system is poor, you run the risk of violating HSWA legislation and experiencing more absenteeism due to employee illness. If your employees need help or further assessment after a workplace accident, injury or illness, occupational physicians are qualified to help you in such situations. Working closely with the human resources department, subcontracting to an organization specialized in occupational medicine, protects everyone. The right health and safety equipment can significantly reduce injuries and direct impacts. Equipment can range from protective devices and shields for hazardous equipment to personal protective equipment (PPE). Court decisions explain why we have health and safety legislation for workers. Employers can remain compliant by promoting these moral practices, which can lead to: If you want to train yourself or your employees in the fundamentals of health and safety, we have a range of courses for all levels of the company. Most employers would agree that avoiding accidents and possible worker death is a natural priority. Most security issues don`t stem from nefarious intentions, but arise when companies cut corners and don`t take the time to properly train their employees on safety protocols.

With over 15 years of experience owning small businesses, including a state agricultural agency in Southern California, Kimberlee understands the needs of business owners firsthand. When she`s not writing, Kimberlee enjoys waterfall hunting with her son in Hawaii. Under HSWA, you only need a written policy if you have five or more employees. However, it is a good practice to have one in writing, even if you do not employ many employees, as this will allow you to properly evaluate your business and take steps to control them. It includes a general statement about health and safety and how you plan to deal with it, it details who is responsible for health and safety in your organization, and it will cover the risks to your business and what you have done to mitigate or eliminate them. The policy should be reviewed annually or, if necessary, more frequently. The days of reporting events via paper forms and spreadsheets should long gone! For companies to have a consistent and well-communicated health and safety culture, a consistent, cloud-based live system is a modern must. All industries pose safety risks, but management should spend their time thinking about safety precautions and developing the necessary strategies in their organization to ensure their employees are safe enough all the time. In addition, management should confirm with all employees their daily work and comfort. So that management can take the same step according to the desired aspects of the employees. This helps them improve productivity and product quality and much more.

Today, health and safety procedures are important for the well-being of workers and employers, as the loss of life is immeasurable and unbearable. Such losses or injuries can mean great losses for families. Occupational health and safety is important to the health and well-being of all employees in all industries, as injury or loss of life is not acceptable in any business. And the last thing you want is to be the employer who loses an employee in an accident and then is charged with manslaughter. Running a plant can mean providing the right safety equipment and training to operate machinery, as well as procedures to control and monitor the use of hazardous substances used in your business. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the law that sets out the general principles of occupational health and safety. The statistics themselves are sobering, but perhaps it is the human stories that really illustrate the tragedy of health and safety issues. In the summer of 2015, some riders on the Smiler roller coaster at Alton Towers suffered serious injuries when they collided with other cars on the track. Not only was the impact on them severe and life-changing with multiple amputations, but HSE investigators found that the main cause was the lack of robust health and safety measures to prevent staff from making mistakes that led to the accident. As a result, parent company Merlin Entertainments was fined a record £5 million. Alton Towers then suffered a drop in transactions and profits, forcing the company to ask the government to review its £4 annual interest bill in subsequent years.

Employees have the legal right to expect a safe and healthy working environment. While it may seem like occupational health and safety is an obligation and a cost for contractors, it has benefits in terms of productivity and loyalty. Business owners need to understand that a safe workplace is a key part of developing a positive company culture. Health and safety comes from above. If you let things slide, so will your employees, so it`s important that you stay on top of security issues. Make sure your employees receive regular training and that you stay up to date with the latest news and changes in the law. If you take a proactive approach to health and safety, you will build a caring and conscientious employer relationship and your employees will follow. “While there are costs associated with investing in workplace health, these are often a fraction of what companies have to spend if employees` physical and mental problems are not controlled.

Monitoring and truly understanding absences has always been important, but probably never as important as it is today. Having the best health and safety practices is always morally right, but there are also very strong economic arguments for promoting them. A company that operates with a strong health and safety culture can: Employers must control workplace hazards and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimize them. This consistently means that IOSH is the world`s largest membership organization for health and safety professionals, with a network of over 47,000 health and safety professionals worldwide. Membership gives you access to this network, as well as a health, safety and employment helpline and many other benefits. To learn more, visit our Join page. A proactive approach to health and safety will strengthen your working relationship and workers will see you as a caring and reliable employer. Health and safety should be an integral part of businesses of all shapes and sizes. While it is imperative that the well-being of employees and everyone associated with the company is highly valued and protected for their own good, it also makes economic sense. Compliance with health and safety regulations reduces the risk of lawsuits, fines and reputational damage, improving the likelihood of positive business development. Health and safety software can help you take advantage of all these potential benefits.

This guide highlights the importance of occupational health and safety procedures.