The importance of corporate responsibility concerning workplace safety is too hard to ignore, especially with the amount of accidents occurring in offices. According to the governmental Health and Safety Executive, more than 1.8 million injury and illness cases were reported in Great Britain in 2021/2022.
Further data adds that 135 workers were killed in work-related accidents.
Although the outcomes and consequences of these accidents are relatively straightforward, finding who is responsible can be challenging.
In some instances, evidence of what or who is responsible is available. In others, incidents can be distinct, making disputes increasingly possible. Regardless, employers are responsible for providing a workplace without severe and recognised hazards.
This is where corporate responsibility comes into play. As an organisational leader, you must take concrete steps to ensure employees have a safe work environment and strive constantly to improve workplace safety and prevent workplace accidents.
Identify and eliminate potential hazards
There are several potential hazards in the workplace. Awareness of these hazards is vital for employers to find ways to ensure workplace safety. This means finding anything that could harm employees, such as dangerous chemicals, hazardous electrical equipment, and excessive noise.
Once you’ve identified these potential hazards, you must assess the risks of what could happen if someone encounters a hazard and how likely it is for hazardous situations to occur. While your main objective is to eliminate potential hazards, there are cases wherein eliminating them completely is not possible, in which case you must aim to mitigate risk as much as possible.
Establish a workplace health and safety program
Creating a comprehensive workplace health and safety program is another way for organisations to improve workplace safety. Through health and safety programs, organisational leaders can ensure workers are protected and minimise threats. While the type of program you need depends on the employees and the risks associated with their work, an effective workplace health and safety strategy promotes a positive health and safety culture.
Workplace health and safety program types include first aid, workplace orientation, and drug testing. Workplace drug testing kits from Matrix Diagnostics are an economical and fast option for companies that decide to conduct drug testing. Through drug testing kits, organisations can ensure the health and safety of all employees, improve staff motivation and morale, and ensure quality control without breaking the bank.
Comply with workplace safety laws
Stringent rules and regulations govern workplaces. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), employers are responsible for keeping the workplace free of known health and safety hazards.
Laws around workplace health and safety are constantly changing. You must know these changes so you can define safety policies and procedures. Several organisations have safety handbooks that employees can refer to when in doubt. However, such safety guides and materials are insufficient if they do not adhere to evolving OSHA regulations. By adhering to OSHA laws, organisations can reduce workers’ compensation expenses, improve workplace health and safety, enhance public image, and boost employee morale and productivity.
Achieving workplace safety through corporate responsibility
Workplace safety is no longer a buzzword in organisational circles. By shouldering corporate responsibility in workplace safety matters, leaders can address workplace risks, provide necessary employee training and education, and promote a positive safety culture.
