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5 Tips for Improving Worker Safety

Work Safety

Worker safety is a top priority. If your business or facility isn’t safe, it can lead to trips, slips, falls, and accidents that are expensive. Not only will this cost you financially, but also hit worker morale, productivity, and even retention. In fact, according to OSHA, American employers pay nearly $1 billion each week for direct workers’ compensation costs.

The good news is that there are some simple ways for you to enhance your worker safety initiatives without breaking your budget. Here are a few tips to consider:

#1: Adopt safety as a core value.

When worker safety is discussed openly and often – rather than in a once-a-year training session – it becomes a part of your overall company culture. That’s a good thing. You want your employees to focus on safety, on the job, all the time.

So, whether it’s through monthly safety brown bag lunches, weekly email reminders, or posters and visuals throughout your operation, make safety a regular part of the conversation at work. At the same time, new hires should be brought into the fold with safety an integral part of the onboarding and training process.

#2: Lead by example.

You can’t expect your employees to follow safety best practices if company management doesn’t, or turns a blind eye to unsafe practices. Instead, it’s vital that those in higher-level positions lead by example. They should be following the same rules as the rest of the team, while also encouraging employees to work safely at all times. In addition, it’s important to discuss the bigger picture – why employee safety is critical and how safety practices can impact the team and the company at large.

#3: Give your people a voice in the process.

Those on the front lines each day are going to have an opinion on safety practices. Let them voice it. Encourage them to share their feedback and insight, make it simple for them to alert management about any new or potential hazards, and encourage them to discuss concerns or challenges they’re facing when it comes to safety on the job. The more of a voice they have, the more vested they will be in your safety processes.

#4: Offer rewards for positive results.

When you go for a long period of time without any accidents or any safety issues, reward your team. This further emphasizes how important safety is and also shows your appreciation for following safe practices. Additionally, it further motivates employees to continue to follow safety best practices. Whether it’s by offering everyone an extra day off or bringing in lunch one day, rewarding your people is an easy way to say “thanks,” boost morale and continue to maintain a safe environment.

#5: Hire safety-conscious employees.

From the start, you should be hiring those people who have a positive track record when it comes to safety. Questions about safety should also be a part of the interview and hiring process. You can, therefore, rest assured that those you hire believe safety is as important as you do.

Need help hiring the right-fit, safety-focused people for your team?

At PrideStaff, we’re a leading Phoenix staffing agency and the local choice among companies, large and small, to meet temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire staffing needs. Let us talk to you about your company and culture, then customize a staffing plan that’s right for you. Contact us today to get started.

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