No matter your industry, safety buy-in is essential. There’s no avoiding the importance of safety, even if you think your industry’s immune from harm.
Fully investing in your company’s safety is essential for all employees.
All In on Safety Buy-In
What is safety buy-in? It refers to employees accepting workplace safety values and rules as innately worthwhile. In practice, a workplace’s pertinent parties agree with a safety system’s objectives and goals.
The “buy-in” part means valuing safety ideas for what they are, distinct from the applicable rules and regulations. For employees who have bought into safety completely, safe behaviors are a part of their workplace ideology. Safety buy-in’s importance shows in its many benefits.
Employees who feel safe at work are more loyal to their employers. They work for them longer. Workers who have had accidents on the job or don’t feel safe are far more likely to look for a new job. That’s all because a safe workplace demonstrates that you care about your workers’ well-being.
Workplace safety is good for business. For every $1 a company invests in workplace safety, it reaps a $4 return on investment, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index.
Safer employees are more productive. They’re more productive than workers who have been injured in the past since they have developed fright and anxiety. In short, your employees won’t be distracted from their work by an unsafe workplace if it’s actually safe.
Safety First
Failing to invest in workplace safety may earn your company an unsafe reputation. Your recruitment efforts and branding will suffer as a result. Your competitors, customers, as well as the general public will see you as unprofessional.
A key early step in achieving safety buy-in is to define safety procedures and policies. These include safety communication plans in case of a crisis. While you’re at it, designate a health and safety representative in whom employees can discreetly confide. Get your employees involved by encouraging them to caution others when they’re operating at-risk.
Make it easy to access important information and documents. Employees should also be able to access personalized news feeds that have content related to their job roles and hazards. Workers and supervisors should always stay connected. Managers must be able to make designated safety communication channels. Employees have to be able to immediately inform their coworkers about potential workplace hazards.
Safety buy-in is paramount at all workplaces, including yours.
