Keep Safe Stay Cool Complete Guide - Importance of safety at workplace | Page 5

Decrease Incidents
Safety procedures can help decrease the number of workplace incidents. Many companies
use an employee manual or guidebook to inform and educate employees on safety
procedures. Operational managers are also an important part of enforcing safety procedures.
Managers are responsible for reviewing employee actions and making sure company policies
provide a safe workplace. Decreasing the number of employee safety incidents can also help
companies save money on their insurance policies. Companies with several safety incidents
are usually considered high risk by insurance companies.
Maintain Certifications
Business owners may need to implement safety procedures to maintain third-party
certifications. Third-party certifications usually provide companies with a seal of approval for
their company’s operations. This approval can help companies save money on insurance
policies or improve their goodwill with consumers. Organizational certification is usually
specific to business industries. Small businesses operating in the energy industry may receive
a different certification from safety procedures than a company operating in the retail
business industry.
Legal Liability
Safety procedures can help companies reduce their legal liability. Legal liabilities often occur
when employees or customers are injured during the company’s regular course of business.
Injured employees may have less legal options than customers. Many employees sign
arbitration agreements that allow the company to limit their loss from safety procedure
incidents. Customers injured from lack of safety procedures can sue using a lawyer or petition
a watchdog group to audit the company. Small businesses usually have fewer resources for
protecting themselves against major legal liabilities. Safety procedures may help prevent this
type of exposure in the business environment.
Improve Operations
Companies can improve business operations through the use of safety procedures. Improving
operations may be an unintended benefit of safety procedures. Business owners and
managers that educate employees on how to best complete business functions may find new
ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the production process. Safety
procedures may also allow employees to work quicker and improve their production output.
This can also help drive down business costs by using less employees to maintain specific
levels of production output.
IV.
Tips for work safety
Employers are responsible for keeping the workplace safe. Under the Occupational Safety
and Health Act, employers must inform employees of safety standards, provide training,
eliminate or reduce hazards, and supply protective equipment. They must perform tests in
the workplace and maintain accurate records. Employees must take an active part in
keeping the workplace safe by complying with safety standards, rules and regulations.