Encapsulating the Essence of Workplace Safety

Business strategy tends to change over time. Organizations are continuously working towards adopting new techniques to keep up with global change. Of these new approaches to improve business operations, organizational health and safety have gained momentum.

According to the International Labor Organization, 340 million occupational accidents occur yearly. US Bureau of Labour Statistics shows that the healthcare industry witnessed the highest number of non-fatal workplace injuries, followed by retail trade, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food services, and construction. As for fatal workplace injuries, the construction, transportation, and manufacturing industries continue to have the highest ones.

Therefore, it is imperative for organizations of the current age to shift focus on ensuring a safe workplace environment for their employees.

Organizational Health and Workplace Safety

Based on the widely accepted business practice of organizational health and safety, OSHArabia deals with the safety, health, welfare, and well-being of people when they are at work. Providing a safe working environment for staff is a legal responsibility and requires both the prevention and treatment of any health issues that staff may experience during or because of their work.

With that, here is a look at some of the ways organizational health and safety works to eliminate common issues that may arise in the workplace.

Reduced Workplace Accidents at Construction Sites

The construction industry comes with potential hazards, regardless of the type or location of construction under consideration. However, with the inclusion of modern technology, modes of training, and other resources, workplace injuries will decline.

• Always wear protective gear.
• Make sure to take breaks as it allows them the necessary recovery time after long hours of work.
• Universally understood clear-safety signs reduce the risk of accidents by up to 80%.
• Establishing an open environment ensures healthy communication.
• Perform regular safety checks to ensure there are no dangers or hazards like equipment or chemical exposure.

Moreover, the construction workers are required to bend over, lift heavy objects, perform repetitive movements, and work in awkward positions that cause overuse injuries. Maintaining the safety protocols of organizational health and safety encourages construction businesses to maintain ergonomics programs to reduce injuries like muscle strains, rotator cuff tears, and back problems.

Implementing safety protocols and providing necessary safety equipment can help prevent workplace accidents and injuries. This leads to fewer workers’ compensation claims, medical expenses, and potential legal costs related to accident investigations.

Slips and Falls in Manufacturing Industries

Despite the disparity in the number of workplace injuries, each manufacturing type’s experiences are substantially similar. Statistics show that 19% of all manufacturing injuries are a result of slip or fall. This is particularly the reason due to the wet floors, cords in the walkways, uneven staircases, or mere clumsiness. While many injuries may be a result of an employee’s negligence, a large proportion of injuries are still caused by malfunctioning equipment, misuse of machinery, or defective parts.

• Create situational awareness in the workplace
• Watch for signage that warns of increased hazards
• Be aware of conditions such as weather or time of day that might increase the risk of an accident
• Install proper lighting and take shorter and more cautious steps on slippery surfaces
• Slip-resistant shoes can reduce injury claims by 67% in environments with slippery floors
• Regular inspection plans to ensure your team is maintaining a safe work environment
• First aid training, so employees are prepared to respond safely should injuries occur

A safe work environment can improve employee satisfaction and morale, thereby reducing turnover rates. This also decreases recruitment and training costs associated with replacing employees who leave due to safety concerns.

Hospital Workers

The healthcare industry is projected to be the fastest-growing sector through 2024, with healthcare occupations expected to add more jobs than any other occupational group. However, these hardworking individuals face many hazards on the job that can put their well-being at risk.

Recognizing healthcare’s unique hazards is the first step to preventing on-the-job injuries. According to Occupational Health and Safety, healthcare workers are seven times more likely than others to develop injuries that affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, and blood vessels. Also, the nursing staff are prone to injury from transferring and repositioning patients and working in awkward positions.

• Identify the high-risk patient to initiate the relevant safety protocols.
• Make use of the lift and transfer equipment from one area to another
• Clean the floors and make use of ‘slipper floor’ signs when the passageways are being cleaned

Moreover, the healthcare industry’s unique factors make it more vulnerable to workplace violence. Its workers have a 20% higher chance of workplace violence than all other workers, and injuries related to violence are 4x more likely to cause workers to take time off than other types of injuries.

Occupational health and safety measures contribute to better employee health, leading to reduced healthcare costs for the company. Healthy employees are less likely to require medical attention and time off due to illnesses related to workplace conditions.

Strengthening the Tech Infrastructure

Accidents are a common occurrence in any workplace. Organizations are increasingly trying to ensure the safety of their employees by following the safety standards as set by occupational health and safety. With the inclusion of these standards, the occurrence of workplace injuries can be greatly reduced.

The overarching standards of organizational health and safety believe in implementing and integrating the safety and health plan to ensure that worksite hazards are recognized and controlled and that site-specific training needs are addressed. To meet this, organizations need to embed the components of the standards in the ERP system of the organization.

This engagement and involvement of workers will encourage them to identify and report hazards, be involved in the plan, and ensure that work only starts when the right safety and health controls are in place and to stop the work when those controls need to be adjusted, replaced, or improved.

Dynamics Solution and Technology | Meeting Safety Standards

It’s no secret that workplace accidents can be catastrophic, not only for the employees involved but also for the company. To create a safe and healthy work environment, mitigate risks, and protect workers, it is critical to establish a culture of safety in your company from the top down.

Dynamics Solution and Technology helps organizations meet safety standards by including it in their business infrastructure. Their ability to analyze your business needs and challenges, understand operations, drive growth, and conquer industry-specific challenges with the implementation of the D365 business suite is commendable. Whether you’re in the construction, manufacturing, or healthcare industry, our expertise allows us to transform your business operations with safety-first features.

Your journey to a safe workplace begins today!