A safe and healthy workplace is the key to a successful business. When workers feel safe, they can improve their productivity while working. Besides, the company won't need to worry about unexpected expenses due to work accidents. Applying Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practices in the workplace prevents these issues.
Occupational health and safety practices protect both companies and workers from all industries. For example, construction, factories, and even offices. It focuses on finding the potential risks and making emergency plans. Besides, it checks the safety measurements and provides training for workers. By following this practice, companies can reduce the risks in the workplace. In other words, workers can work more safely when they feel protected.
This article will discuss the key practices for maintaining the worker's health and safety in the office. We will also look at the importance of following safety rules in the workplace. By understanding these, companies can take steps to ensure workers feel safe and protected. Let's get started!
What is OHS in the workplace?
Occupational health and safety, or OHS, is the rule for maintaining the worker's safety, health, and well-being in the workplace. It consists of preventing and treating any health and safety problems that workers may have. However, providing a safe working environment is a legal duty for the company. In other words, it is important to protect workers with this regulation.
Implementing workplace occupational health and safety practices is important because it ensures workers are free from harm and danger. Data shows that 138 workers died due to fatal injuries at their workplace in the UK during 2023/24. In line with this, practising safety policies prevents workplace accidents and promotes safe working conditions for all employees.
The Key Principles of OHS
Applying OHS practices in the workplace is important to keep the workers healthy and safe. This rule helps identify and solve the problems regarding the worker's well-being. Besides, the company must ensure that workplace safety is always a priority. Even though the details of this rule may be different between jobs, there are some basic rules to follow.
When workplaces use these safety ideas, they can create an environment where everyone works together to stay safe. This practice protects the worker and helps things run smoothly in the workplace. By understanding this, companies can create a safe environment, and workers can feel safe.
Workers' rights
The protection of OHS is becoming an important right for workers. The right to safety and health at work states: "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work." Workers have a responsibility to ensure the protection of their rights. By this, workers need to take care of their safety, as well as anyone who might be affected.
To ensure workers' health and safety, they need to understand their job risks. First, the company should provide workers with information about potential dangers in the workplace. Then, the company must train workers and ensure they can do their jobs safely. Moreover, the company can collaborate with workers by implementing preventive programmes.
Employers' responsibilities
The company is responsible for making sure the working environment is safe and healthy. The risks and dangers can be anywhere, including the workplace. As a result, the company must protect workers to prevent work-related accidents. However, they have bigger responsibilities than just avoiding risks. For example, they need to understand the dangers in the workplace and how to handle them. Besides, they must be aware of OHS implications to make decisions.
The most important thing that the company must provide is safety training. Workers need to know how to protect themselves from dangers at work. Besides, the company must provide first-aid facilities for emergency purposes. In other words, this programme aims to create a safe and healthy working environment.
Governments' duties
Besides the company and workers, the government has the same responsibility regarding OHS practices. The government is responsible for creating health and safety rules for employers and employees. The rules can be in the form of laws, guidelines, or agreements. In line with this, the government must ensure that the relevant parties follow the rules.
The health and safety rules for the workplace must include the plans for setting up and expanding health services at work. In this way, a responsible authority is needed to monitor the workers' health and guide the company in the preventive programmes. In other words, the government must make sure the company follows the regulations and evaluates them to protect workers.
Challenges in Maintaining OHS Practises
OHS practices are companies' main components to keep workers safe and healthy. It helps create systems that protect workers from risks and damages while doing their jobs. When workplaces follow these rules, they're able to create a more productive working situation. In other words, these practices show the company's commitment to maintaining the workers' safety and health.
Even though maintaining safety is important, there are also challenges when implementing these rules. Many workplaces face problems that make it hard to follow safety rules. These problems come from different causes, so having smart solutions is important. By knowing the challenges, companies can protect the workers for a long time. Here are the challenges:
- Lack of awareness and training: The main challenges in maintaining OHS are lack of awareness and not enough training for workers. This problem usually happens in the larger work environment. Therefore, it is important to make sure the workers receive training on potential dangers and safety protocols.
- Compliance issues: Safety rules may change, and keeping with these changes can be difficult. Each industry has its standards, so keeping the rules consistent is hard.
- Hazard identification and risk assessment: Identifying potential dangers and risks needs a careful approach. However, the person who does this is not always available. This problem may slow the implementation of safety practices.
- Psychological health concern: Mental health issues are becoming as important as physical health problems. Symptoms like stress and burnout are becoming challenges in keeping the workplace safe and healthy. In other words, protecting both physical and mental state is a must.
Tips on Promote OHS Practises in the Workplace
A safe work environment reduces accidents and injuries, so it creates a more productive and enjoyable workplace. In line with this, promoting OHS practices in the workplace is important to keep workers safe and healthy. When the company follows this regulation, the employees feel more secure while doing their job.
To promote this safety standard, the company should make effective strategies. Besides this, the company must encourage the employees to communicate their concerns regarding their safety. This helps employees feel confident and involved in keeping the workplace safe and healthy. As a result, the workplace can become a place where everyone feels secure.
- Provide safety information: The company must provide workers with OHS information. The information can be videos, presentations, or even documents. This way, workers stay informed about what has happened and what still needs to be improved to create a safer workplace.
- Use signs and labels: Labels and signs guide employees on safety steps, point out dangers, or direct them to emergency exits or first-aid kits. Place them in visible spots, especially in busy areas or near equipment, to ensure everyone can easily read them.
- Check the equipment regularly: Regularly checking the equipment is important to keep the workplace safe. The company must ensure all tools and machines are working properly to avoid risks. If there are problems, the company must fix them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, keeping a safe and healthy workplace through OHS practises is very important for workers and the company. The company is responsible for protecting workers, and workers must be aware of their safety as well. Although there are challenges, promoting these practices helps create a safe workplace. By doing this, the company can reduce dangers and create a secure working environment for employees.
To learn more about safety practise in the workplace, the College of Contract Management offers a thorough education on this. Focusing on subjects like Engineering and Construction, it offers advanced diplomas and CPD programmes to help professionals enhance their skills. By enrolling, you gain the right way to ensure the well-being of employees and the success of your projects. Take the next step towards a safer workplace, and enrol in CCM today!
