Business Perspective:Safety of employees a responsibility to the company

What happens when an employee loses a finger or much worse their lives when on duty? It has become very common now to see buildings going higher and not seeing even one single worker in safety clothing like the helmet, overall and boots. And then the following day you hear of a story that one of the workers hurt himself and the employer is blaming him for being careless at work. Now between these two who is to blame when in this kind of a case scenario? First of all employees need to know that when undertaking certain duties they ought to ask for safety measures. Workplace safety is now one of the most funded areas of concern for companies. As an investment, this allows employees to feel secure in the work environment and for employers to avoid potential lawsuits and medical payments in the long run. This area of management focuses on ensuring the security and overall well-being of the workers. It creates a focus on including the engagement of all the employees, the management of the leadership, learning accountability, as well as safety programs. It also includes policies and plans, goals and objectives, safety tracking and inspection of hazards, the control of hazardous materials, education and awareness. While the larger responsibilities are important to note, some procedures, no matter how small, can mean life and death for the work environment. These include the maintenance of floor surfaces, stairways, electrical, heating and water supplies and hygiene, as well as the reporting in the case of defects. Equipment should be updated and reviewed on a regular basis to ensure quality and ease of use. Floor surfaces should be well maintained and clear of obstacles. Spillages on the floor should never be left alone, and stairways should be clear, with sturdy handrails. Slip-resistant mats, tapes, surfaces other simple housekeeping remedies on stairs and on the floor can be of use to prevent major accidents as well. Did you know that accidents and injuries are leading cause of deaths among workers? Are you aware of the importance of hazard assessment in keeping employees safe always? Regardless of how big or small the company is or what type of business your firm engages in, accidents occur everyday. With the stiff competition among companies, changing technologies, rising bottlenecks and changes in production pattern, it is inevitable that industrial accidents occur. Companies should remember that lack of safety guidelines and measures often results to accidents. Some companies fail to ponder that no matter how big or small these accidents are, it still affects their productivity and profits. It is therefore the responsibility of every employer to make sure that safety at work is observed at any given time. kayitesius@yahoo.com