Benefits to business: Health and Safety Training in the Workplace

There are almost 3 million workplace injuries reported by the private industry in 2014 alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Furthermore, nearly 5,000 of workplace accidents ended fatally in the same year. These figures are alarming and should inspire employers both in the private and public sectors to take greater measures to ensure their workforce is safe and secure at all times. This is where health and safety training programs come in. Despite the benefits of these programs, many employers remain stubborn about implementing it in their respective workplaces.

In many countries, such as Australia, health and safety managers are revered as assets to any company. Their efforts help ensure smooth business flow and for that, they are compensated with a handsome salary, somewhere around AUD$230,000. Here are five reasons to convince you why health and safety training programs are worth the investment.

Worker Safety

Business owners and employers are driven by profits. But while chasing the paychecks and bonuses, remind yourself of your moral obligation to take care of the people you hire. They clock in anywhere between 8 to 12 hours of their time per day just to keep your business growing and churning profits. The least you can do for them is to make sure they are safe from injury and illness. You’ll be able to think and work better every day knowing that you’ve done everything you could to guarantee your workforce’s well-being.

Enhanced Productivity

Tardiness and absences in the office can zap productivity levels. Staff members who suffer from back, hand or leg problems may lack the confidence or awareness to tell someone about their suffering and instead keep it to themselves. This results in them working slower to manage the discomfort. Employees who are trained in proper health and safety practices will be in a position to reduce the risk of illness and ensuing absences. Knowledge of good working temperatures and work schedule shifting will allow your workplace to thrive and be more productive.

Improved Reputation

A staff member could get sick because of poor workplace conditions. He/she goes out with family members or friends and the word spill out that there is no heating/cooling in the office or that they are being forced to work an unfair number of hours. Then, their family spreads the information to their friends and neighbors, each time denting your company’s reputation bit by bit. If you train your staff in a health and safety program, you empower them with the knowledge and skills to make decisions that affect their well-being. You are also put in a better position to make positive changes to the workplace environment.

Lower Insurance Premiums

Having health and safety managers on board and providing regular training to your employees with regards to health and safety all culminate to lower monthly premiums on your business insurance plan. Ongoing training will also ensure that the premiums remain low since there are few to no claims made. Any business that employs more than five people is bound by law to exercise everything in their power to protect the health and well-being of their staff members. If you refuse to take heed and remain negligent, you can be held accountable for injuries and illnesses that transpire in the workplace. This ends up with you being fined and doing prison time, which is bad for your business’ solvency and your reputation as a business owner and CEO.

Lower Turnover Rate

It costs money to train new staff members thus it’s only pragmatic to try and keep your turnover numbers at a low. One way to do so is by showing your employees that you care for their well-being through health and safety training.

Health and safety are often forgone for maximum productivity and efficiency. In the end, however, the hands and brains behind every task and operation in your business lie within the very employees and staff members designated to perform them.

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