Written by Tim Hassall, Head of Risk & Compliance at Green Cross Global.
As individuals, we spend a significant amount of time at our workplace. Whether you work in an office or on a construction site, ensuring that your workplace is safe and secure should be a top priority for both employers and employees.
With World Day for Safety and Health at Work upon us, it’s the perfect time to acknowledge the importance of workplace safety and its impact on our lives. From preventing injuries to creating a positive working environment, there are countless reasons why prioritising safety measures in the workplace should be non-negotiable.
So let’s dive into why this day is so important and explore ways we can all contribute towards making our workplaces safer than ever before!
Introduction
On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting workers around the globe. Workplace safety is a fundamental human right and ensuring that all workers have a safe and healthy work environment is essential to achieving sustainable development.
We must do more to prevent tragic losses and ensure that all workers can return home safely to their families at the end of each day.
This World Safety & Health at Work Day, let’s pledge to do better for workers everywhere by improving workplace safety and health standards. Together, we can make a difference.
The Evolution of Workplace Safety
The evolution of workplace safety has been a long and winding road, with many advances and setbacks along the way. Early workers had few protections against the hazards they faced on the job, and as industry progressed, so did the dangers workers were exposed to. Major advances in workplace safety came about as a result of legislation and unionisation, which gave workers a stronger voice in fighting for better conditions.
Today, workplace safety is still a vitally important issue. Two years of a global pandemic resulted in changes to how we work including Hybrid or working from home and there are now significant concerns about financial costs skyrocketing which may result in cost cutting which in turn may impact the safety of the workplace.
It’s understandably a challenging time for business however It is up to everyone – employers, employees, and government – to continue working towards a safer workplace for all. You must speak up if your safety is at risk and no Health and safety controls should be cut due to any financial situation.
Benefits of a Safe Workplace
A safe workplace is important for many reasons. It can help reduce accidents and injuries, improve morale, and increase productivity. A safe workplace also shows employees that their employer cares about their safety and well-being.
Reducing accidents and injuries is important because they can lead to lost time at work, higher insurance premiums, and workers’ compensation claims. By having a safe workplace, employers can help prevent these costly consequences.
Improving morale is another benefit of a safe workplace. When employees feel like their employer cares about their safety, they are more likely to be satisfied with their job and less likely to leave the company. This can lead to increased loyalty and productivity from employees.
Increasing productivity is another benefit of a safe workplace. When employees feel safe at work, they are able to focus on their tasks and be more productive. This can lead to increased profits for the company as well as a better work-life balance for employees.
Strategies to Improve Safety in the Workplace
There are a number of strategies that businesses can implement to improve safety in the workplace. These include:
- Providing adequate training to all employees on health and safety procedures.
- Conducting regular risk assessments and implementing controls to mitigate identified risks.
- Maintaining a clean and well-organised workplace.
- Enforcing strict compliance with safety rules and regulations.
- Investing in modern safety equipment and technologies.
- Promoting a culture of safety within the organisation.
What is World Day for Safety and Health at Work?
The day also serves as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety and health, and the need to continue to improve working conditions around the world.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), an estimated 2.78 million people die each year as a result of work-related accidents or diseases, with many more suffering from work-related injuries or illnesses. The ILO estimates that there are some 317 million non-fatal occupational accidents each year.
While the vast majority of these accidents and illnesses are preventable, they continue to occur due to unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. In too many cases, workers are exposed to hazardous materials, work in difficult or dangerous environments, or are not given proper training on how to safely do their jobs.
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work provides an opportunity for everyone – employers, workers, governments, and others – to recommit themselves to improving workplace safety and health.
International Workers’ Memorial Day: Impact and Significance
International Workers’ Memorial Day is an annual event that takes place on April 28th. It is a day to remember those who have died or been injured while working, and to renew our commitment to ensuring workplace safety.
The day has been observed since 1989, when the International Labour Organization (ILO) designated it as an international day of action for workers’ health and safety. Every year, on this day, trade unions, workers’ organisations, and others around the world hold events to honour those who have lost their lives at work, and to call for improved workplace safety standards.
In recent years, the focus of International Workers’ Memorial Day has been on the theme of “preventing occupational cancers”. This is a particularly important issue, as exposure to carcinogens in the workplace is estimated to cause around one-third of all cancer deaths worldwide. By raising awareness of this issue and calling for better protection against exposure to carcinogens, we can help save lives.
So why not take some time on International Workers’ Memorial Day to think about workplace safety, and what you can do to make your workplace safer? It could be something as simple as ensuring that there are proper ventilation and dust control measures in place if you work in a dusty environment, or making sure that you wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) if you work with hazardous materials. Whatever it is, taking action on workplace safety is something we can all do to make a difference.
Conclusion
On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, and International Workers Memorial day we recognize the importance of workplace safety. This day serves as a reminder that all employers need to prioritise the safety of their employees in order to create healthy work environments. It’s essential that companies ensure proper training, provide clear guidelines on how to conduct themselves safely in the office, and offer support for those who experience accidents or illnesses due to hazardous working conditions. By creating awareness about workplace safety issues, we can make sure everyone goes home safe each night!
