Everyone deserves to come home from their job at the end of the day in one piece, but sometimes accidents happen and even the most diligent worker can find themselves injured or worse on the job.
There are many things you can do to prevent accidents from occurring, however, workplace health and safety training is one of them. In this article, we’ll go over seven reasons why workplace health and safety training matters and how it can keep your employees safe on the job.
It can save lives
Workplace accidents are a major cause of death in the United Kingdom, with more than 4,000 people dying every year from work-related injuries. And these numbers only reflect fatalities. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) estimates that nearly three million workers suffer from an occupational illness each year.
This is unacceptable. You can take steps to ensure that your employees are safe at work by providing health and safety training for all staff members so they are certified as IOSH Managing Safely people. There’s nothing worse than losing someone you care about. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make sure they get what they need.
It can prevent injuries
One of the most important elements of a workplace health and safety program is injury prevention. Preventing injuries can save your company money, decrease turnover, and improve morale. To ensure that injuries are not occurring in your workplace, you should make sure all employees receive training on how to prevent them.
There are many different types of injuries that can occur in a workplace – from minor cuts to amputations – so make sure your employees know what they need to do to avoid these hazards. And it’s not just about knowing what to do, but also knowing when something is wrong.
You should provide training for both workers and supervisors so that if someone notices an unsafe situation or hazard then it will be reported quickly. The more information you give people about potential accidents in their workplaces, the less likely they will occur.
It can improve morale
The workplace is where we spend most of our waking hours, so it’s important that the environment be safe. In fact, studies show that employees who are satisfied with their safety at work have higher levels of morale than those who don’t feel safe.
One study found that among employees without injuries in 2015, those who reported feeling unsafe were almost twice as likely to say they were not at all satisfied with their job than those who felt safe.
Another study showed that people who were injured or made ill at work had lower levels of life satisfaction, less emotional stability, and more emotional problems over time.
That’s because people often blame themselves for causing the injury or illness, while other people view them differently afterward. They might receive fewer invitations to social events outside of work. And they might even lose confidence in their abilities and find it harder to ask for help on the job. All this can lead to stress and depression, which makes people less productive when they do return to work after recovering from an injury or illness.
It can reduce stress
Workplace health and safety training can help reduce stress in the workplace. You will know what to do if a hazardous chemical spills or if there is an emergency situation. Plus, it will give you peace of mind knowing that you are doing your part to protect yourself, your colleagues, and your workplace.
It can lower insurance costs
It is important to implement a workplace health and safety training program because it can lower insurance costs. By implementing a program, you are signaling to your employees that they are more than just an expendable cog in the machine. When you take proactive measures such as this, it can go a long way towards lessening the impact of accidents or incidents on your business’s bottom line.
It can reduce liability risks
The goal of workplace health and safety training is to reduce the liability risks that come with accidents. It not only helps you know what your responsibilities are, but it also shows you how to avoid potential problems before they happen. Professional training should be carried out on a regular basis which can be provided by companies such as Howlett Health and Safety Services.
For example, workers may not know how to properly operate machinery or equipment. If they’re injured because of improper use, it can be considered a failure on the side of their employer to provide proper training. Employees who feel that you didn’t provide them with proper health and safety training may decide to file a lawsuit against your business.