Ways That Employees Can Contribute More to Workplace Safety

If there’s one philosophy that every company should preach about workplace health and safety it’s that it is truly a team effort. Businesses may set the rules and assume all legal responsibility, but it’s employees who have to follow procedures and keep everyone safe while working on the front lines.

For workers, it’s important to recognize what are your responsibilities as an employee in regards to health and safety. With that in mind, aside from being a stickler for following the rules, let’s take a closer look at some of the ways that employees can contribute to creating a safe and healthy workplace.

If You See Something, Say Something 

The best thing that employees can do to create a safe workplace is to always speak up. Ideally, there is a system in place for workers to communicate with supervisors when they have a concern, question, or suggestion related to workplace safety. But even if there isn’t, employees should still feel like it is their duty to say something if they spot something unsafe happening. Even if they just remind their co-workers about safety protocol that’s being forgotten, saying something to help protect yourself and others can lead to a safer work environment.

Lead by Example

Employees should always remember that they don’t have to be in a position of leadership to act like a leader. Anybody who cares about workplace safety should always try to lead by example. This means always wearing safety equipment and following safety protocols. If you do things the right way, who’s to say that others won’t follow your lead?

Look Out for One Another

Employees should never forget that everyone is in it together when it comes to workplace health and safety. A workplace is only as safe as its most unsafe employee. One person’s unsafe behavior can end up having an impact on other people, putting them at risk as well. This is why it’s important for employees to keep an eye on one another to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to safety. Don’t be afraid to talk to co-workers about what they can do to make themselves and everyone else safer.

Always Wear Proper Safety Equipment

This might sound simple, but always wearing proper safety equipment is essential to maintaining a safe work environment. Employees are sometimes tempted to cut corners or not follow every protocol. But this can be a slippery slope for workers in any industry. If employees make it a point to always wear the right equipment, they will always be protected as much as possible.

Understand Your Rights as Employees

It’s critical that employees always recognize the legal rights they have as employees. This is how they’re able to hold their employees accountable. Keep in mind that employers are legally responsible for workplace safety. But workers still have to exercise their rights and make sure that their employer is living up to their end of the bargain. That means always following up with employers to make sure they are doing everything possible to maintain a safe workplace. Whether that’s providing equipment, providing training, or mitigating hazards in any other way, employees have the right to hold companies accountable for doing all of this. If an employer isn’t doing this, employees should always remember that they have a right to file a complaint with a regulatory agency and force their employer to comply.

Encourage Employer to Use Safety Software

Last but not least, employees should always encourage their employer to use EHS software. Systems like the one offered by EHS Insight are created to help manage workplace safety, reduce the frequency of accidents, and keep employees safe. If a company isn’t using this type of software, they aren’t doing everything possible to create a safe workplace.

If your company is interested in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, let us know and we can talk about how our software can make that a reality.