A productive work environment is one that is safe. Procedures for workplace safety are required for all employees, regardless of the size or type of business.
Employees, as well as equipment and business property, are protected by safety measures. Avoiding or minimising injuries and damage to equipment and facilities will result in lower costs and higher profits for a company.
In addition to the top trends in workplace safety, it’s essential to be aware of other health and wellness aspects that can impact employees both at work and in their personal lives. For example, maintaining good hearing health is crucial for effective communication and overall well-being. To learn more about a supplement that supports hearing health, click here and explore useful information on this topic.
Read on to find out more about the latest trends in workplace safety!
1. Safety training
Safety training teaches an employee how to keep themselves and others safe on the job.
The goal of safety training is to help employees identify hazards in the workplace, understand the risks that these hazards pose, and learn how to reduce or eliminate these risks. This will help them work safely and stay physically healthy.
Safety training involves:
- familiarising employees with their work environment
- teaching employees how to use equipment and machinery properly
- familiarising them with potential hazards and risks in their work environment
- training them to avoid such hazards and risks.
A lot of companies and businesses conduct safety training as part of their employee program to make sure workplace safety is a top priority. You may read more about safety training in the workplace here.
2. Audiometric testing
Hazardous noise may impair hearing and make it difficult for workers to hear the sounds required for safe working, such as instructions or warning signals.
As an employer, it is our responsibility to make sure we address workplace safety, which includes managing noise levels at work. Managing noise-related risks may help with:
- preventing hearing loss and disabling tinnitus in workers (ringing in the ears or head)
- improving communication conditions and hearing warning sounds
- making the workplace less stressful and more productive.
Many companies hire third party organisations like service providers to conduct audiometric testing for their employees.
The provider may help identify the noise hazards, inspect the workplace, and provide recommendations. You may view the acceptable sound exposure levels on the website of Safe Work Australia.
3. Installation of machine guards
A machine guard is a safety device that protects people from hazards created by the operation of power-driven machinery.
A machinery is a device that is driven by sources of power, such as electricity, to perform tasks.
Machineries may cause hazards if they are not well designed or maintained. In this case, machine guards could be one of the solutions to minimise those risks.
There are different types of machines and each one has its specific needs for protection. For example, there are ventilation guards used in woodworking shops or a combination guard used in factories.
Wrap up
Workplace safety is a set of policies, practices, and procedures that companies use to protect their employees from hazards. It is very important because it influences worker productivity and the health and safety of employees.
Some essential aspects of workplace safety are making sure that equipment is well-maintained, providing adequate safety training, proper work environment, providing machine guards, and audiometric testing among other things.
