There’s a common misunderstanding that workplace safety and productivity are mutually incompatible. The belief is that for one to benefit, the other must suffer. This is far from reality. The truth is that safety and productivity are mutually beneficial. Productivity improves when safety is enhanced. One feeds the other in ways that have become obvious as the use of remote and telework has increased.
According to new research published in Occupational Health Science, employee health and workplace safety are vital, as both are key to achieving an organization’s targeted productivity and efficiency. Therefore, employers should consider safety and productivity as interdependent goals, rather than prioritizing safety over productivity.
How Workplace Safety Affects Productivity
Poor safety management can jeopardize not just the safety of team members but also operations and productivity. When the work or workplace is unsafe, it may indicate that employees are not well-managed. Plus, dissatisfied employees may be less motivated to perform better. Substantial fines can also be imposed if a lawsuit is filed, crippling – if not closing down – an organization.
When safety is prioritized and there is a well-being culture in the workplace, team members find it easier to focus on the quality of their job rather than the anxiety and stress that comes with potentially dangerous work settings. Physical and psychological workplace circumstances directly impact multiple company outcomes such as turnover, absenteeism, productivity, and healthcare expenditures.
Who is Covered Under Workplace Safety Regulations?
Most employees across the United States are protected by workplace safety and health regulations, but there are a few notable exceptions. While these rules are designed to safeguard the majority of the workforce—whether you’re clocking in at a busy tech company, working the floor at a manufacturing plant, or joining a startup, some industries and roles fall outside this umbrella.
For example:
- Miners are typically overseen by specialized mining safety rules rather than general workplace safety standards.
- Certain transportation workers (think airline pilots or railroad crews) follow regulations tailored to their specific industries.
- Government employees at the state and local level may or may not be covered, depending on local provisions.
- Self-employed individuals are not covered, as there’s no employer setting requirements.
For everyone else, workplace safety standards are meant to offer peace of mind—helping to set the stage for higher productivity and healthier, more satisfied teams.
Programs That Support Injured or Ill Workers
When it comes to supporting workers who have been injured on the job or have developed an occupational illness, there are several compensation programs in place designed to provide crucial assistance. These programs usually offer:
- Wage replacement benefits for time lost due to injury or illness
- Coverage for necessary medical treatment
- Access to vocational rehabilitation services to help employees return to suitable work
- Additional benefits for workers’ dependents in cases of severe injury or fatality
Most commonly, these benefits are offered through workers’ compensation programs, which exist in various forms across public and private sectors worldwide. In addition to governmental initiatives, organizations such as insurance companies and some industry groups provide similar protections to ensure both employees and their families are supported during recovery.
This safety net goes a long way toward reducing the stress and uncertainty that often follows workplace injuries, further reinforcing the link between a robust safety culture and ongoing organizational productivity.
4 Measures to Improve Workplace Safety
Now that you’re aware of the connection between safety and productivity, how do you put this information to work for your team and organization? Although every team and company is unique, certain fundamental measures may be followed in every sector.
While organizational transformation requires time and patience, the first step is to put in place some kind of structure that supports and encourages workplace safety. Working with safety professionals can help you do that. Here are some other measures you can take to improve workplace safety.
1. Safety Awareness & Training
Safety training, even if delivered online, stimulates and supports significant team involvement and connection. It enhances personal and professional dynamics on numerous levels. While a training session or workshop is not required for every new safety practice, it can help implement a new key practice or policy.
Use these chances to educate the team on critical safety precautions. If your work involves small areas or closed spaces, make sure your employees are well aware of the dust explosion pentagon.
The dust explosion pentagon is an extension of the fire triangle. The fire triangle is comprised of three components: fuel, oxygen, and an igniting source. A combustible dust explosion requires the presence of two additional elements: dispersion of dust particles in sufficient amount and concentration and confinement of the dust cloud. An explosion cannot occur if one of the five components listed above is absent.
2. Communication Devices
Countries across the world have gone a long way with regulations and legislation to safeguard employees over the centuries, including the establishment of OSHA in the United States and the development of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Today, multiple agencies and laws are dedicated to promoting workplace safety and health. For example, in the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees safety and health conditions in most private industries. This ensures that nearly every employee is covered by comprehensive safety standards. There are a few exceptions, like miners, certain transportation workers, and some public employees. Employers have a general responsibility to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. Employees must also be protected from retaliation when they report safety concerns.
In addition, there are specific regulations for unique environments. Mining and mineral processing operations are governed by strict standards to protect workers. This is regardless of the company’s size or mining method. Meanwhile, special rules exist to protect young workers. There are minimum age restrictions and limits on the types of jobs and hours they can work.
These evolving standards, alongside innovations like PPE, form the backbone of modern workplace safety. They empower organizations to better protect their teams and meet ever-changing safety needs.
From sophisticated location monitoring and fall detection to automatic check-ins and panic buttons, utilizing any current and widely used devices is critical for protecting your staff to the best of your organization’s abilities.
Although the expanding market and alternatives might be daunting, the good news is that there is a safety platform or software for nearly any sort of safety need and sector.
3. Physical and Psychological Well-Being
When it comes to workplace safety, the focus usually shifts to physical safety concerns and how to reduce them. However, because of the pandemic’s pervasive isolation and loneliness, safety managers are talking more about how to assist workers’ mental and emotional well-being.
It is important to note that mental well-being also affects physical safety, productivity, and job quality. Depression, loneliness, and other mental health disorders have become more prevalent in the last 18 months, but managers are not helpless.
A variety of resources may be made available to promote mental health and stress management in the workplace. When team members are concerned about the safety of themselves and their coworkers, their mental health improves.
An active safety department keeps workers engaged and informed of any possible dangers or concerns. Whether you’re reviewing employee data from a safety app, leading a lunch-and-learn session, or simply checking in on a coworker, these activities create possibilities for interaction. Reaching out to workers regularly improves connections. It can also lead to improved performance since employees feel valued, which can also aid in employee retention.
4. Culture of Safety
OSHA approved a regulation in 2016 that forbids companies from discouraging employees from reporting injuries and illnesses. It also requires businesses to advise their employees of their right to report such incidences. The good news is that employers today are more aware of the safety risks that their team faces. This is in part due to the increased vigilance against COVID-19.
Although each organization’s safety culture is unique, strong ones will create a work environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up about potential safety hazards without fear of repercussions. Employees should be encouraged to raise their safety concerns and even rewarded for doing so.
A strong culture of safety and well-being in a company can improve productivity and job quality. Balancing safety and productivity tends to increase both. Allowing either one to triumph over the other would harm these efforts and cause collateral damage in other areas of the company.
The Bottom Line
A safe work environment offers significant benefits, including greater work capacity, higher work quality, improved well-being, and preferred corporate culture. Workers will be more involved with their job and coworkers.
While it may not happen overnight, concentrating on the four areas discussed above, you can empower and engage employees to continually enhance workplace safety and productivity. Also, consider working with EHS professionals to boost workplace safety and comply with the industry’s safety standards.