The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency that regulates the workplace and looks after the well-being of employees. As an employer, it’s important to comply with OSHA regulations and maintain a safe working environment. Here are some reasons why you need to keep your company compliant and some tips for keeping your workforce safe.
Violations Can Result in Penalties
If you’re caught violating a regulation, it can cost you financially. According to OSHA, “the maximum penalty they can assess, regardless of the circumstances, is $7,000 for each serious violation and $70,000 for a repeated or willful violation.” This isn’t chump change, and it can be a big financial blow if your workplace is found to be unsafe.
Poor Conditions Can Hurt Productivity
If employees in East Central Ohio are injured on the job, this can take them out of the equation, and they’ll be unable to work for a period of time. This is problematic because you will be forced to find replacements, and it can be disruptive to team chemistry. The end result is often lowered productivity, which translates into less profit.
An Unsafe Workplace Can Damage Your Reputation
When you don’t take measures to keep workers safe, it’s not going to do your company any favors. It’s easy to create a hailstorm of problems, and you’re inevitably going to receive bad press. Over time, this can damage your reputation and weaken your brand name.
How to Create a Safe Working Environment
For starters, it’s a good idea to provide your employees with some type of formal safety training. If you’re in the manufacturing industry, you might explain how to properly use and maintain assembly line machinery. You should also cover hazard prevention, fire safety, how to deal with dangerous chemicals and any other relevant topics.
Next, you should take measures to ensure that workers use proper safety equipment at all times. This could include wearing goggles, slip-resistant footwear, earplugs, safety gloves, etc. Many accidents can be avoided just by wearing the right gear, so this is extremely important, especially in manufacturing positions.
Offering your employees periodic breaks is also advantageous because it prevents burnout. This is helpful because it keeps workers more alert and reduces stress, which can minimize the odds of an accident occurring.
Finally, you may want to consider drug testing. Research has found that “40 percent of all industrial workplace fatalities are caused by substance abusers.” When employees are impaired in this way, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Accordingly, it’s a good idea to consider periodic drug testing to reduce the likelihood of employees coming to work impaired. Although you can’t eliminate the problem entirely, it should serve as an effective deterrent.
Key Takeaways
- OSHA has regulations in place to optimize workplace safety.
- Violating regulations can lead to penalties and other problems.
- It’s your responsibility to keep employees safe and prevent hazards.
Workplace safety should definitely be taken seriously. Fortunately, following the right guidelines should minimize dangers and protect your workers. If you need assistance with staffing and finding excellent employees, please learn more at Shannon Staffing Inc.
