The health and safety of employees is a major concern for all employers. Whether it is protecting against natural disasters, preventing harassment or ensuring that employees have access to adequate health care, all employers must provide their workers with a safe working environment. Protecting Workplace Employees’ Health and Safety.
Employees should be consulted about all issues that affect their safety and health. Consultation includes giving information and listening to the views of employees and their representatives. Protecting Workplace Employees’ Health and Safety.
Safety Representatives
Health and safety representatives can be appointed by trade unions, elected by the workforce or even designated by the employer. They must receive training, which usually lasts 3 days. They have the right to request that the employer conduct an investigation if they discover shortcomings in the workplace.
Safety reps enjoy legal protection from victimisation when they raise concerns and can ask the workplace to investigate a problem, for example by conducting a visual examination of work areas or interviewing people with relevant information. During the inspection, physical evidence must not be disturbed.
While this helps protect workers, having a health and safety rep is only one safeguard for employees. This can help them find solutions and prevent problems in the first place. They can also suggest new approaches to improve processes or controls, and learn from others’ experiences. This is especially important in the current climate of Covid-19.
Mobile Technology
Mobile technology is becoming a big part of the workplace. There are apps that can track occupational illnesses and even monitor brainwaves to detect if employees are falling asleep on the job, potentially saving lives.
Some even offer mPERS systems, which use GPS tracking to provide emergency services with the employee’s location (or last known location).
It’s important to note that this type of technology has its drawbacks as well. If possible, it’s best to put all mobile devices away until break time. That’s the only way to ensure that an employee will be able to focus their full attention on their work.
Blue-Collar Workers
Blue-collar workers perform many critical tasks that help keep organizations running smoothly. They operate machinery, assist with customer service, and provide other essential support functions that contribute to the bottom line.
Employers should encourage all employees, but especially blue-collar workers, to actively participate in workplace safety by logging any unsafe conditions they see.
Employees who feel safe at their jobs are more invested in their work and give it their best effort. The most productive employees leave a company that doesn’t care about their safety.
Unsafe Working Conditions
Some people may consider dangerous professions such as law enforcement, firefighters and medical professionals to be inherently hazardous. However, all workplaces should provide a safe environment for their employees to perform their jobs. If your employer fails to do so, you may file a complaint with OSHA. Under the whistleblower protection laws, your employer cannot retaliate against you for filing such a complaint needs read more hear.
