Safety training - By Andre Souliere

If someone were to ask you why is a safety program at work important, how would respond?

Does your company have a new employee safety orientation that reviews written safety policies and safety training?  Does your company even have a comprehensive written safety program with formal training?

Why safety is important!

The benefits of maintaining a safe work environment are many, but first and foremost, safety is about what you can do to protect your workers. “It’s the right thing to do. Companies that employ workers have an interest in keeping the workplace safe. Job-related injuries are something that responsible employers avoid. They take the time and use company resources to make sure that the people who come to work each day are safe.  Employers should send their workers home in the same condition they came in.

When a workplace is safe, workers feel more comfortable and confident when they are in that environment. Productivity gets a boost, and profit margins follow suit. Absenteeism also drops when employers take steps to implement an effective safety program.

Investing in a good safety program brings with it other benefits too. When employees feel safe in the workplace and absenteeism rates are kept down, they can focus on serving the company's customers properly. Many companies offer products or services that are similar to those that other companies carry or provide. Customers will decide which companies they want to deal with based on which one they feel provides the best customer service. Increased absenteeism means longer wait times and customers are quite prepared to move on to another company they feel will be able to help them in a more timely manner if they are not getting the level of attention that they deserve.

Safety training saves more money, in the long run, than it costs.  Intangible savings are sometimes harder to calculate than those related to cutting manufacturing costs or increasing revenue with higher sales prices, but they ultimately translate into real money to the bottom line.  The first thing that happens when there is an injury on the job is a halt in productivity in the area where the accident occurred. The injured employee must endure pain, suffering, and sometimes death. When an injured victim is removed from the workplace, that position must be filled by a replacement person, often requiring additional training and closer supervision than the person replaced. Being safe in the first place can save a business stress and headaches. 

By Andre Souliere, president of Souliere Safety Resources LLC. To ask a question, email columnist@TheWindhamEagle.com.