The best way for a company to embrace workplace safety is for everyone to be on the same page. Employees need to know how to work safely. Supervisors need to know what rules to enforce. Employers need to understand the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements behind every job. When everyone works together toward this goal, it is possible to reduce the odds of an injury on the job.
In some cases, companies accidentally create a negative safety culture. This can be done when too much emphasis is put on production. A worker who has to take risks to meet a quota or hit a deadline may feel pressured to take those risks if they think that the results are more important than their safety.
Often, employers do not even realize that this has happened. They simply stress production because it is important. The company needs to meet deadlines and quotas to be successful. It’s not wrong to think about this or to tell employees that it is crucial to hit these marks. That’s just part of a production-based economy.
However, employers do need to be wary of the risks that come along with this, and they need to stress that working safely is more important than getting done quickly. They should also try to set things up so that workers never have to choose. They can follow common safety advice and still get the job done on time.
Even with a good workplace culture, there is always the chance that an accident or injury will occur. If it does, it’s important for all involved to know exactly what steps to take.