Providing training to employees on Health and Safety matters in the workplace. Previously this was seen as time-consuming, costly and a disruption to operations and business activities. Among many other reasons why businesses did not see Health and Safety as important was because they perceived it as an investment without payback, but that assumption has been proven wrong. Unfortunately, year after year, employees from all various types of industries are injured through accidents that could so easily be avoided through a little basic training in health and safety matters.
The benefits of Health and Safety training in the workplace are numerous; they include providing benefits for the employer, but more importantly, benefits for the employee who is the person most at risk. Not forgetting the processes of protecting workers, surrounding communities and the environment for future generations have important common elements, such as pollution control and exposure reduction.
In spite of the size of the business or company, Health and Safety Training is necessary and here are a few reasons why you should invest in it if you haven’t already done so:
1. Every Workplace has an Element of Risk
Too many employees neglect health and Safety training based on the assumption that their line of work does not involve much of a risk. The truth is that ranging from handling heavy machinery in big manufacturing companies to manually handling packages and liquids; there are levels of exposure to risk and illness.
In most cases, small businesses pose greater hazards. What the fatality rate is in SME (Small to medium enterprises) manufactures for instance is twice of large ones. So basically, the presence of risk no matter how little the chance, is why your staff have a right to know how to protect themselves.
2. Increase staff productivity
Admittedly organising Health and Safety training for your staff is a notable investment, but assuming that it has no returns is false. Look at it this way, employees in many ways are like customers, treating them well results in them staying, treating them well also makes them feel valued thus treating your customers well in return.
The ripple effect translates throughout your business. Taking time to show your interest in their safety is one way to build a loyal staff, and a loyal staff always has positive impacts on productivity as a whole.
Plus, as an added benefit, healthy workers are more productive and therefore raise healthy families. Thus healthy workers are a key strategy.E.g. Goal for overcoming poverty
3. Complying with the Law
The health and Safety Act of South Africa stipulates that businesses should provide for the health and safety of persons at work. That is including the health and safety of persons in connection with the use of plant and machinery and the protection of persons at work against hazards to health and safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work. Businesses are to establish an advisory council for occupational health and safety and to provide for matters connected therewith.
4. You will be avoiding a Potential Compensation claim or Suit
Let’s assume that the chances of any of your employees getting injured in the line of duty or falling ill as a result of their duties in your business premises are 1%; you still need to take the training seriously.
It will only take one serious injury or complaint and often unforeseen ones to bring a compensation storm and suddenly that 1% doesn’t seem so small after all. If you think health and safety training is both expensive and inefficient; you don’t want to wait to see how much one workplace injury costs. The training equips your workers to work safely on your premises and empowers them to be outstandingly productive, that is great profit by itself. With the assistance of training facilities such as www.chamberlink.co.za you can put your staff through training without any hassle as outsourcing these services when you have a lack of resources to do your self can save you both time and money.
Safe workplace overall promotes sustainable development, which is key to poverty reduction. And lastly, occupational health is essential to the general public health. It is increasingly clear that major diseases (e.g. AIDS, heart disease) need proactive programmes as part of the disease control strategy.
For more info contact us:
Chamberlink
Tel: 010 040 7706
E-mail: marketing@chamberlink.co.za