US businesses need to "do significantly better" in supporting workplace safety, according to a recent survey from BSI Building a thriving workplace: The power of a leading well-being program.
“We've normalized a culture where working regularly on weekends is the only way to keep up, where “safety first” is promoted but supervisors look the other way when deadlines are at risk, and where showing signs of stress is viewed as a weakness,” said Xavier Alcaraz, global practice director for Health, Safety, and Well-being, BSI Americas Consulting.
“We've created “wellness” programs that only benefit a few, we’re offering an abundance of vacation time while maintaining strict deadlines, and we’re promoting work-life balance while expecting our workers to do more with less, Alcaraz added. "But here's the truth: it doesn't have to be this way. More importantly, it shouldn't be this way. The evidence is clear – organizations that genuinely prioritize their people through a culture of well-being don't just have healthier, safer employees; they also are more productive, innovate more creatively, and achieve greater long-term tenure and success.”
To help companies turn this around by prioritizing occupational health and safety, the report offers some practice steps: (excerpted below)
Safety culture: Foster an environment where safety is a systems-driven core value, encouraging reporting of potential hazards and near-misses without fear of reprisal. This contributes to both physical safety as well as psychological safety.
Industrial hygiene (IH) assessment strategy: Utilize a combination of qualitative and quantitative exposure assessments to evaluate IH risks in your company. This approach can decrease laboratory analytical costs, while increasing employee engagement and offering more pragmatic risk management strategies.
Create an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) program: Poor ventilation, unusual odors, water leaks, and mold can create unnecessary disruption and result in rampant rumors if not addressed proactively. Creating a program that includes an employee reporting channel and policy for promptly responding to IAQ issues will support business continuity while ensuring worker health
Participatory ergonomics: Consider implementing a participatory ergonomics program where employees and their supervisors work together to solve the company’s toughest ergonomic challenges.
In the report, a manufacturing worker noted his dissatisfaction with the current situation. “My shoulders ache from the repetitive motions, despite the ergonomic training we receive every quarter. What weighs on me most isn't the physical strain, though. It's the invisible pressure that comes with increasing production targets. Every year, the numbers climb higher while our team grows smaller. ‘Lean manufacturing,’ they call it. We call it exhaustion.”
General business strategies to improve safety in the workplace include:
- Recognize and reward safe work and reporting of near-misses or unsafe conditions.
- Adopt a management systems approach for health and safety that emphasizes continuous improvement.
- Align safety goals with business goals.
- Ergonomic interventions: Implement ergonomic solutions to reduce physical strain and prevent repetitive stress injuries. Industrial hygiene assessments: Regularly evaluate the workplace for potential health hazards, including chemical exposures, noise levels, and air quality.
- Safety training: Provide comprehensive safety training, including proper use of equipment, emergency procedures, and hazard recognition.
