Importance of health and safety training.

 

Introduction.

  Health and safety training is critical to the success of any company. A company that takes this training seriously will be prepared in the event of an emergency and have a better chance of preventing injury. It is important that everyone working in the organization has proper training so that they can be sure that they are doing everything they can to protect their employees (Siqueira CE, Marquardt WG,1995).  This includes not only employees but also supervisors and managers.

       A workplace safety program is designed to educate employees about safe practices in the workplace. It aims to prevent accidents and mishaps in the course of their duties that may adversely affect their productivity and threaten their lives. The program includes specific guidelines or instructions on identifying, reporting, and managing workplace hazards. It also includes keeping records for audit trails. Through such a training program we can;

·         Alert/sensitize your workers about danger in time.

·         Educate the employees on how to handle unsafe and life-threatening situations.

·         Report the incident immediately to supervisors and other employees so they can take corrective action and prevent a recurrence.

Workplace safety training instills critical skills and enables employees to acquire safety knowledge, which helps identify and eliminate workplace hazards.

Safety training is important to employees because it prevents accidents and injuries in the workplace it creates a safe workplace for employees to work in, thereby increasing the safety and productivity of the organization.

Workplace safety training is very important for the following industries:

·         Construction

·         production

·         health care

·         Food / Hotel / Retail

Source: What Is Workplace Safety Training blog (2023).

The above industries require regular safety and compliance training to prevent workplace injuries and ensure that all employees perform tasks safely and effectively.

Safety Training Effectiveness.

Why is health and safety training important?

The continued existence of preventable, life-threatening hazards at work is not good for the organization. Occupational health and safety must ensure that those who go to work every day come home safe and sound. By providing the right information and training to employees, their awareness of the hazards and risks associated with the work environment will increase. It will inform them of the relevant safety procedures in place and control measures to be followed (Raja U,2022). Let's see why organizations should provide safety training to their employees.

·         Increased employees’ awareness:

For example, workers in the hospital industry may be exposed to risks such as slips and falls, chemicals and drugs, infected needles, burns, cuts, and back injuries. Similarly, common hazards at construction sites include equipment malfunctions, hand shocks, electrical hazards, slips and falls, and more.

Without proper training, these risks are often overlooked and sometimes not considered dangerous. Employee training programs will educate employees on how to identify, address, and prevent workplace hazards. It will increase their awareness of the dangers they may be exposed to.

·         Improving productivity:

Effective training programs reduce the number of workplace accidents and injuries. This means less sickness or absenteeism, which will inherently increase productivity in the workplace. Furthermore, when employees are given knowledge of safety procedures, they can perform their duties without interruption. Conversely, productivity levels will decrease when workers who are uncertain about hazards and ways to eliminate them are affected by unsafe working conditions.

·         Reduces injuries and accidents:

One of the main reasons safety training is important is that it helps educate employees about workplace hazards and injuries, which reduces the number of workplace accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

Employees who learn about safety procedures and practices are better prepared to avoid risks and hazards in the workplace. As a result, road accidents and workplace accidents are reduced.

      Workplace safety training is important for preventing workplace injuries, increasing employee awareness, and building a safe and strong safety culture. Before creating your program, identify workplace hazards, develop learning objectives, and create engaging content for learners. Test the employees' knowledge and collect actionable feedback from them to improve the course quality.

·         Strong safety culture:

A safety culture connects everyone across all departments. Well-learned and trained employees know how to respond to emergencies. Employees act responsibly to ensure a safe work environment for everyone. A safety culture can result in a happier workforce in the organization, typically leading to high productivity, and low absenteeism, more business stability.

Source: What Is Workplace Safety Training blog (2023).

Benefits of health and safety training.

Assure that your employees will not get sick or injured in the workplace.

·         Gain an understanding of how health and safety can be better managed.

·         Develop a positive health & safety culture.

·         Meet your legal duty to protect the health & safety of your employees.

·         Increase employees’ productivity.

 

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Personal reflection.

   Health and safety training in the workplace is a fundamental element of organizational success. A healthy and safe work environment promotes staff morale, increases efficiency and productivity, reduces staff turnover, and prevents the cost implications of workplace injuries and illnesses. Furthermore, training reduces injuries and illnesses, enhances the creation of a positive culture, and assists in meeting legal mandates to protect employees. Training employees on how to protect their health in accordance with safety regulations is required in all workplaces to prevent injuries and accidents with serious implications. Moreover, employers may be liable for injuries that occur in their establishments if health and safety training is not conducted. High compensation packages and fines for violating health and safety standards can affect an organization's profitability and image. Both employees and employers benefit from participating in training programs aimed at creating a healthy and safe work environment.

 

References

Siqueira CE, Marquardt WG (1995). Twelve Years to a Safer Workplace. New Solutions, A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Polic.

Raja U,(2022). The Importance Of Health And Safety Training, A blog of Occupational Health.Available at https://www.hseblog.com/the-importance-of-health-and-safety-training/

Becker P, Morawetz J (2004). Impacts of Health and Safety Education: Comparison of Worker Activities before and after Training. American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Silverstein M(2008).Getting Home Safe and Sound: Occupational Safety and Health Administration at 38. American Journal of Public Health. Pp 98(3):416–423

What Is Workplace Safety Training blog (2023), What Is Workplace Safety Training: Importance and Benefits, A blog of What Is Workplace Safety Training. Available at https://www.proprofstraining.com/blog/what-is-workplace-safety-training/