It is common knowledge that the most valuable asset of a business is its human resources. Whether or not you will meet your financial objectives depends mostly on your staff personnel and how much effort they are putting into their tasks at work.
As a manager or business owner, you should aim at ensuring comfortable and safe working conditions. In addition, it is important to make sure that your employees are well-versed and trained in good workplace safety practices. This is the key to maximizing employee safety and, therefore, productivity.
Aside from helping with legislative compliance and your business image, health and safety training will save you money in the long run. Yes, it requires some financial investment. But it will pay for itself in the years ahead by improving employee productivity and minimizing workplace illnesses and accidents that can be quite costly.
What about your staff personnel? Will they reap the benefits too? Keep reading to learn how your employees can benefit from workplace safety training.
Workplace Safety Training Can Reduce Workplace Illnesses
If your employees know how to safeguard themselves as well as their teammates in the workplace, this will reduce the chances of workplace illnesses from occurring. For example, having a team that is instructed on hygiene procedures can reduce the risk of food poisoning. This plays a big role in the food industry.
No matter what type of business you are running, providing your employees with high-quality and comprehensive workplace safety training is the key to success. The fewer workers taking time out from their tasks because of illnesses, the more time will be spent on making a profit. Ultimately, this can increase your business productivity.
It Will Minimize Accidents and Injuries
From minor injuries and illnesses to life-threatening and fatal accidents, incidents happen occasionally in just about every workplace. While safety training can’t eliminate those incidents altogether, it can considerably reduce their number.
Moreover, it can help your team members learn the skills needed to ensure that work equipment is used properly. This is of high importance given that many workplace accidents occur because of improper use of equipment.
A good safety training program will also make sure that your team is trained on the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). This may include protective clothing, goggles, helmets, and other equipment or garments designed to keep the workers safe from injuries. It is critical that your employees know when and how to wear them effectively.
If your business involves hazardous chemicals, it is imperative that your team members know how to manage, store and transport chemicals safely. If you run a construction company, safety training can reduce the number of forklift injuries or fatal scaffolding accidents. By undertaking and completing the necessary workplace safety courses, your workers will be less likely to injure themselves on the job site.
Safety Training Can Increase Employee Awareness
From finance to construction, each workplace features specific hazards regardless of the industry. Most people overlook or don’t regard those hazards as dangerous unless they’ve had safety training. For instance, storing and stacking heavy file boxes over a long period of time can result in back injuries. Electrical cords may represent a trip hazard that can cause serious accidents.
With that in mind, it is important to implement an employee training program that is designed specifically for your industry. Make sure it covers all the hazards specific to your workplace. This is a good way to educate your employees on different workplace hazards. Effective safety training will help them identify, manage, address, and avoid those hazards.
It Improves and Encourages Communication in The Workplace
Lack of workplace communication is one of the most significant barriers to safety at work. Many incidents happen in the workplace when workers don’t notify their colleagues or supervisor about hazards or issues.
By strengthening workplace relations and encouraging workplace communication, it gets staff personnel to act quickly and effectively. This leads to a happier and more efficient workplace overall.
Good WHS training involves informing employees of the communication protocol in the event of safety or health hazard. It should include a communication plan that clearly defines who needs to be contacted and how (by what means) if a hazard is identified.
Increased Employee Productivity
Monotonous tasks have a negative impact on employees’ engagement levels, especially if they do the same boring job day in day out. If the job requires that your employees sit for an extended period of time at their stations, it is a good idea to introduce a health training program. It will let employees take a walk from time to time during breaks.
Additionally, they will adopt good meal routines and exercise regimens as well. Such a therapeutic practice will eventually help them keep a positive mindset at work by switching off from work for some time.
Another sought-after skill your team should develop is dealing with pressure in the workplace. Pressure and stress don’t only affect concentration but also pose a risk to mental health. If you want your employees to be productive, it is necessary to take care of their mental health. WHS training should help them learn how to handle pressure and ward off stress at work.
It should be combined with psychological first aid course for best results. Aside from building resiliency, this can help employees learn to cope with stress, trauma, loss, and grief. Besides, effective workplace safety training will help you avoid productivity losses due to work-related illnesses and accidents, thereby saving your business a lot of money. This leads to increased productivity.
Final Thoughts
The importance of workplace safety training goes above and beyond just getting workers to adopt some practices. This is something that can benefit both businesses and employees. From improved productivity to better communication and injury reduction, the benefits of workplace safety training are numerous. That’s why it should not be neglected or undermined.
Thankfully, there are a variety of online safety training programs these days. From ground disturbance to chainsaw safety to hoisting and rigging practices, these programs cover a broad range of topics to meet different training needs. Take advantage of them to reap the benefits.
By investing in training resources you are investing in the career development of your employees. They will trust you more and appreciate your efforts. What’s more, high-performing workers are going to repay you through increased engagement. You will increase revenue whereas your employees will stay safe and feel valued. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!
