Good safety practice

Good safety practice refers to the protocols a company must follow to ensure everyone in the workplace is safe. By law, companies are required to implement good safety practices in all areas of their operations. Companies that don’t comply with safety regulations put in place by the government and other regulatory bodies risk paying hefty fines and other penalties that may include terminating their operations license. 

The actual safety practices may vary depending on the products the company manufactures. For instance, the safety practices followed in the Oil and Gas sector may not be the same as those in the Food and beverage industry. However, the main goal of all these practices is to ensure all company stakeholders, including its workers and visitors, are safe whenever they are within the company premises. 

Why implement good safety practices?

• To build trust amongst employees and other company stakeholders. Workers will trust a company more if it puts in place a safe working environment for everyone. Companies that implement good safety practices can attract the best talent because of their good reputation in the industry. 
• It eliminates the risk of paying fines to regulatory bodies and the government resulting from not implementing good safety practices. The company will also avoid compensating employees who may get injuries resulting from working in unsafe environments. 
• It improves productivity in the workplace. Employees are ready to give a company their all if they are assured of a safe working environment. Ultimately this boosts their productivity. 

Implementing good safety practices in a manufacturing company 

Building a safety compliance culture

Companies need to build a culture that rewards safety. It is common for some workers to ignore complying with some safety rules because they want to meet a specific goal faster. However, a company should not reward workers who achieve goals while compromising safety. Adding Safety compliance as one of the KPIs can also encourage a safety culture. 

Training employees about the good safety practices 

When new workers are recruited into any company, they must be given all the necessary safety knowledge. All employees should also be periodically sensitized about safety. Special training should be offered to operators who deal with dangerous equipment and tools in manufacturing facilities.  

Using labels and signs

There should be labels and signs within the company premises reminding everyone to mind their safety. Special signs should be put on specific equipment and tools that require handling with caution. For instance, machines that get hot during operations should have signs that remind operators not to touch the hot regions when the machine is running. 

First aid response 

In the event that anyone gets injured within the company premises, there should be a precise mechanism of offering first aid to reduce the possibility of getting permanent injuries and, in some cases, death. Companies should have first aid kits with all the necessary drugs and tools for first aid treatment. Workers should also be trained to offer basic first aid if any of their colleagues get injured.