Under the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are required to provide workers with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards that employers must meet to comply with the law.
More than 100 of OSHA’s current standards contain requirements for employee training. Industries like construction and manufacturing with higher than average safety risks and heavy-duty equipment require specific additional training.
Companies that fail to comply with the standards can be cited and fined by OSHA.
Those are already some pretty compelling reasons to invest in employee safety training—complying with the law and avoiding fines—but avoiding punitive action is never the best incentive.
Employers who do more than meet these standards reap some of the most beneficial (and financially rewarding) benefits of comprehensive training.
Here are 10 reasons to invest more than the required minimum in safety training:
- It’s a proactive approach. A comprehensive safety program with employee training that educates employees and empowers them to advocate for safer working conditions helps you identify and remedy workplace hazards before any accidents or injuries occur.
- It’s more efficient. Proactive safety training reduces workplace incidents and accidents, so it not only protects employees from injuries and illness, but also protects the company from the related lost time and diminished productivity.
- It helps control workers’ compensation costs. Fewer accidents and injuries result in paying fewer claims, but good safety ratings also mean lower premiums.
- It improves performance and productivity. Safety training builds confidence in workers’ abilities to work safely—naturally making employees more effective at performing their jobs.
- It streamlines processes and reduces hazards. Workers who receive the same standardized safety training will apply the same procedures to their work. Not only does this help control for hazards, but it also provides an environment to discover procedural efficiencies.
- It creates a positive work environment. Employee safety training in general has been shown to increase employee job satisfaction, motivation and morale.
- It lowers employee turnover and boosts recruitment. Employees who feel safe, happy, motivated and valued in their jobs don’t leave and, in fact, help encourage like-minded individuals to join them.
- It improves customer satisfaction. Customers can feel the impact of your employees’ working experience. When employees are performing at peak levels, it translates to higher service and professionalism, boosting client perception.
- It makes you an attractive business partner. Many businesses choose their vendor partners based on market reputation and, often, safety rating. Top companies want to work with other top companies who share their safety values.
- It keeps you competitive in the market. Staying current with the latest safety training, techniques and technologies is just one more way to ensure your company is poised to adapt to market changes and innovation.
Are You Up to Date with Safety Technology?
New safety apps and management software are introduced to the market regularly, and when they are coupled with comprehensive safety training, they can help you get the most out of your workplace safety program.
Check out our latest whitepaper Modern Workplace: Using Technology to Ensure OSHA Compliance and Manage Safety Programs to learn more.
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