Accidents at Work: Psychological Causes and Solutions – Health & Safety Training Courses
Health & Safety Training Courses | Despite the campaigns on workplace safety and awareness, workplace accidents continue to occur on a daily basis. But if your employees know the risks and safety requirements, what more can you do as an employer to prevent such incidents?
Although most workplace incidents are relatively innocuous, serious workplace accidents still occur (too often). These are most often fractures – for example, following a fall – that are unacceptable in any circumstance.
Apart from physical preventive measures, such as safety barriers etc., it is the attitude of employees in relation to safety that is a major factor in restricting accidents in the workplace. Your influence at this level as an employer is greater than you might think.
Employees getting used to risks – then pushing the limits
Every job carries risks. The danger arises, however, when employees become accustomed to certain risks related to their work. After a while, they are so familiar with a (dangerous) situation that they no longer spot potential issues and are less vigilant.
Although most of the time employees know the risks, the habit is that they push their limits. And sooner or later, an incident occurs.
Pressure at work increases risk
The organization and its economic objectives are another reason why workers push their limits. At the same time, employees want to do their job. The resulting pressure at work may encourage some employees to take risks. They go, for example, as quickly as possible in their work, without having made the necessary preparations.
Safety First
As an employer, you have an incentive to invest in working methods that combine your company’s goals with optimal safety in the workplace. It goes without saying that achieving the objectives can not be at the expense of safety and well-being.
So be very clear in your communication with employees and collaborators. Sufficiently stress to team members that when things are running smoothly, to take a step back, evaluate the situation, identify the risks, and most importantly to know when tasks must be adjourned. In doing so, you will focus on the underlying causes of workplace accidents.
Changing Behaviour
In order to address the root problem and develop an effective safety policy, it is also important to change behaviour. To this end, it is necessary to alternate between different methods; such as, for example, the promotion of a security champion, open communication between employees and management, the necessary means of accessing safety provisions and adequate explanations in regards to workplace practices.
Follow these steps and your employees will immediately be less inclined to ignore safety rules, even if they are accustomed to risk or under pressure at work. You will make it clear that safety is paramount and that your employees will be more likely to identify dangerous situations. Better yet, you will allow your employees to participate in the reflection on the improvement of safety at work.
Health & Safety Training Courses – Yore Learning
Our Design Team can develop bespoke Health & Safety Training Courses and e-learning modules, tailored to your exact requirements. As a result, we can help you transfer existing ‘offline’ training content into online learning. Giving your staff access to the skills they need quickly and easily.
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