CULTIVATING SAFETY IN A CHALLENGING ECONOMY

workplace accident will hit home harder are likely Not because people are naturally averse to the word itself or the idea of being safe. I mean no one leaves home in the morning looking to kill or maim themselves or someone else by the day’s end. No, rather the opposite is the case, everyone desires nothing more than to return home safe and sound to their loved ones at the end of each day, whether from work, play or social engagements. Question then is why do we sometimes do things that endanger us and others around us? Things as mundane as not wearing seat belts, motorcycle crash helmets, driving within speed limits, using the mobile phone while driving, reading while descending or ascending the stairs and so on. Why? My guess is because safety is an intangible quantity, namely, we can’t touch it nor see it. We take it for granted until there is a change of state like when one is injured, something is broken or some emergency occurs resulting in some severe loss. Then safety becomes the focus of everyone’s attention for as long as the crisis lasts. The more the severity, pain or trauma, the more the appreciation of safety as a need but unfortunately, to many, this can be very temporary or fleeting. This is a major challenge that is difficult to shake. It is even more so when applied to the workplace because in the workplace, the notion is usually that safety is a management need and therefore nothing to do with us poor workers or employees. This here is one of the first of a series of major impediments to cultivating safety especially in a harsh economy but let us quickly take a look at why safety at work in the first place. Why Safety at Work? Safety at work comes into play for the following reasons: a. The law requires it of all employers because of labour laws, rules and regulations to ensure minimum standards and the protection of the nation’s productive workforce b. No employer wants to pay workmen’s compensation everyday and all year round or they’ll sooner be out of business and shut shop with all the ugly aftermath c. It is not good for the employer when it comes to insurance premiums which by law one must have as no reputable insuring house will want to touch your business without it and if they do, you’ll pay through your nose d. It is not healthy for the bottom line or return on investment to keep performing poorly in safety because investors, partners and other stakeholders will run for cover in saner turfs than be associated with a loser and bad news e. It is also not good for the enterprise because before long competitors, clients and other third parties will recognize you as an unsafe employer, and with that kind of reputation, your business or venture will die in no time and you’ll back where you started Given the foregoing, it should become clear to the employer big, medium or small that safety is a non-negotiable component of business which leaves little room to maneuver. That’s how it should be but the reality is quite a different picture because compliance is often a problem to most employers for a host of reasons, least of which is little or no enforcement or adequate regulation at work. Question is what happens outside the workplace? Who looks after safety and what are the standards and challenges? Who measures performance and who updates outdated information, work methods or procedures?