The role of an employer entails several obligations, including ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for its employees. Poor working conditions inevitably impact the social, psychological, and physical well-being of workers. An accident can happen in a split second. Protect your employees and also your business!
Why do you need workplace safety training in your company?
When talking about workplace safety, we are not just talking about accidents. Both the physical and psychological health of employees must be taken into account. Providing a healthy and safe environment for employees helps to optimize the outcomes expected by the company. Work-related accidents or illnesses can affect both the employer and the employees. Here are some consequences of failing to meet safety obligations:
Direct impacts:
For the employee:
- Medical treatment costs;
- Loss of income;
- Possibility of job loss.
For the employer:
- Covering medical expenses and risk allowances;
- Payment for unperformed work;
- In the event of an accident, the obligation to repair or replace damaged equipment;
- Reduced productivity and work quality.
Indirect impacts:
- The need to fill a temporarily or permanently vacant position, implying the initiation of a recruitment process. The new employee may take time to achieve the productivity of their predecessor. Additional training may be needed for the position;
- Psychological impact on other employees: accidents and illnesses concern employees. Non-standard conditions can negatively affect the employer-employee relationship;
- If hygiene and safety conditions are subpar, it can tarnish the company's reputation;
- In the event of an accident, a mandatory investigation will be opened, necessitating the drafting of reports and meeting various formalities.
Regardless of the incident's cause and its repercussions, they will be severe for both employees and the employer. Adhering to safety standards and maintaining a healthy work environment can help prevent the worst. Organizing safety days for employees at reasonable intervals throughout the year can ensure a peaceful work environment.
Steps for an Effective Workplace Safety Training Program
Information and training on safety is a responsibility shared by the company and its employees. Upon recruitment, the employer is obliged to inform the employee about safety measures to ensure their own safety and that of their colleagues. Safety training and information days must be organized by the employer so that all staff members are informed about emergency procedures.
Ways to communicate safety measures within your company
The classic methods of communicating safety measures are posters on walls. Over time, people stop noticing or reading them. They should be included in the company rules, which every employee should read upon hiring. While these postings remain useful, they need to be supplemented by organized informational sessions for all staff about health and safety risks. When communicating, the company should not appear paranoid but rather informative and positive: working in a safe and healthy environment is beneficial for everyone, yet vigilance is essential.
Employers should cover several points in their information:
- Specify where to find this written information;
- Explain the role of occupational health services;
- Clarify the role of employee representatives in risk prevention;
- Detail fire safety instructions and procedures to follow in case of incidents;
- Identify those responsible for using fire-fighting and rescue equipment;
- Emphasize the need to call firefighters at the onset of a fire;
- Inform the employee about their right to refuse a task they deem dangerous and how to get assistance;
- Mention the option to pursue HSE (Hygiene, Safety, Environment) training remotely;
- Inform that safety training days are organized throughout the year.
Steps to train your employees in safety
After providing information, companies must organize safety days throughout the year to ensure all staff know how to act in case of an accident or incident. Training goals include:
- Precautions to ensure one's safety and that of others in the company premises (employees, visitors, interns, etc.);
- Preventive measures to observe in the company;
- Proper actions to take in case of an accident;
- Safety signage within the company, which is also shared during employer information sessions.
To properly organize training days, several steps are advised:
- Identify target personnel: veterans, newcomers, employees returning after at least a 21-day break, interns, temporary staff, external consultants and providers;
- Set dates based on personnel and training objectives:
- Fire safety training: prevention, site and personnel security in case of fire onset;
- Training for security personnel and designated individuals to act in case of incidents, accidents, or disasters;
- Training for all employees: emergency alert simulations, evacuation, use of extinguishers.
The Importance of Digitizing Workplace Safety Training
Digital transformation is becoming increasingly crucial. Remote work has become the norm recently for health reasons. This shift has significant repercussions for companies:
- They must invest in digital tools and train personnel in their use;
- Adaptation to new online marketing and sales technologies is required;
- Collaboration platforms foster closer relationships between employees, partners, and clients;
- Project management becomes more collaborative.
Employees who undergo training have the opportunity to assume more responsibilities. Among the primary benefits of remote HSE training are:
- Flexible training schedules, allowing employees to balance their professional obligations and training;
- The chance to tackle cases through virtual reality, avoiding dangerous situations. The employee applies theory in a virtual world, facing real work accidents, industrial risks, etc.;
- A decrease in the number of accidents at the workplace: the worker learns to identify risks and threats of accidents and take the necessary precautions;
- A broader range of employment opportunities: specifying on a resume that one has undergone HSE training enables the employee to aspire to other sectors like environmental protection in companies, infrastructure security, workplace health and safety, employee well-being, etc.
IMMERSIVE FACTORY - Your Partner in Workplace Safety
Neglecting safety obligations can have severe repercussions for a company. IMMERSIVE FACTORY offers assistance in securing your premises and training your teams with cutting-edge technology. They will gain real-world experiences through virtual reality.