Safety is Not a Priority!
It seems one of the most overused politically correct terms for businesses is that safety is a top priority. Well, let’s burst that bubble- safety is a value, not a priority.
Wait, what?
Don’t shake your head in disbelief just yet.
Is safety at the top of a workplace or company’s agenda? On paper it might very well be, but how much of that can be chalked down for compliance sake?
After years of most companies instilling that “safety is a top priority” how could we get away with saying that it most certainly is not? Understanding the difference between safety as a value and safety as a priority builds a workplace safety culture that actively helps with compliance.
Still doubtful? Let us change your minds.
More often than not, the company does not consider safety in its decisions. Safety is generally only a topic down on the ground level of production or labor.
We aren’t judging, it is a simple fact. But because of this, the attitude about safety in the workplace is often likened to that of a group of kids dragging their feet off to do their chores, because they have to. There’s no real understanding of value.
Why is Safety a Value?
In some definitions, the word “value” indicates a core guiding principle or something of use that can give an advantage.
Read that second part again.
Now, you want something that can give your company an advantage. That’s the name of the game. And an advantage equals better profit margins.
What company puts “safety” as their priority? None. Because why? Because they are a business and want to make money. It's simple.
But, that is not a bad thing.
Safety as a Value is More Valuable
Businesses should prioritize profit- because that’s the point of it, isn't it? This is why it is a sound (and safe) business decision to make safety a core value for the company. Safety is a value because it can save the company money. Companies aim to make money and healthy and productive employees help achieve that goal. Those professionals regulating safety in a workplace typically communicate the topic with safety simply the “right thing to do'', without offering further value to the worker about it. Just do it. These are the safety requirements, and you just need to get on with it.
Communicating that safety is a value, for both business and blue-collar workers, is a recipe for success. And not just for fostering a good workplace safety culture, but for the business finances too. Cutting out risk can lower insurance premiums and the cost of damages that will inevitably arise from poor safety culture.
Workplace decisions need to be guided by safety compliance. Values are long-standing, they have greater depth than priorities. Priorities shift and can change with circumstances. But values? They’re in it for the long haul. If safety remains just a priority, then it is subject to change, because it isn’t instilled as a core value. This takes care of the workers and leaves less room for hazardous decision-making.
How to Establish Safety as a Value in the Workplace
- If your company is on track with safety regulations, then you are already halfway there. Instead of confronting your employees with reprimands when they don’t do the right safety things, simply empower them to choose to do it for themselves. This empowers employees to put their safety, their livelihoods, and essentially your business, ahead of profits and production.
- Safety should have an integral role in every business decision- just like quality, finances, production, etc. all have. Production, marketing, finance- these are all core departments of a company, and safety should become one too.
But, there is a key piece to the puzzle to make this work.
Everyone, from the janitor to the CEO, should have the mentality that safety is a core value for the business. For this to happen, safety needs to seep into every area of running the business. This can only be done with a flawless digitally based safety management program. Make sure your team is running with a world-class safety management team, and support them with software like VITS that can manage safety programs from one single powerful platform. Intuitive features help to stay abreast of changes and necessary trainings.
This is your best option for securing safety as a value in a business.
Does your business consider safety to be a priority? It's time to change that. VITS can help you get on track with safety compliance and embed safety as a core value. You can see it for yourself, simply get in touch or just sign up for a free trial.
