I Own a Business: How Can I Improve Safety for My Employees?

Maintaining employee safety should always be a major concern for business owners. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about people. A safe workplace prevents traumatic injuries, saves lives, and protects your company from the massive financial drain of workers’ compensation payouts and lawsuits.

But where do you start? There are a number of effective practices that can drastically improve safety for your team and create a business culture that values well-being over speed. Here is your roadmap to a safer business.

1. Have Clear Safety Regulations In Place

First off, you can’t enforce what you haven’t defined. It’s important to have formulated safety procedures in place and have employees sign off on them when they are hired. Your business is required to have OSHA and state-specific regulations posted, but you can—and should—go above and beyond.

Create and implement additional policies that will benefit your specific business and workers. Have those safety rules spelled out in your employee handbook and posted in the workplace to ensure workers have easy access to them at all times. You can also establish a recognition and rewards program to champion a positive safety climate.

2. Ensure Employees Follow the Regulations

Writing the rules is step one; following them is step two. While you cannot control every move your employees make, you can shape their behavior. Be careful not to praise employees who skirt regulations to “get the job done” faster. That sends the wrong message.

Instead, praise and reward employees who follow the rules, work safely, and encourage others to do the same. Pro Tip: Don’t reward “zero injury” achievements blindly, as this often encourages employees NOT to report injuries. Reward *safe behaviors*, not just outcomes.

3. Make Safety Awareness A Part Of Training

Safety awareness, federal law, and your own company’s policies should be a core part of new employee orientation. New hires need to get in the habit of following those rules from Day 1. Even if a new employee signed off on your rules, they might not have read them carefully.

By including safety awareness in new employee training, you reinforce what was on that paper with the tangible realities of the job. This ensures new employees stay safe the entire time they work for your company.

4. Conduct Regular Drug And Alcohol Testing

Keeping your workplace drug and alcohol-free is essential for keeping employees safe. Employees under the influence can easily become a danger to themselves or others, even if they aren’t operating heavy machinery.

As with any other policy, your testing policy should adhere to the law and be given to your employees in writing. Updates should also be provided if the policies change. Be careful not to go overboard; testing too frequently without cause can leave employees feeling untrustworthy, which can hurt morale.

5. Always Be On The Lookout For Ways To Improve

Safety isn’t “set it and forget it.” Always be open to new ideas. Your own employees, other business owners, seminars, and industry articles are all good sources of inspiration.

• Listen to your team: Put out a suggestion box or take surveys to see how employees feel about their own safety.
• Observe the floor: If an employee gets hurt on their hands frequently, maybe it’s time for mandatory gloves.
• Update for new gear: New devices or equipment warrant an immediate update on safety procedures.

Tip: For bigger companies, workforce management software can help you organize this information and communicate updates instantly.

6. Lead By Example

Owners and supervisors must lead by example. If you expect your employees to wear PPE, you should wear it too. Do so even if you think no one is looking. Leading by example fosters respect and trust, leading to happier, more productive employees and a safer work environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Improving Employee Safety

What is the first step to improve safety in the workplace?

The first step is to conduct a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). You need to identify exactly what the hazards are before you can fix them. Once hazards are identified, you can implement controls, write policies, and train your team.

How can I get employees to care about safety?

Involve them! Employees care about safety when they feel heard. Create a safety committee that includes frontline workers, not just managers. When employees help write the safety rules, they are much more likely to follow them.

Is safety training required for all businesses?

Generally, yes. OSHA requires employers to provide training to workers who face hazards on the job. The specific type and frequency of training depend on the industry and the specific risks involved (e.g., HazCom, Fall Protection, etc.).