How do health and safety incidents impact your business? If a worker is injured or becomes unwell, what kind of disruption does it cause? Is your productivity affected? What is the impact on other workers, be it in terms of workload or psychological health and well-being?
People are the foundation of every business. Therefore, effective management of occupational health and safety (OHS) is critical for success. Unmanaged risks to worker health, safety and well-being directly undermine your organization’s mission, potential for growth and long-term resilience. That’s why it’s essential to be fully aware of hazards, develop strategies to reduce risks, and promote a culture that keeps your workers protected.
Whatever sector you operate in, or the nature of your activities, protecting the people who work for you from OHS risks requires good planning and continuous oversight. Implementing a robust OHS management system is a proven way to prevent accidents and ill health, and protect your organization’s long-term viability through its most valuable asset – its people.
What is an OHS hazard?
People often aren’t aware of the range of hazards relating to work. An OHS hazard is any work-related situation, activity or process that can harm people. OHS hazards range from frayed wiring to working at height, to chemicals, to the lack of adequate resources or unmanageable workloads. Hazards which are not eliminated or otherwise controlled result in OHS risks.
Common health and safety risks include:
- Mental ill-health: Stress, anxiety and burnout significantly impact performance, leading to decreased productivity, low morale and serious physical health conditions.
- Exhaustion: Chronic fatigue and overwork result in increased accidents, errors and long-term health concerns, such as high blood pressure and heart disease, affecting the overall efficiency of the business.
- Communicable health conditions: Illnesses like the flu or COVID-19 can spread quickly if preventive measures are not in place, leading to widespread absenteeism and significant disruption in operations or lowering of performance.
- Non-communicable health conditions: Work-related illness can arise from many environmental and infrastructure factors. These include poorly managed water and ventilation systems, unsafe food handling, preparation and storage, and factors such as exposure to chemicals or radiation. Illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and obesity can also arise from poor OHS management, ultimately increasing absenteeism and healthcare costs.
- Work-related injury: Injuries caused by unsafe work conditions and practices vary from chronic issues, such as back damage or repetitive strain injury, to life-changing or fatal injuries. All of these can lead to significant absenteeism, downtime, legal liabilities and a drop in employee morale.
OHS risks are much more than worker safety issues. Unmanaged, they can affect everything from employee retention to your company’s productivity and reputation. Eliminating hazards and tackling risks head-on not only protect your team, but also boost motivation, reduce downtime and keep your business running smoothly.