Safety in the Manufacturing Industry

Workplace safety is a serious aspect of every work environment. Creating a safe work environment is not only about productivity but about making sure each and every employee arrives home the same way they came into work. Here are just 10 examples of why workplace safety is important.

1. Lower Risk of Workplace Injuries - Workplace injuries happen more often than you may think, and more importantly, oftentimes they could have been avoided. If the injury is serious enough, it can have a devastating effect on the worker’s life. Encouraging your employees or coworkers to speak up if they notice anything that could compromise worker safety is a great way to decrease the number of workplace injuries that take place. 

2. Safety is Cost-Effective - While profits and margins will never be more important than safety, it is helpful to understand that the more safe a work environment is, the more money can be saved and spent elsewhere. From worker’s compensation to employees leaving and thus needing their spot to be filled, an unsafe workplace can easily start to bleed a company if not taken care of.

 
3. Reduce Stress - An unsafe work environment can not only cause physical injuries, but it can just as well impact the mind of a team. If an employee is worried about how safe their job tasks are, they are more likely to make a mistake that could lead to an injury for themselves or someone else.

 
4. Better Quality Work & Product - Implementation of safety practices and creating an environment for employees to work safely leads to employees caring about their work and or product.

5. Customers Like Safety Too - If your business has a reputation for taking care of its employees just as much as they care about making a high-quality product/service, then more customers will want to shop from you. Customers want to buy products and services that are produced ethically, and if your business is in the news for poor working conditions, then customers will have no problem looking elsewhere. 

6. Stronger Workforce - As the workforce drastically changes into a post-Covid world, more job seekers are setting higher standards for where they would like to work. If you are able to set yourself apart as a fair and safe employer, then you will see an increase in quality job applications.

7. Longer Lasting Equipment - Often in the manufacturing industry, heavy or complex machinery is used on a daily basis. Having clear instructions labeled all over the building and on the equipment itself not only helps with productivity but decreases the likelihood of damage to this equipment that is often quite expensive.

8. It Is the Law - While it might not always be at the forefront of an employer’s mind, it is required by law that you create and maintain a safe work environment. OSHA and national labor laws are set in place to keep employers in check as these regulations are mandatory, and failure to comply will earn you prosecution or possibly lead to a shutdown. 

9. Protect the Most Important Asset - No matter the industry, people are the most important asset to a business. If the people working for your company are safe and happy, your business will have a much better chance of success.

10. Healthy & Continuous Growth - At the end of the day, after you make sure your employees are working in a safe environment you still need to make a profit. Safety and business growth happen to go hand-in-hand. As previously mentioned in other points in this list, people want to work for safe companies. Then, those safe employees will work harder to create the best possible end product.