Employers’ Legal Obligations To Maintain A Healthy And Safe Workplace

A report by the International Labor Organization reveals that workplace-related accidents and injuries are common, with 340 million workplace accidents reported annually and 160 million employees coping with occupational illnesses, according to data on LegalJobs.io. Some workplaces like construction and mining sites are more dangerous than others, but any work environment can be hazardous. For this reason, employers across all industries are required by law to ensure that the workplace is healthy and safe. Doing so is key to prevent employees from getting injured on the job. As a result, your workers will remain productive and you won’t have to worry about facing lawsuits. Keep reading to learn more about employers’ legal obligations for maintaining a healthy and safe workplace.

Assess Risks at the Workplace

Whether your employees are working in the office or construction site, they are prone to hazards like slip, trip, and fall accidents, electrocution, and exposure to chemicals. Those working in manufacturing plants may even get caught in between machines. With this in mind, make it a habit to carry out risk assessments in the workplace to identify potential dangers that may affect employees’ health and safety. Once you have identified risks, take steps to eliminate them. If eliminating workplace hazards isn’t possible, you can control it. For example, you could invest in machine guards to protect machine operators and other workers nearby from sparks, flying debris, and ingoing nip points.

Consult Employees

After risk assessment and identification, employers should inform workers about potential hazards, protection measures put in place, and train them how to deal with risks. In most cases, employers discuss workplace health and safety issues with their employees directly. However, you can do so through a health and safety representative appointed by a trade union or elected by your workforce.

Also, display approved health and safety posters in the workplace and encourage employees to report hazards immediately when they spot them. As an employer, commit to eliminating or controlling hazards whenever employees report potential accidents and infections. Failure to take action to prevent occupational health and safety threats can cause legal implications.

When seeking compensation for workplace injuries, injured employees will argue the incidence occurred because of negligence. If they have evidence to prove their claims, you might face tough penalties for neglecting the workplace. Remember, employees have a right to work in a safe environment. So, to avoid lawsuits linked to negligence, investigate potential risks and mitigate them before an accident occurs.

Making Work Premises Healthy and Safe

For employees to be productive, employers should make sure work premises are safe. There are many ways to keep workplaces safe, such as providing adequate lighting in work spaces so that employees can move around and perform their duties safely. You should also keep the floors clean, store things in safe places, and maintain equipment in good working conditions. Investing in ergonomic office furniture, creating areas for brief breaks and meals, and providing personal protective equipment also go a long way in enhancing health and safety at work.

Besides protecting the wellbeing of your workers, providing a healthy work environment is an excellent way of preventing financial and legal implications. As an employer, make sure you assess occupational risks and control them. Also, inform your workers about potential hazards and how to handle them, and enhance safety in work premises by lighting work areas, cleaning floors, offering personal protective equipment, and choosing ergonomic office furniture.