A safe working environment creates a more protective, productive and prosperous business. However, there are several reasons why employees might not want to report hazard warning signs that they find. This can lead to accidents and other consequences should the hazard stay unreported.
Here to support employers, this guide will show them how to encourage their workforce to become more comfortable with reporting work hazards.
Why is Safety Important in the Workplace?
Every employee deserves to work in a safe setting. More than a nice idea or workplace perk, the law states that an employer has a legal duty of care to their employees. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) sets out a minimum standard of activities that employers must adhere to.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), they must:
- “identify what could cause injury or illness in your business
- decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously
- take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn't possible, control the risk”.
Any “significant findings” from this three-part strategy need to be recorded if they have five or more members of staff. Known as a risk assessment, Croner states that those with fewer employees “don’t have to write down [their] risk assessment or health and safety policy”, but confirms “it is always good practice to keep records for audits and annual reviews”.
The HSE provides a risk assessment template as a good starting point for anticipating hazard warning signs.
According to their website, employers should appoint a “competent person” to consider the three bullet points listed above. Note, that specific training or qualifications are “not required by law”.
Why are Some Employees Reluctant to Report Hazards?
The reasons why employees fail to report a workplace hazard vary but include a lack of understanding, awareness or confidence.
Lack of Training
Some staff members are unaware they have a duty to protect themselves and others by raising concerns about hazards. They may feel they’re just a small part of the organisation and assume that someone else will report it.
Uncertainty
Most employees want to keep their surroundings a safe setting for themselves and their colleagues but don’t know the reporting procedure. Who do they report the spill, trip hazard or potential cause of eye strain to? What happens afterwards? Will they be required to voice their fears to multiple persons?
Not knowing what is involved after discovering hazard warning signs becomes a barrier to raising the alarm.
Time Restraints
The majority of employees have an ever-growing list of duties to fulfil as part of their job. Every day unexpected phone calls, emails or new tasks pop up, placing pressure on their weekly workload.
Feeling rushed, they might not notice or ‘have the time’ to report hazards. This can also lead to apathy and poor team relationships as they choose to focus instead on their own work.
They Feel Anxious to Speak Up
In smaller organisations, it can soon become obvious who has made a comment about a health hazard or accident risk. Fearing they’ll be punished or penalised in terms of promotion and job security, many decide it’s easier or less confrontational not to say anything.
CEOs and managers across all departments need to foster a supportive atmosphere where employees are actively encouraged to report work hazards.
10 Reasons Why Workplace Safety is Important
Training should educate team members on the breadth of possible hazard warning signs found across a workplace. Equally, new employees should have the site’s potential work hazards and safe ways of working highlighted during inductions.
Aim to teach them why it is important to report hazards, such as demonstrating the possible signs and cause-and-effect of hazardous situations. This will encourage them to feel proactive about spotting risks.
Here are ten reasons why workplace safety matters.
1. Happier Employees
No one wants to spend their working week in a workplace with unapproachable managers. However, prioritising workplace safety can protect everyone’s physical and emotional well-being while raising productivity.
2. Your Business Reputation
Employees talk to their friends which may create a poor public perception of your company as an employer. Ensuring workplace safety can therefore be great for maintaining public relations.
3. It Retains Top Talent
Hardworking employees will look elsewhere should they perceive a ‘relaxed’ stance towards ensuring their health and safety. This will impact you in the short term and require recruitment.
4. It Can Save Lives
Tragedies do happen at work, especially in industrial or manufacturing industries. Yet, all employees across different sectors are vulnerable to trip, fire and injury hazards. Our prevent slips, trips and falls signs are a great measure to prevent injuries and fatalities.
5. Legal Implications
As an employer, you need to guarantee the safety of your entire workforce. Failure to adequately provide and observe health and safety resulted in directors being imprisoned for health and safety breaches.
6. Hazards Can Close a Business
Compensation payouts could ruin your business’ financial reputation and reverse years of hard work. This would result in mass unemployment among your workers, too.
7. It Protects Everyone’s Safety
You and your employees are not the only ones vulnerable to unreported hazards. Visiting customers, clients and suppliers may fall foul of unreported hazards.
8. Reduced Absences
In 2022 alone, UK employers lost approximately 185.6 million working days caused by injuries or ill health. Finding replacement cover for absent employees requires precious time and money.
9. The Public Cares
Today, consumers and clients vote with their wallets when they mistrust the way a business treats their employees. No one wants to think of others working in potentially dangerous environments.
10. Investors Care
In an age of transparency, businesses are often assessed under strict terms for Government or investor funding. A commitment to observing workplace safety best practices will be appealing to stakeholders.
Reap the Benefits of Encouraging Hazard Reporting
Having seen why is workplace safety so important for everyone, the next step is educating your employees through signage and training.
View our extensive range of health & safety signs to achieve a stronger financial, legal and efficient position.
