Safety is important to protect workers from accidents and injuries that can change lives forever. A safe work environment allows employees to focus on their work instead of dangers or hazards, improving productivity. Safety also benefits companies through reduced injuries, lower insurance costs, improved employee morale, and a stronger reputation. To ensure safety, companies need a safety management system including hazard identification, risk controls, training, and regular reviews and exercises.

1. Why is SAFETY Important?
John Machado
A safe work environment protectsthe staff workingfromanyaccidentorinjury. Safetyis
paramountconsideringasevere workplace injuryordeathcan change livesforever.The
sufferingdue toamishapisimmeasurable.Aninjuryimpactsnotonlythe personaffected
but alsothe firm,the dependents&othersinthe organization.
Safetyawareness&a safetyattitude needstoextendbeyondthe workplaceintowhatever
we do inour dailylives.Safetydoesnotcome naturally.Aswe goaboutcarrying outour
regularwork& chores,ourattentiveness&concentrationtendstoreduce.Overaperiod
these activitiesbecome secondnature &we tendto forgetaboutthe safetyaspects
associated.We needtorealize thatanaccidentcan happenanytime &none of us are
immune tomishaps.
Safetyrequireseveryonetounderstand,be aware &contribute. Some of the benefitsof a
safe workenvironmentinclude:

2. 1. Reducingthe likelihoodofinjury& accidents - Safetyreducesthe chancesof
accidentsor injuriesoccurring.
2. Improvedproductivity - A safe workenvironmentwithadequatesafeguardsallows
an employeetofocusontheirworksinsteadof the dangeror hazard. Safetyreduces
injurytherebydecreasinglostworkhours.Loweredinjuryoccurrence bringsdownthe
demandfornewstaff & additional training.
3. Increasedfinancial benefits - Safetyisnotonlyaboutbeingsociallyresponsible,but
it alsomakesgoodbusinesssense.The saferemployeeswork,the more productive they
are; benefitingthe overall financialhealthof the firm.A safetyprogramwill alsoleadto
fewerinjuriesandtherefore fewerclaims.Fewercasestranslate intolowerpremiums
whichtranslatestomore profitforthe business.
4. Protects firmsfrom legal impacts - Safetyreducesthe occurrence of accidents&
alsobringsdownthe overall inherentrisksassociatedwithlitigationandregulatory
fines.
5. Raises employee morale - A companywhoinvestsinthe safety&securityof the
employeeshowsthemthatthe firmcaresaboutthe staff.Itindicatesthatthe
managementcaresabouttheirmostprizedasset - the worker.Employeesautomatically
feel more engaged&motivatedtoworkfora firmthat cares aboutthem.
6. Enhances company image & reputation - A saferwork environmentattractsbetter
talent& alsopromotesthe companybrand.Safetydemonstratesabusinessissocially
responsible.Safe workenvironmentenablesabusinesstoretainclients.Customersare
keentowork withfirmsthatfollow propersafetymeasures.
7. Absenteeismreduced - Employeeswanttoworkina safe environment.There are
more happyemployeesastheywantto go home safe. Absenteeismdropswhen
effectivesafetyprogramsare inplace.
It's better to prepare & prevent than to repair & repent.
To ensure a safe workenvironment,we needtohave:
 A system inplace to manage safety - Needtohave a safetypolicy,definedprocess
to plan,organize,monitor&control safety.The policyoutlinesthe waysafetyhastobe
managed& needstobe clear and specific.
 A method to identifyhazards & risks - It's vital to have a way of identifying&
recordingrisksanddangers.A listof knownhazardswill helpdevelopbetter
governance proceduresandcontrol methodstomanage them.A recordof risk servesas
a readyreckonerfor staff to avoid,mitigate &planalternatives.
 Risk control measuresimplemented- Majorityof the riskscouldbe reducedor
avoidedbyhavingarobust control measure inplace.Formulate planstohelp
employeespreventinjuryfordifferentconcerns.Drill downthe overallriskthat
employeeswill face intosmallermore controllablefactorsandmake a clear,logical list
of all stepstheymusttake to avoidharm.
 Regular safetytraining - Safety-relatedtrainingisessentialforthe employeesas
well asthe community.Safetytrainingwill helpemployeesbe aware,learnsafe work
practices,identifyrisks&respondbettertoemergencysituations.
 Reviewof the policy & procedures - A periodicreview of the safetypolicyand
proceduresisa mustto identifyanygaps& implementchanges&improvementsto
have the riftsaddressed.
 Regular tabletopexercises - Havingperiodictabletopexercisesonsafetyhelps
determine the teamsunderstanding&theirreactionstoa safetyconcern.These

3. exercisesalsoreinforce the safetyattitude&the needtofollow the laiddownsafety
procedures.