When talking about occupational health and safety, we are referring not only to the fundamental aspects of employee well-being but also to those important physical factors that need to be considered, as they contribute to the success and sustainability of the company. A safe and healthy working environment boosts productivity, reduces absenteeism, and improves employee morale.
Every year, on the 28th of April, World Day for Safety and Health at Work is held to highlight the prevention of accidents at work and occupational illnesses around the world.
This awareness-raising initiative was proposed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to focus international attention on the creation and promotion of a culture of safety and health at work. By doing so, it would contribute to reducing the number of work-related deaths and injuries.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024
World Day for Safety and Health at Work, celebrated every 28 April since 2003, focuses the conversation on a specific theme each year. So, in 2024, the central theme will explore the impact of climate change on occupational safety and health.
The reason is that changes in weather patterns have been shown to have significant impacts on the workplace, especially on workers’ safety and well-being. Climate change intensifies certain occupational risks, such as temperature stress, exposure to UV radiation, air pollution, the spread of some diseases, and more.
It is therefore crucial that companies start taking measures to counteract these occupational risks by providing the necessary infrastructure (labour policies, information, etc.) to ensure that workers have safe conditions, and that companies thrive in a healthy environment.
What is included when talking about safety and health at work?
When talking about safety and health at work there are several elements we should consider. Among them, one can mention:
| What is included when talking about occupational safety and health? | |
| Accident Prevention | It includes strategies to identify and mitigate risks, from the correct handling of equipment to the implementation of appropriate security measures. |
| Mental well-being at work | It refers to the importance of fostering mental well-being in the work environment by providing resources and strategies to reduce stress, promote work-life balance, and create a supportive environment. |
| Ergonomics | It is related to the prevention of work-related injuries. In this case, safe and comfortable workstations must be set up, to improve the efficiency and health of employees. |
| Emergency Management | It is about having clear action plans and response teams ready to deal with different scenarios, from fires to medical events. |
| Culture of security | It includes creating a culture where each employee feels responsible for their safety and that of their colleagues, as well as creating spaces for open communication, continuous training and recognition of compliance with safety standards. |
Ways of ensuring health and safety at work
Ensuring health and safety at work is a shared responsibility that involves the company, the employees, and the regulatory authorities, which can promote safe spaces through legislation.
Some strategies can be implemented by organisations to ensure safety and health in the workplace:
- Identify and assess risks: Conducting regular physical and psychosocial risk assessments to identify potential hazards in the workplace is the best way to prevent accidents.This includes examining equipment, work processes, environmental conditions, and human factors that may pose safety and health risks.
- Implement preventive measures: Based on risk assessments, preventive measures should be implemented to control and minimise the potential risks identified. This may include providing personal protective equipment, establishing safe work procedures, improving workstation ergonomics, and training employees on safety and health.
- Promote a culture of safety: Fostering a culture where safety is a priority at all levels of the organisation is key to ensuring that everyone involved cares about safety. This involves the active involvement and commitment of senior management, the cultivation of psychologically safe spaces, open communication on safety issues, recognition of compliance with standards, and the inclusion of safety in planning and decision-making in all aspects of the business.
- Provide education and training: Training employees in safe work practices, emergency procedures, proper use of equipment and any other skills necessary to protect their health and safety on the job is one of the most important strategies to implement. In this regard, training should be ongoing and adapted as working conditions change, or as new hazards arise.
- Keep records and follow up: Keeping accurate records of incidents, injuries, work-related illnesses and actions taken to address safety and health problems can help in making new decisions in the future. In addition, it is useful to track data to identify trends, areas of concern, or areas where safety practices can be improved.
- Involve employees: Encouraging the active participation of employees in identifying risks, formulating solutions and making decisions related to occupational safety and health can motivate them to follow safety measures. Being in direct contact with the work, they are a valuable source of knowledge and experience that can help improve safety practices in the workplace.
- Comply with regulations: Complying with all relevant laws and regulations related to occupational safety and health will facilitate prevention. This includes local, national and international regulations that apply to your specific industry and location.
Investing in mental well-being in organisations
At ifeel we know that World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a key date for organisations however this should be spoken about all year round not just on the day as a healthy and safety at work is fundamental to the well-being of employees and the success of the company. However, we understand that it can be difficult to implement such a strategy from scratch without professional help.
To support companies in this process, our team of expert workplace well-being psychologists has created a mental well-being solution for businesses that improves talent retention, reduces presenteeism, and combats employee stress.
With our mental well-being solution, your company’s HR managers can receive personalised, data-driven advice on improving mental health at work. In addition, this solution offers employees a 360° mental well-being service structured at different levels according to their needs. Try our solution now to see how it could help you.
We hope you found this article on World Day for Safety and Health at Work interesting. If you would like more information about our mental well-being solution for companies, just ask us and we will get in touch with your team as soon as possible.
