It should go without saying that every company should take workplace safety seriously.It’s equally important to recognize the importance of addressing safety on a daily basis. One way to do this is to give employees a safety message of the day every day. Obviously, employers need to tailor these messages to fit their specific business. But if you want some universal safety messages for work to help get you started, here are some that will fit just about any workplace. These safety message examples can be used any time of year!
There’s nothing wrong with reminding employees to be aware of their surroundings. This is a great safety message for work to send any day of the week because employees who know their surroundings can better anticipate potential safety concerns.
Unless their job description calls for it, remind employees not to work alone. It’s a good message to give employees because there is always strength in numbers. After all, safety is a team effort and employees should know to keep an eye on each other.
This is obviously a cliche, but it’s also a good safety message to give employees. If they see something that doesn’t look safe, they need to speak up. If employees don’t speak up about safety concerns they see, there’s no way to address those concerns.
There is almost always a strong correlation between clean workplaces and safe workplaces. If you remind employees to keep the workplace clean and tidy, there will be fewer potential safety hazards, helping to reduce the possibility of an accident.
Some employees will come in to work and do their job under any circumstances. However, in the name of safety, some employees need to be reminded not to work if they’re feeling sick and tired. While it’s admirable for them to try, employees who are sick or tired are more likely to make mistakes, potentially causing safety accidents.
Along those same lines, employees should be reminded to stay rested and hydrated while they’re at work. It could be a good idea to give employees a clear message that taking breaks and drinking water is important, especially if they have physically demanding jobs. The more rested and refreshed workers are, the less likely they are to make a mistake that can lead to an accident.
An important safety message to send to employees regularly is about the importance of dressing properly for their job and always wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE). Not only can this help reduce the chance of an accident, but protective gear is there to reduce the severity of any injuries.
Hopefully, all employees are aware of the safety protocols that they are expected to follow while performing their jobs. But it doesn’t hurt to give them a daily message that reminds them to follow those protocols. It’s not always easy doing the same thing day after day. But with something as important as safety protocols, daily reminders can help keep employees from getting complacent or forgetting the right safety procedures.
In addition to daily safety affirmations, companies should be encouraged to find a system that can help them stay organized in their approach to workplace safety. That’s why EHS Insight offers safety management software that can do just that. Our system encompasses everything from training to hazard identification to communication that can help a company stay organized and cover all its bases with regard to workplace safety. In fact, our system is a proven method of improving workplace safety and keeping workers protected.
Safety messages are an important part of ongoing occupational health and safety efforts at work. They can vary widely, from specific announcements about particular roles and duties to general announcements that support safe working conditions.
General safety messaging can easily become too familiar to employees, and they can lose track of them as they get lost in the noise of everyday responsibilities. That’s why, in addition to safety tips of the day, safety messages of the month can also be a vital tool in achieving workplace health and safety goals. A safety message of the month can keep employees up to date about changes while supporting awareness and adherence in an ongoing way.
Safety policies and procedures can change with the ongoing assessment and evaluation of potential hazards at work. When machinery gets updated, upgraded or replaced, some safety measures may change.
Regulatory changes can affect inspection and reporting requirements. Related information is typically disseminated through departments, but the nature of such communication can be hit or miss; it’s still possible that some employees may not see it or may not remember seeing it.
Establishing a new safety message of the month that alerts employees to new concepts and procedures in a way that stands out. Common tools for communicating a safety message of the month include email and text messages, signage, all-hands meetings, and even EHS software. Improve participation by hosting programs, events or safety-oriented games where prizes can be awarded.
Use a safety message of the month to refresh concerts and topics that may be so familiar to your employees that they’ve faded into the background of the workday. When work activities become familiar, it can be difficult to notice the small increments by which safety standards can slide.
Regular messaging can benefit experienced employees and new hires alike. Instituting a safety message of the month program also informs staff that the company considers safety a year-round concept and not just applicable during June’s National Safety Month. Choosing a new topic each month ensures all aspects of workplace safety are covered.
A safety message of the month program signals to employees that their employer values safety which may make it more likely that employees will, too. Effective workplace safety practices can improve productivity while minimizing legal, financial, and regulatory risks.
As an added benefit, companies tend to be viewed positively when it appears they genuinely care about their employees; this benefit to a company’s reputation can translate into improved revenues.
A safety message of the month program can foster camaraderie among employees. Much of workplace safety is counting on your coworkers to look out for conditions that could harm themselves or their colleagues and regular reminders encourage this community-oriented mindset.
Safety message of the month communication is a worthwhile endeavor that has positive effects that go beyond the calendar month. It supports effective workplace health and safety practices that reduce the incidents that slow down production, leave companies open to fines and fees, or possibly harm reputations which can lead to decreased revenues.
Workplace safety is often discussed in a way that gives the impression it’s a stand-alone subject. But safety is an ongoing process, something that all employees participate in every single day. Only by being aware of workplace safety principles and mindfully incorporating them into our daily routines are we taking concrete steps toward a safer workplace for all.
Here are some daily workplace safety tips to start with:
Know what the safety risks are where you work. What are the primary ways other employees have experienced on-the-job illness or injury? If you don’t know what to look out for, you won’t know how to mitigate the risk or be prepared for adverse situations.
This is as simple as making sure lights are turned on in occupied spaces and lifting heavy objects with care and appropriate technique (and if you don’t know how to do that, ask!).
Arrange your workspace so that it’s ergonomically configured to accommodate repetitive motion or at-rest postures without undue physical stress. When sitting at your computer desk for several hours, does your neck hurt? Or do you experience pain in your wrists or elbows? This could be a strong indication that the height or angle of the equipment you’re using needs adjustment.
This is especially important when working with heavy machinery or other equipment that could cause serious damage or harm. We all like to think we’re master multitaskers, but studies have shown that we really do best when we focus on one thing at a time, whether that’s data entry or driving a forklift.
This is a 2-part safety tip. First, stop, look, and listen: this is a good way to immediately survey your surroundings on a regular basis and note any unsafe conditions, especially while they still could be considered minor. This is the time to notice one of the overhead lights is out or the cracked concrete walkway to the front door has settled enough to cause a tripping hazard. Second, know to whom you should report noted safety issues and how. Is there a designated phone number or email address to use for notification? Is there a help ticket system to document issues and progress made in assigning and managing the fix?
Survey machinery before operating it. That goes for anything from the copy machine to the backhoe to industrial machinery of all kinds. Be aware of any missing, not working, loose, or otherwise “off” parts, especially moving parts. Ensure the workspace is clear of obstructions or things that could fall into machinery. Note problems and report them promptly.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and gear, from goggles to vests. Even when there are no established workplace safety gear rules, use common sense. For example, improper footwear can pose a tripping hazard or leave you vulnerable to injury if something gets dropped; if you’re working with machinery of any kind, be cautious of getting rings, watches, long hair or ties caught.
Keep walkways clear of cables, cords, and other trip hazards, even temporarily. It’s tempting to think that you’ll come back and reconfigure things later and get those cords out of the way but it’s also easy to forget because you’re busy.
Always keep exit routes clear. Know where the emergency exits are and prevent them from being blocked. Because emergencies are typically uncommon, it’s easy to forget that some exits are designated as such. Sometimes, laws apply to posting a small copy of the building layout on the wall, with emergency exits marked on them.
Manage spills and clean them up promptly and properly. Avoid slip and fall hazards, as well as electrical hazards. While you’re gathering cleanup supplies, restrict the area by cones or tape to alert others to the danger.
Know and follow your company’s safety policies and procedures. Participate in safety meetings, trainings, and drills. Being engaged every day is the best way to stay in the habit of safe practices in the workplace and to be prepared in the event of an emergency.
Workplace safety isn’t something that employees need to think about only during training workshops or drills. By having a high level of safety awareness and practicing common sense safety habits all the time, everyone has a role in maintaining a safe workplace, where the number of workplace accidents and injuries is minimized.
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