7 tips for greater job security in the industry
A new year begins and, with it, new opportunities to do things differently. And one of the topics that deserves a lot of attention is workplace safety. Even in industries that have greater industrial automation, occupational accidents are a problem and responsible for thousands of deaths. Click Here for HSE Course in Abu Dhabi
To give you an idea, in 2022 alone, Social Security recorded more than 710,000 work accidents. Of these, around 2,800 resulted in death, 15,000 permanent sequelae and many lost workdays.
Furthermore, a new scenario emerges in 2019. With the arrival of e-Social, companies now have to record accident occurrences (the Work Accident Report) and mandatory safety training in a single database .
OSH (Occupational Health and Safety) programs must already be registered in the system by companies included in the so-called 1st group. Other groups of companies must follow the specific schedule published by the federal government.
Given this, employers have new challenges for 2019: in addition to reducing the number of accidents in companies, they need to update all safety training. But how to do this?
1 – Understand the importance of Occupational Safety
This is a group of measures that aim to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses, ensuring worker safety. To achieve this, it is necessary to implement an OSH management system.Standards and laws are defined by the Specialized Service in Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine. which must follow the regulations of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE).
Some benefits this management will bring to your company and employees:
- Reduces costs for the company resulting from work accidents;
- Frames the company as socially responsible, reinforcing the positive image of the brand;
- Increases productivity, as it reinforces the company’s commitment to workers;
- Creates a more competent and healthy workforce;
- Encourages workers to remain active for longer;
- Complies with the law: all private and public companies are obliged to have Occupational Safety actions.
2 – Form a good Occupational Safety team
The professionals involved in Occupational Safety must be chosen very carefully. It is interesting to form a multidisciplinary team to form the Specialized Service in Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine.
The selected professionals must include: Occupational Safety technicians; Occupational Safety engineers; occupational doctor; Production Engineering professionals.
Among the main roles of this area are: identifying risks in the occupational environment, complying with legislation and raising awareness among other employees about health and safety precautions.
It is also essential to form an Internal Accident Prevention Committee with company employees who are willing to contribute to the prevention of accidents through actions such as the Internal Work Accident Prevention Week.
3 – Prepare training and qualifications
A safety culture requires a work environment where workers collaborate. The more training and qualifications you offer to your team, the more employees will feel responsible for safety in the company.
Lack of adherence to standard procedures is a problem that can be corrected, among other ways, with training. This is because work routines must first be understood and then followed by the entire team.
It is worth establishing a program that values safe behavior in activities and best practices in the workplace. To this end, carry out training and updates periodically, open space for the Daily Safety Dialogue (DDS), encourage actions such as the Internal Work Accident Prevention Week and value, through awards and recognition, employee initiatives that increase safety in the occupational environment. Click Here for IOSH Safety Course
4 – Ensure the use of PPE
It’s basic, but it doesn’t hurt to remember. Workers must receive from the employer all devices or accessories for individual use intended to protect against risks to their safety and health and it is an obligation provided for by law to use PPE provided by companies.
Among the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) most used in industries are: hood or balaclava to protect the head; ear protectors and noise earmuffs for hearing protection; glasses and visors for eye and face protection; gloves and hoses to protect hands and arms; masks and filters for respiratory protection; vests and overalls to protect the body and shoes, boots and boots to protect the legs and feet.
5 – Provide the EPCs
Collective Protection Equipment (EPCs) are devices used in the workplace to protect workers from collective risks existing in industrial processes – construction, transport, assembly, installation, adjustment, operation, cleaning, maintenance, inspection, deactivation and dismantling of machines or equipment.
Among the main EPCs are safety cones and strips, signposts, presence sensors, sirens and light alerts, padlocks and locking claws, circuit breaker locks, among others.
These devices should be part of any industrial environment. This is because EPCs do not depend on the attitude of workers to function.
6 – Encourage risk reporting
Reporting risks at work is essential to increase team safety. After all, a near miss could be an occurrence in the future. Therefore, the fewer risks workers are exposed to, the fewer accidents happen.
Therefore, it is important to encourage employees to report situations outside the standard procedure to their manager. Reports may refer to the abnormal functioning of equipment, the lack of Collective Protection Equipment or individual protection equipment (PPE) and even suggestions for improvement in a process.
This also helps workers understand situations and attitudes that can put the lives of the entire team at risk. Therefore, a situation has a chance of being improved if it is shared with your manager.
7 – Create a culture of safety
Workers who are more concerned about their health and well-being are more motivated and productive. So creating a safety culture in the company is good business for everyone!
Despite being seen as an obligation by many employers, the Occupational Safety area is essential for your company’s growth in the market. She is the one who will be responsible for actions aimed at preventing accidents and will also work on creating a safe work culture in all other areas.
The selected professionals must include: Occupational Safety technicians; Occupational Safety engineers; occupational doctor; Production Engineering professionals.
