Why Health & Safety Is Vital For A Safe Workplace 

Health and safety is a term we see used frequently, but what does it really mean, and how does it affect your business? Health and safety in the workplace describes the appropriate measures employers legally must take to protect the mental and physical well-being of employees and the common public. This involves studying injuries and illnesses in the worker population and provides suggestions for mitigating the risks and hazards they face on the job.  

Employers have a duty of care under the legislation, with checks in place to keep everyone covered. Beyond the legal requirements, it’s essential for reputable companies to keep the highest standards of safety to maximise morale, keep profits high and build a great reputation with customers, employees and industry peers alike.  

These legal requirements also keep businesses safe, avoiding costly consequences. Breaching regulations can lead to hefty fines, imprisonment and financial loss to business in the long run. Not to mention the cost in quality staff and client relationships ongoing. Lindstrom can help support your company in ensuring you meet the latest regulations, regulations are constantly changing and updating and it is important to follow these! Don’t worry, Lindstrom can help you with this too.

Why is health & safety important? 

First and foremost, health and safety regulations have been developed over time to keep workers safe. The commitment to create a safe place for great work is what makes the longest running businesses thrive. An environment that protects every colleague is essential to the reputation and future success of businesses, regardless of how high risk their specialism is. Following these essential rules promotes responsibility and accountability among workers and businesses alike. 

Beyond this, high levels of health and safety compliance are actually positive for your bottom line, despite what the perceptions of cost may be.  

Every year a million workdays are lost because of work-related illnesses. According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 38.8 million days were lost in 2019/20 due to work-related ill-health and non-fatal injuries. The HSE reported that 1.7 million workers suffered from a work-related illness in 2020/21 – costing the economy an estimated amount of £16.2 billion! This figure will only increase if employers fail to ensure the workplace is a safe environment for their employees to work in. When employees feel that they’re part of culture of safety, absenteeism falls and morale increases. 

Putting the right workplace safety tips in place might be easier than you imagine. Beyond the legal guidelines, a few easy changes to your workplace culture can keep working conditions smooth and safe for all. Here’s just a few of our favourites. 

Proper training and retraining

Onboarding team members always includes training, but it’s important to ensure that your whole team is regularly refreshed on the techniques they can use to keep themselves and others safe. 

Ensure the team takes regular breaks

Keeping safe means staying alert and focused. Whatever your specialism, it’s important that everyone takes regular breaks to stay working at their best. 

Report safety breaches, potential equipment faults or general safety concerns 

Maintaining an open dialogue with your team means that working conditions are always well monitored. If employee health and safety is a known priority, it will always be kept in mind by everyone. 

Keep safety notices and exits clear and visible

We can all be guilty of getting used to our surroundings – so much so that we may miss when something vital is blocked or covered. Regularly checking that safety information and access points are accessible ensures nothing goes overlooked in the unlikely event of an accident. 

Regular equipment maintenance

Your business has likely invested plenty of money in quality equipment. Maintaining it keeps it lasting longer, and keeps potential hazards to a minimum. Keep a set schedule for maintenance and repair for peace of mind.

Choose quality workwear

Safety workwear is a critical component in many industries, and it plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and protection of employees. Designed to safeguard workers from various hazards, such as electrical, chemical, mechanical, and biological risks, the importance of safety workwear cannot be overstated.

Why is workwear so important for health & safety?

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of safety workwear is that it helps prevent workplace injuries and incidents. This is because safety workwear is specifically designed to protect workers from various types of injuries that can occur in different industries.

For example, in construction sites or manufacturing plants, workers are at risk of cuts, punctures, burns, and abrasions caused by machinery, equipment, or sharp objects. Additionally, workers in industries such as waste management, chemical plants, hospitals, or laboratories are exposed to hazardous materials that can cause severe health problems.

These risks are inherent to the hard work each of these workers performs, but that doesn’t mean undue risk is a fair trade for their specialism. Proper protective gear, that is always properly maintained, is a natural expectation for workers at every level.

Lindstrom provide workwear garments for all these sectors and can help to ensure that your employees remain safe in the workplace. Because we know workwear inside and out, we can save you time and money by ensuring you never have to think about all the latest regulations – we can handle this stress for you.

Don’t forget about maintaining uniforms. Our laundry and repairs make sure that you can take advantage of regular maintenance from professionals. No worries. 

Want to find out how Lindstrom can solve your health and safety concerns in the workplace? Get in touch and we’ll help you find the personalised solution your business needs.