How to effectively raise employees’ awareness of safety at work

Every working environment involves certain kinds of risks, and it is the company’s responsibility to do everything possible to prevent them. By implementing a safe working environment, you are safeguarding your employees’ health and well-being and improving their working conditions. Employees are not all exposed to the same types of risks; it depends on their job and workplace. Learn how to identify the different kinds of risks to which your employees may be exposed and implement an effective approach by following the advice given in this article.

What risks should employees in logistics teams be made aware of?

Regardless of the line of business, employers must brainstorm to see how best to raise employee awareness of safety at work. For this, they must take several factors into account (role, type of premises, etc.). This is because the associated risks will not be the same from one job to another.

In warehouses, employees are exposed to accidents and occupational diseases, including musculoskeletal disorders. MSDs can lead to chronic pain and even disability. In addition to damaging the health of employees, MSDs also pose a threat to the company itself as workers must stop working due to their condition. So how can musculoskeletal disorders be prevented in the warehouse?

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has identified various MSD risk factors that may be physical or biomechanical, as well as organisational and psychosocial which include the following:

• Handling of heavy loads;
• Repetitive movements;
• Maintaining a static and uncomfortable posture;
• Discomforts such as cold, heat, poor lighting, or vibrations;
• Intensive and long hours of work;
• Lack of breaks;
• Lack of autonomy in one’s work;

Logistics teams are exposed to the risk of accidents occurring due to the use of lifting equipment or the handling of dangerous products. They have special equipment at their disposal to protect themselves.

COSHH cabinets can be installed in warehouses to store harmful products and make sure that no dangerous, flammable, or corrosive substances endanger the health and safety of employees.

Similarly, signage can be useful in order to reduce the risk of accidents at work. Easy to understand for all, safety signs and diagrams simplify circulation within warehouses. When placed outside, they provide guidance by indicating restrictions, alerting employees of a particular hazard, or demarcating an emergency area.

At work, employees must also comply with health & safety rules, especially during COVID-19 (e.g., wearing a mask and gloves). In addition to the first aid equipment that must always be kept on-site, it is also important for employees to have PPE to protect them against all the risks inherent in working in a warehouse (dangerous products, noise, sharp objects, muscular fatigue, etc.).

How do you reduce health risks for remote workers?

Working from home has become widespread following the COVID-19 health crisis. This new way of working is attractive for employees, who save on commuting costs and get to work more independently.

However, working from home is not without its risks. Preventing occupational risks for remote workers centres on cutting down on sedentary behaviour and the feeling of isolation while avoiding “over-connection”.

Sedentary behaviour can be the cause of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental illness. Part of your health and safety at work management will involve reminding employees to take breaks and exercise.

The company can also provide employees working from home with the appropriate equipment, for example, ergonomic furniture (desk chair, height adjustable desks). Similarly, a headset makes communication more comfortable for the user.

The feeling of isolation is suffered by many of those working from home, whether it’s in relation to their professional environment or a general feeling of social isolation. Measures to combat this problem should be addressed by managers. It is up to them to implement routines and collaborative tools to promote team building. Training in the use of these tools should also be provided.

Over-connection can occur when an employee working from home does not establish a clear boundary between work and personal time. This imbalance between work and personal life can have negative effects on their social life and mental health. One solution can be to encourage employees to work from a coworking space or to offer them digital tools for managing personal schedules.

Remote working also presents risks for companies, as it can make their data vulnerable to cyber-attacks. To safeguard the company against this type of risk, employees should be encouraged to comply with computer security guidelines.

How to encourage safe behaviour among employees

Preventing occupational risks requires engagement and participation from everyone in the company. The first step in promoting safe and healthy behaviour is to make suitable equipment available in both the warehouse and office spaces. With ergonomically designed furniture and fittings, employees can adopt the appropriate postures, which protect them from developing MSDs. A well-laid-out workstation and carefully designed storage minimise the number of movements required to complete a task. Smart workshop design also reduces the risk of accidents at work.

You can motivate your employees by making them responsible for health and safety matters. Encourage and communicate positively every time employees report a problem or a risk. If you publish regular reviews of the identified risks and accidents you have avoided, you also help raise awareness on the topic of safety and well-being at work.

Methods used for informing employees of health and safety in the workplace

Companies are legally obliged to guarantee the safety and health of employees at work by European law. The European directive on Occupational Risk Assessment (ORA) defines general principles for health and safety at work as well as obligations in terms of risk control.

If you want to carry out an effective occupational health and safety approach, you have to start by assessing the risks and making a detailed diagnosis. Then establishing a strategy and implementing through well-planned actions. It is advisable to appoint occupational health and safety representatives to carry out this project and communicate with the teams.

Employees should be provided with an information and prevention document, created on the basis of risk assessment. Posters about specific hazards can be placed near each hazardous site. Risk prevention means providing safety training for employees as soon as they join the company. Schedule regular refresher sessions to update their knowledge.

You can also arrange workshops with employees, managers, and company directors to co-create a document such as a safety charter. The HR department or an outside consultant can handle this. By involving all the company’s key players in the development of your health, safety and QWL (Quality of Life at Work) policy, you help to increase their interest in safety issues and improve company cohesion.