Employers want to make their workplaces in New York as safe as they can be. That translates into keeping their workforce protected from excessive noise, slip-and-fall injuries, burns, bruises, broken bones and a host of other occurrences and circumstances that can result in workers losing time on the job and decreased production at your company.
That also means lost revenue. It can lead to serious workers’ comp issues, too.
Some employers are more attentive to safety issues than others. They may not realize the importance of taking proactive measures. Or they think that if their industry does not seem to be especially dangerous, safety protocols don’t have to be detailed, strict or rigorously enforced.
Workers might sometimes be left largely on their own to be careful and do their utmost to stay healthy and injury-free. They may or may not know the best ways to do that.
One excellent source for guidance on the issue of workplace safety is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor. They have safety regulations and programs that can be extremely helpful to employers and employees seeking to educate themselves on this crucial subject.
According to the OSHA website, there are plenty of safety measures that employers are responsible for in the workplace. Those guidelines align with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which was passed by Congress “to assure so far as possible…safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.”
What does OSHA advise employers to do regarding workplace safety?
OSHA states the following:
- Education on safety matters needs to be provided
- Workers must be informed of “their rights and responsibilities”
- Dangers need to be clearly marked as such
- Employers must ensure that workers have the appropriate safety gear and that it is in good condition
There are more safety specifics for employers from OSHA in addition to those above.
A safe workplace is paramount
As an employer, you have a duty to your workers to keep them reasonably safe. Don’t wait until something happens to find out more about how to do this.
