It’s a sad day whenever there is a fatality in the workplace. No one wants to hear the news that their loved one died in a place where they ought to be earning a living. Health and safety in a workplace could be easily overlooked especially in sectors where there is minimal risk. However, it is always better to educate employees on safe work practices to avoid any accidents or fatality.
In recent times, the number of work-related accidents has been on a high in the UK. It has been reported that despite the imposition of fines by the Health and Safety Executive, 144 workers were reported dead due to workplace accidents. Based on the data gathered by the Health and Safety Executive, the sector with the most fatality is construction, followed by argic with 29 deaths and waste and recycling coming in last with 12 fatalities recorded as of 2017/2018.
The council for sentencing introduced strict laws and guideline concerning health and safety fines. This was an attempt at a way of trying to curb the occurrence of an accident in the workplace. In spite, of the more stringent regulations, the reports from Thomas Reuters business showed that there had been an increase of 18% in the number of fines paid by an organisation with respect to health and safety in the year 2017. This figure is abysmal as it is double what it was in 2015.
It is now imperative that more decisive action needs to be taken if the menace of workplace accidents is to be stopped. Simply telling workers to work safely is not enough. There are specific health and safety requirements for industries that are to be met by employees and employers. Some of the measures to put in place include:
1. Providing training for workers. It is invaluable to provide workers with proper training.
2. Reinforce safety
3. Review work practices
4. Assign a variety of tasks. No employee should be static.
5. No shortcuts
6. Keep workspaces clean
7. Post proper signage in appropriate places
8. Provision for adequate insurance
At Easybook Training, we provide construction courses and health and safety courses which consist of CISRS Scaffold Inspection Courses, PASMA Standard Courses, IPAF 3a & 3b Courses, and Ladder Association Courses (these courses are available to book online today through our network of approved UK Training Providers).
All of these workplace health and safety courses have been designed to address some of the frequent fatal accidents that occurred in workplaces in 2017 such as; falls from high places, motor accidents and being struck by an object in motion.
Safety is, and it should be taken as a priority by both employers and employee. Not only will lives be saved when health and safety is appropriately addressed, but the business will also save cost by not having to pay fines.