We all know health and safety is an important part of any business. Without a solid plan in place, you run the risk of accidents happening under your watch (and a team of very unhappy employees!).
The good news? Once you’ve sorted a health and safety plan and got your team trained and ready to go, you’ll start to reap the rewards.
What kind of rewards? Find out below where we explore the five key reasons you need to get your health and safety plan written up this year.
Reason #1: A health and safety plan reduces the risk of injury or death at work
As an employer, you have the power to reduce the chance of accidents happening on your watch. All you need is a thorough health and safety plan and a team that’s fully trained to execute the plan with confidence.
Health and safety courses are an investment, but the benefits significantly outweigh the costs. Instead of facing sick leave, legal fees, personal grievances and the emotional impact of injury (or worse, death), you’ll have a happy and safe workforce that’s loyal, productive and motivated.
Reason #2:You’ll attract and keep the best staff in town
Staff are more productive when they’re clued up on health and safety. Do you notice that when staff feel comfortable and safe in their environment, they’re happier, more motivated and more invested in the overall success of the business? It’s so true.
Investing time and money into training for your staff shows you care about them and their work. They want to work hard, because they know they’re valued. There’s also some pretty great knock-on effects including improved loyalty, staff retention (lower staff turnover) and the ability to attract great talent.
Want to be surrounded by a high-quality workforce now and in the future? Show your commitment to health and safety because potential employees could be convinced to choose you if they see training in your benefits package.
Reason #3: If disaster strikes, you’ll be calm and ready to respond
If an accident occurred in your workplace today, how would you respond? Would you be able to remain calm, assess the situation and take action?
It’s not something we like to think about, but the reality is accidents can and do happen.
If you’ve got a health and safety plan, you’ll be confident to act swiftly in an emergency. Whether this means saving a life or preventing valuable assets and equipment being destroyed, health and safety training is a win-win for all involved.
Specialised training also allows you to identify any skills your team may be lacking, which gives you the opportunity to develop these skills and learn a few new things along the way. The added bonus? You’re able to transfer valuable health and safety skills to all other areas of life.
Reason #4: You’ll keep everyone who walks through your door, safe.
Did you know you’re not only responsible for the safety of your staff, but for anyone else who visits your workplace?
A thorough health and safety plan enables you to think on your feet, take control of a situation and make decisions quickly, which is particularly important when you’re working in an environment where visitors, customers and clients are coming and going.
Preparation makes staff happier and more productive, and it can also win you some brownie points with current and potential clients. People like to know they’re working with a business that’s socially responsible and prioritises the health and safety of everyone who walks through the door.
Whether your business doesn’t have a current health and safety plan or you’re looking to refresh your team’s existing skills, our nationwide network of professional trainers covers the length and breadth of New Zealand and offers health and safety courses for whatever stage you may be at (from introductory to advanced).
Reason #5:Total compliance = total peace of mind
Peace of mind is what we’re all striving for, right?! When your business is 100 percent compliant, you don’t have to worry about things going wrong, how your staff might react in an emergency or your business being penalised for coming up short in terms of legal obligations.
The Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) is not about prosecuting Kiwis for minor workplace incidents, it’s about everyone working together to manage the risks that could cause serious illness, injury or even death.
If you’ve got a plan in place that shows you’re doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of your staff, visitors and suppliers, you’re one step closer to achieving total compliance and total peace of mind.
Unsure of your obligations? Get in touch with our experienced team today or bite the bullet and book a course – we’ll show you how trouble-free it is to ensure you’re safe, compliant, and prepared for anything.