There’s no denying that workplaces in Britain are now safer than they used to be. On the whole, employers have a responsible attitude towards risk management and there are strict laws in place governing health and safety standards.
However, lapses do still occur and these incidents are often accompanied by a series of excuses. Here are some of the most common safety shortcomings and the explanations that are typically offered up by the organizations involved.
Shortcuts
Despite the array of personal protective equipment (PPE) now available, many workers still don’t benefit from suitable gear when they go about their tasks. This equipment includes items such as safety goggles, helmets, special footwear, high-visibility garments and more. All too often, employees embark on potentially dangerous jobs without wearing and using suitable protection. This means they are at an elevated risk of suffering injuries or developing illnesses.
Another common error made by firms is failing to ensure that workers have had suitable training to engage in their tasks. Most jobs involve a certain level of risk and some are particularly dangerous. Sadly, employers do not always check to make sure that their staff members have benefited from the relevant courses.
A third common safety shortcoming concerns risk assessments. Before embarking on particular tasks, companies must make sure that they have conducted suitable risk assessments. These analyses help to identify potential dangers and they detail how any hazards will be managed. Unfortunately, businesses don’t always spare the time needed to complete these assessments. Sometimes, they prefer to adopt a policy of ‘see what happens’, and this can lead to all sorts of problems.
Excuses
As you’d expect, organizations tend to have an array of excuses when confronted over safety failings. One of the most well used is ignorance. Bosses sometimes claim they were simply unaware that their actions contravened the law. However, this is not enough to absolve managers from blame. After all, these people are legally required to adopt suitable health and safety measures and there is plenty of information on this topic available online and from official bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive.
Bosses also sometimes claim that they were in too much of a rush to think about all the aspects of risk management. It’s certainly true that many accidents occur when firms are under pressure to meet deadlines. However, this explanation does not mean bosses are in the clear. Regardless of how speedily companies have to operate, they must ensure that they always adhere to health and safety laws. Safety can never come second to profits.
Another typical excuse is a lack of money. Many firms are operating under immense financial pressures, and this can cause safety to slide down their list of priorities. This is not a justification for putting employees in danger though. As long as companies are savvy, they can implement effective risk management policies without busting their budgets.
The simple way to avoid risk
The fact is, there is no need for organizations to take safety shortcuts and then to come up with excuses as to why this has happened. As long as firms are savvy, they can ensure they protect their workers. For example, businesses can turn to experts like Phoenix Health & Safety to access safety training and consultancy services.
By enlisting the help of specialists like this, organizations can make sure that they conform to all the relevant safety legislation in a cost-effective and hassle-free way.
Whether they need help with one or two aspects of risk management or they want to take advantage of a full package of solutions, they can achieve their aims. This can make managers’ lives much easier.