Everyone deserves the right to feel safe in the workplace. In fact, safety is one of the five most basic human needs, according to Abraham Maslow, a famous U.S. psychologist and researcher. The first and most basic human need is physiological. Simply put, we all need food, water, rest and warmth to survive on a daily basis. The second most basic human need is to feel safe and secure. When there are threats, violence or unsafe working (or home) conditions, our nervous system goes into high alert mode and stays in a constant state of fight or flight. Basically, if you never feel safe, you are always experiencing stress. We now know, accordingly to research, chronic stress causes up to 90% of all disease in the U.S.
When employees do not feel safe, whether that be from internal or external threats, or there are no procedures to follow in the event of a crisis or emergency, your business and your employees suffer greatly. Think about your work-life policies, new leadership trainings or employee benefits you want to roll out this year. Without first addressing safety and security, both physical and psychological, employees will not want to participate. Investing in safety measures first can improve employee morale, increase productivity, and prevent injuries and incidents in the workplace. If employees feel safe and happy, they’re less likely to quit. When employees feel valued and appreciated, you diminish staff turnover and boost your bottom line.
So, who is responsible for creating safe workplaces?
First, all businesses operating in the US have a legal duty of care to keep employees as safe as possible. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ‘Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace that is free from serious recognized hazards’. OSHA has developed guidelines to help employers meet this requirement and improve workplace safety procedures across the country.
The exact security measures you’ll need to take will depend on a number of factors. These include your location, the size of your premises, and the nature of your business. Implementing procedures now will help you protect your staff and workplace as soon as possible.
Common examples of workplace security include:
- Preventing violence or threatening behavior in the workplace
- Controlling who enters and exits the facility
- Training employees on how to respond to critical incidents and emergencies
- Implementing cybersecurity measures to protect digital data
- Installing alarm systems to alert employees to fire, intruders, or other emergencies
The best and most effective way of improving workplace safety is to introduce a set of procedures for all staff to follow. For example, you could require all staff to use key cards to access the building, install an alarm system to protect the premises outside of normal working hours or train employees on how to reduce the intensity of a conflict or potentially violent situation. Our team has developed a series of training courses that can be delivered onsite or online, for your entire workforce.
Creating a secure work environment is so important, because it improves employee morale, increases retention, and prevents costly incidents in the workplace. If employees feel safe and happy, they will be more engaged, more productive and more committed to our organization.