Workplace Safety
Workplace Safety: Our Role
By Collins Opara - Chief Chemist, MRS Oil Nigeria PLC.
August 2011
Safety at the workplace has been a concern for many organizations. Most organizations have incorporated cultures and even metrics into their business scorecard to manage workplace safety. Even organization who were used to neglecting safety in workplace are beginning to embrace it.
A research conducted in 2009 by the BUREAU FOR LABOUR STATISTICS US (2010) reported that in the US the number of days-away-from-work cases decreased by 11 percent to 964,990 cases. This is celebrated as the first time this number is coming below 1 million. Also reported is the incidence rate which decreased by 6 percent to 106 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in the private sector-a decline from 113 in 2008. There is really a momentum on workplace safety! Interestingly, the need to reduce incident at the work place is as important as reducing cost and growing the bottom-line of the business.
The free online resource, WIKIPEDIA (2011), writes that workplace safety is the responsibility of management who will have the duty to establish a focus by ensuring commitment, accountability, education, and awareness among others. In an article by Health and Safety Executives UK (2010), it was noted that employees also have great role to play in ensuring that the work place is safe. People that do the job can recognize potential risks based on experience, put or suggest practical controls and make a commitment to safety in their workplace.
Some roles that we will need to play to make the work place safer include but not limited to the following 1. Discussions with our team to identify risk and measures to manage the risks. 2. Inform appropriate personnel about potential risks to safety during regular meetings or on an informal basis. 3. Support our team by developing their personal work skill and allowing some level of control and initiative so as to prevent stress which might
By Collins Opara - Chief Chemist, MRS Oil Nigeria PLC.
August 2011
Safety at the workplace has been a concern for many organizations. Most organizations have incorporated cultures and even metrics into their business scorecard to manage workplace safety. Even organization who were used to neglecting safety in workplace are beginning to embrace it.
A research conducted in 2009 by the BUREAU FOR LABOUR STATISTICS US (2010) reported that in the US the number of days-away-from-work cases decreased by 11 percent to 964,990 cases. This is celebrated as the first time this number is coming below 1 million. Also reported is the incidence rate which decreased by 6 percent to 106 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in the private sector-a decline from 113 in 2008. There is really a momentum on workplace safety! Interestingly, the need to reduce incident at the work place is as important as reducing cost and growing the bottom-line of the business.
The free online resource, WIKIPEDIA (2011), writes that workplace safety is the responsibility of management who will have the duty to establish a focus by ensuring commitment, accountability, education, and awareness among others. In an article by Health and Safety Executives UK (2010), it was noted that employees also have great role to play in ensuring that the work place is safe. People that do the job can recognize potential risks based on experience, put or suggest practical controls and make a commitment to safety in their workplace.
Some roles that we will need to play to make the work place safer include but not limited to the following 1. Discussions with our team to identify risk and measures to manage the risks. 2. Inform appropriate personnel about potential risks to safety during regular meetings or on an informal basis. 3. Support our team by developing their personal work skill and allowing some level of control and initiative so as to prevent stress which might