World Day of Safety and Health at Work 2022

World Day of Safety and Health at Work is observed on April 28 annually. This year the theme is “Act together to build a positive safety and health culture.”

It’s a fitting theme, for as we continue to weather the global pandemic, organizations are increasingly aware that it is every member’s responsibility to assistin maintaining a safe environment for each other- no one entity can shoulder that accountability alone. It needs to stem from every level of the organization and be supported at a national level, with each entity working hand in hand to create a safety culture.

Before we go any further you might be wondering what is a “safety culture?”

At an organizational level, it is the collective attitude, values, and mindset of an organization’s members towards safety. At a national level, it is developed in the policies and legislations regarding safety.

So, how do you cultivate this type of culture?

Well, what is poignant about this theme is that it really does take a village (or an organization!) acting together to raise the awareness of and encapsulate the need for safety and health within the workplace.

At an executive managerial level, it begins with setting policies toward safety and ensuring that the physicality of the workplace, such as the building, equipment, and environment meets the required standards of use.

With mid-level managers, their contribution to workplace safety can be found in promoting compliance with the established policies, listening to and addressing the concerns of the employees regarding their health and safety challenges, and ensuring timely investigations into safety-related issues.

The employees play a role by adhering to the rules, taking care in their work and making regular checks of their equipment, acting mindfully within their environment and with their colleagues.

Governments can contribute to safe environments by working with organizations to implement national policies and regulations for how organizations should operate within parameters that safeguard the lives of their working citizens.

As each organism plays a role in developing the safety culture, the roles should be accompanied by the following characteristics:

· Open Communication- All members must feel comfortable in sharing their concerns and solutions for safety measures within the workplace. 

· Trust- Persons should be able to trust their co-workers to always practice safety measures.

· Respect- Within safety, it requires the input and effort of all employees in the organization, therefore treating others, regardless of their station in the organization, with respect can go a long way to ensuring compliance with safety measures. 

· Appreciation- Safety is a continuous battle. It must be diligently practiced and maintained to become routine, where, if it’s done correctly and no incidents have occurred, people can lose sight of the ‘why’ behind their efforts. Showing appreciation for acts of safety can ensure that staff keep up their efforts and keep 

Safety is in everyone’s job description- by acting together to build a positive safety and health culture, we ensure that persons not only stay alive and injury-free on the job but also thrive and enjoy their work.

---

Safety Supply Co. Inc. is the leading supplier of safety solutions and products in Barbados. Visit www.safetysupplco.com or contact us at 246.426.4935 or info@safetysupplyco.com.