Can improving your safety culture also improve employee engagement?

Too often, the importance of safety gets boiled down to just dollars and cents – OSHA fines, workers’ compensation claims, and lost time and production.

At Adecco, however, we know that the financial benefits aren’t the only reason to embrace a strong safety culture.

For us, a culture of safety is a critical part of our commitment to workers’ well-being and to creating positive work environments. In turn, that can improve candidate attraction and worker retention.

First of all, what is a “culture of safety”?

A culture of safety refers to a work environment where safety is enmeshed in every level of your operations and team mindset. By making safety a core value, it informs your team’s day-to-day decision-making, communication, and behavior.

A culture of safety asks every level of an organization to be responsible for site safety and emphasizes the proactive steps needed to prevent accidents and injuries.

The benefits of this kind of culture for employers and employees? Higher morale, greater job satisfaction, and increased productivity.

Why does a culture of safety matter?

As you’re trying to navigate business and day-to-day operations, investing in workplace safety is foundational for your team’s success.

Employee morale

Today, more and more employers are focusing on employee well-being and morale. Creating an environment where employees feel valued and cared for is critical, and a key part of that is safety. Feeling like a valued member of a team leads to higher levels of job satisfaction and overall well-being.

Retention rates

Employee turnover can be a significant drain on resources for businesses, both in terms of time and money. Prioritizing safety can help mitigate turnover rates, improving morale in the workplace and encouraging employees to remain with employers who prioritize operating the safest way.

Communication

Effective communication is essential for maintaining a safe and productive workplace. Safety initiatives require well-established lines of communication: Employees need to be able to share concerns and managers need make sure the right guidelines are followed. By building these channels, employers are also building strong communication networks within their organization, which can be utilized to share other important information.

How do you instill a culture of safety?

Engaged employees are the lifeblood of any organization, driving innovation and productivity. When employees work in a safe and trusted environment, they’re more likely to bring their best selves to the table.

Safety is a constant priority at Adecco. Our award-winning Risk Management team regularly works with clients to conduct safety surveys, while our partnership with The Adecco Group US Foundation (The Foundation) has allowed us to offer upskilling and training opportunities to help train associates.

You can read more about how we transformed one client’s site by conducting an ergonomic survey and how we partnered with The Foundation to upskill OSHA-certified forklift operators.

Have strong procedures in place

Whether your safety protocols need to cover emergency procedures or just day-to-day operations, having strong and clear guidelines is paramount. Regularly review and update procedures so they evolve with new local, state, and federal regulations, as well as any technology on site.

Focus on onboarding

Incorporating safety topics into your onboarding training is critical. Not only does it instill the importance of safety on day one, but it can also provide resources for ongoing education and training.

Keep up with OSHA

Last year, we wrote about OSHA’s new renewed commitment to safe and healthy workplaces, so be sure to familiarize yourself with OSHA regulations relevant to your industry. Regular audits and inspections can help identify potential hazards before they become problems.

Find a staffing partner who can help

Managing safety at your workplace is a constant challenge, and it can be especially difficult if you have a contingent workforce or multiple staffing vendors on site.

At Adecco, we’re committed to creating safe work environments, so reach out today to learn how we work with clients across multiple industries.