Workplace Health and Safety

The public view of Yoga has dramatically changed. At one time the vast majority of Yoga schools were home businesses. These days, every fitness studio has Yoga classes and many corporate fitness centers have added Yoga classes to the schedule. So, how else could a local Yoga teacher help your business?

Each business has, within itself, safety hazards, repetitive motion injuries, stressed out employees, and an atmosphere that requires optimum morale. Every possible life skill can be gained from the steady practice of Yoga.

Safety hazards need to be listed in at least two categories, from actual hazards to potential hazards. An actual hazard such as a back injury that occurred in the past, which often happens to employees holding a specific job, or within a particular department, can be prevented by having a Yoga specialist observe the physical movements of those employees.

In an office setting, Yoga techniques can be introduced to gently stretch tendons, muscles, and soft tissue. This has often been referred to as “Office Yoga” and will actually increase productivity as office employees “recharge their batteries.”

Within a manufacturing or shipping environment, employees face many risks. Shifting and lifting objects can cause many accidents or repetitive motion injuries. There is also the potential for injury when employees who monitor machinery become less aware of hazards around them. Yoga practice helps employees to increase their awareness on the job.

Repetitive motion injuries can occur on any job. The cost of worker’s compensation claims is enough to make any business take preventative action. Yoga classes and Yoga safety programs offer employees methods for preventing injuries. Installing a Yoga program does create a positive atmosphere in the workplace.

Stressed out employees will benefit from any Yoga exercises or techniques. The fact is that stress will cost every company a fortune in health insurance premiums and potential claims. Think of the sick time, lack of production, poor morale, potential office turmoil, and worker’s compensation claims. In each case Yoga offers a low cost alternative for small to medium businesses.

Yoga classes in the workplace create an atmosphere of optimum morale. Employees get the message that upper management cares about their well being, when Yoga classes are available. These small “perks” create harmony in the office, on the production floor, and within shipping departments.

Even a worker who is disgruntled will realize the benefits of a corporate Yoga program. Yoga also helps employees develop new life skills such as anger management, stress reduction, moderate diet, healthy living, self-esteem, and much more. The truth is: There are so many benefits to be gained by introducing Yoga into the corporate sector that management is “crazy” not to offer it.

Imagine a company with happy, healthy, and appreciative employees. Yoga could be inserted into the work schedule, for a half-hour per day, and you would still increase productivity. Yoga training in the workplace is truly a “win – win” situation for both the employees and the ownership.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

In todays ever changing business environment businesses need to make more and more profit to satisfy shareholders and stakeholders. This can cause massive pressure on Senior Management to drive the business forward, sometimes looking to cut costs across the board.

This can prove a dangerous tactic particularly where Health & Safety is concerned, with large manufacturing organizations and standard office environments they have a duty of care to look after the well-being of their staff whilst at their place of work. Employees should be aware that their employers need to provide them with a safe working environment, free of hazard and danger.

Employers should operate a rigorous induction policy for all staff, particularly if they work in manufacturing environments, pointing out all hazards and no-go areas. Each employee should sign a document confirming they have been informed of the Company’s policies on Health & Safety.

Health & Safety doesn’t just mean keeping the floor area clean, but also a duty to ensure staff are trained and supervised to operate equipment and unencumbered from doing their daily tasks. Employee’s should not be worried about taking their employers to task for negligence or not providing a safe environment to work in, being properly trained or not having the proper tool

This Checklist should be used as a guide to assess your workplace health and safety risks. It is intended to assist you identify your ‘risk profile’ and ‘potential exposures’ and with identification to take appropriate action to minimise these risks and exposures.

Please answer the following question honestly by drawing a circle around or shading in the column. If you can only answer part of the question in the affirmative, then you should select ‘No’.

Workplace health and safety is every persons responsibility in the workplace. There are severe penalties for breaches of health and safety.

1. I have a written workplace health and safety policy statement Yes No

2. I have fully documented workplace health and safety procedures for all employees Yes No

3. I have policies for chemical, electrical, manual and ergonomic use and safe handling Yes No

4. I induct all employees into the workplace using a documented process Yes No

5. My staff are trained in safe work processes and procedures Yes No

6. My policies and procedures are available to all employees and are regularly referred to, used and updated Yes No

7. I have identified risks and hazards at the workplace and have appropriate controls in place Yes No

8. All workplace health and safety accidents and incidences are reported and reviewed Yes No

9. We have low accident and injury rate compared to our industry average Yes No

10. I provide my employees with regular constructive feedback and reward them where appropriate for safe working Yes No

11. I conduct regular workplace health and safety updates and audits Yes No

RATINGS

11 from 11 well done

10 from 11 well done, almost there

9 from 11 very good and tie up loose ends

8 from 11 good and you must tighten up these loose ends

7 from 11 you have a high risk profile, take action

6 or less remedial action urgently required to ‘protect’ your business

If you have identified some of your risks and hazards take action today and get professional, timely assistance and training. Your business may be at risk of claims by employees.

Visit www.biz-momentum.com for more information and free articles.

Health and safety at work are some of the very important issues companies and employees look for. Employers should consider the potential dangers that might be encountered by their employees and initiate action plans to prevent these dangers. As an employee, you should be aware of your own responsibilities in the workplace.

By knowing your duties and responsibilities, it will help you improve your health and safety in the workplace. Both workers and employers have their own legitimate duties and responsibilities to look after when working together. Employees who contribute to health and safety at work are most likely safer and healthy while working.

For employers, they should not treat disabled employees unfairly. In these cases, they have the responsibility to make reasonable adjustments in ensuring that the employee is not a disadvantage at the workplace.

In addition, training and educating your employees about safety in the workplace is important. For a safety training to be successful and actually result in a positive approach, you should take the often looked training as your validation for recommended training sessions.

Most training programs provide great and imparting basic information regarding hazards you may encounter at the workplace. These trainings are also diligent enough in ensuring employees can pass a written or oral tests related to health and safety at the workplace. The behavior change aspects of trainings require the following procedures that should be completed.

1. You should establish the right and proper behavior. You may write a performance-based behavioral learning objective that can describe your required behavior.

2. Trainings should be properly analyzed so that training goals about safety and health can be determined. In determining your approach, you should establish the future desired behavior.

3. Learning goals are needed to be broken into subset of smaller task or learning objectives. It only means that behavioral objectives should be of good conditions and standards.

4. Know if the trained employee is behaving according to the trained standards. You should know the employee’s knowledge by assessing him at the end of the course. It would only indicate how far the employee gains enough knowledge about safety and health at the workplace.

5. Employers are also required to take sickness certificates due to absences for being depressed or stressed seriously. It is important to inquire about the workers current problem and study the problems on what can be done to lessen the tension and depression.

6. Workers who complain do not need to be vocal and forceful about their concerns and unresolved issues. Approach the manager professionally and calmly to ensure all details are escalated in a good way.

7. Once an employee encountered injuries or he is at risks of suffering injury or health problems due to hazardous things acquired at the workplace, the employer should be responsible and should do something about it.

As an employer, you should always be sympathetic to your workers. Take concern about the risks of each employee’s health and safety at the workplace.

Employers must monitor employees and should provide them time to attend seminars and trainings to ensure that their health and safety is the main concern of the management.

Health and safety culture is often seen as an obstacle to making money. However, by doing nothing each business is taking a major risk in leaving its assets exposed to other third parties. By making a reasonable investment each year, you can protect your hard won assets.

Ask yourself this

Is the business covered?

Do I know everything I should?

Do I have Asbestos in my building (Asbestos dust the silent killer)

What affects the business and employees?

Is my business service user-friendly to persons with disabilities?

Would I be prepared to let the company be named and shamed through failings that could easily be avoided?

Central Safety Consultancy Services is a customer-focused organisation providing a range of services designed to assist clients fulfil their duties under current legislation.
We would anticipate that our fee proposals will not be matched by any other provider offering a similar service. However, we would suggest that our fee is not of prime importance when considering our appointment.

What is important is that your organisation receives quality advice on becoming compliant with health and safety legislation.
We take pride in the fact that for many of the projects for which we have been commissioned we have been able to use our knowledge and expertise to enable organisations achieve their strategic goals whether that would be legal compliance or best practice but more importantly help to achieve them..

Simply put – sensible advice at sensible cost.
Do yourself a favour. Resolve today that before this year ends you will get you health and safety checked. Ensure you are on the right side of the law.