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Business Impacts of
Health & safety
We already know that a safe and healthy
workplace makes sense, but did you also
consider that it also makes "cents"? Think
about it like this. If you and your employees
already understand how to do the work
safely, then you don't have to spend time
thinking about it — that's time you can be
using to serve your customers better. Time
that you don't have to spend investigating
incidents or working short-handed because
an employee is recovering from injury is
time that can be invested in growing your
business. And the more you involve your
employees in workplace health and safety,
the more they will come to understand
how important their health and safety is to
you — and when employees believe that
their employer cares about them, they are
happier and more productive. Let's face it —
happier and more productive employees are
an important part of a successful business.
sticks and carrots
In every jurisdiction, there are significant
penalties for not meeting the requirements
of the law — at an organizational level and at
the individual level, too. In many jurisdictions,
you will also find that there are incentives
for good health & safety performance.
Sometimes these incentives are in the form
of rebates; other times, it's public recognition
of your status as a good performer.
Contact the Workplace Safety & Insurance
Board for more information on incentive
programs.
a Living workplace system
Your health and safety system is not just a
binder on a shelf, a file on your computer or
a bulletin board hanging on the wall. Your
health and safety system is the way you and
your employees perform your work each and
every day. Every time you take a moment
to talk about safety, whether it's a monthly
safety talk, reviewing a new procedure,
responding to a hazard report or just giving
someone a pat on the back for doing it right,
you're feeding the system. And with life in
the system, health and safety isn't something
that's left to chance.
where Do I Learn More?
As you move through this guide, you'll
begin to put the elements of your health
and safety system together. Resources
on specific hazards for your sector will be
available online. There are organizations that
are available to support you in your efforts
to create and maintain a safe and healthy
workplace. Check the Resources section at
the end of this guide.
About this Guide
