This blog article is part 3 of a 3 part series Proactive and Reactive Safety Measure in the Workplace.
Part 2: A Comprehensive Look Into Proactive Safety
With direct contrast to proactive safety, reactive safety is all about dealing with incidents, problems, and events after they have occurred. An example of this is accident reporting. Reacting to a workplace incident includes evaluating the severity of the incident, as well as taking preventative measures to avoid any re-occurrences. Reactive risk management strategies may be used in the trial of new programs or processes that do not have previous safety data which would allow for preventative measures to be put in place. Reactive measures may also be taken if there is an unexpected safety emergency and if unexpected safety threats arise.
Are Reactive Safety Measures Enough?
To react safely and efficiently, employees must be adequately educated on risk management and safety protocols. Furthermore, strict company regulations must be in place concerning procedures, checklists, and behavior around safety. The success of reactive strategies depends on how prepared workers and employers are to deal with unexpected issues. However, is this enough to ensure the safety of all your employees, even those working in unpredictable and potentially dangerous environments? The very definition of being reactive is acting in response to a situation instead of creating or controlling it. When it comes to safety, your organization should be managing its workplace environment and mitigating risks for workers in every way possible. This means being proactive, not reactive.
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The Disadvantages of Reactive Safety
Reactive safety essentially entails measuring and dealing with the implications of a loss or failure, after it has occurred. These responses are often passive and fail to identify the root cause of the accident. The first issue with this is the price. Often, reactive safety measures are resorted to with cost-savings in mind. Yet, although investing in proactive safety solutions will cost your company more in the short run, this investment will keep money in your pocket down the line.
If a workplace incident occurs as a result of something that could have been prevented, the direct and indirect costs associated with dealing with that incident will be considerable. Workplace injuries are one of the single most significant losses that a business will face. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, US workplace injury costs totaled $161.5 billion in 2017. Even if an insurance provider pays the bills, your premiums will increase substantially. Furthermore, the work that the injured employee was taking part in before still needs to be accomplished. Loss in productivity can be notable. You may also need to find someone new to perform the task; this involves hiring costs. Therefore, time and time again it has been proven that investing in safety has a measurable profit.
Moreover, reactive safety measures do not eliminate the possibility of a traumatic event from happening. The impact of an incident can tremendously affect employee morale and overall satisfaction. Employees should feel safe, secure, and happy at work. If a company implements a preventative safety solution, employees know that their safety is a top company priority. This evokes confidence, happiness, and increased productivity. On the flip side, if an organization only reacts once an accident has occurred, it sends a negative message out to workers that the company only cares about its profits.
It is in the best interest of a company to exercise proactive safety measures that effectively identify risks and implement safety solutions to create a safer work environment for everyone.
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